Once you get past the walking, talking trees (sorry, Ents), magical rings and armies of ghosts, The Lord of the Rings boils down to a timeless tale of good versus evil. The Lord of the Rings: The Confrontation puts this head-to-head battle at its heart in a straightforward but deeply strategic two-player game. Make your way to Mordor to destroy the Ring in Knizia’s co-op classic Reiner Knizia's The Lord of the Rings was one of the earliest co-op games. As one of the most recent Lord of the Rings board games to hit the tabletop, Journeys in Middle-Earth features a companion app that serves as a game master for players during their adventures, controlling the behaviour of enemies, popping up events and allowing for interactions with the world similar to app games such as Mansions of Madness. Dominate the world in a game of Risk! Use the power of diplomacy or conquest in this two-to-six player game and take control of your army! Play Risk against an AI or with your friends in the same computer and have fun!

Designer Reiner Knizia’s The Lord of the Rings isn’t just notable for being one of the best board games based on Tolkien’s books out there. It also marked a seminal moment for co-op board gaming as a whole, arriving almost a full decade before Pandemic sparked the modern trend of games where players could collaborate rather than compete. Travel across Middle-Earth in an app-powered adventure Journeys in Middle-Earth offers a light roleplaying experience, guided by a companion app.

A classic meets a classic in Risk: The Lord Of The Rings. But don’t disregard this as just another movie board game cash-in - after all, there’s Monopoly: The Lord of the Rings for that. Risk: The Lord of the Rings is one of the best spins on the historical strategy wargame. Many Lord of the Rings board games retell the adventures of Frodo Baggins and the Fellowship of the Ring. That’s all well and good, but there’s a lot of Middle-Earth to explore outside of the places mentioned in Tolkien’s books. It's always an excellent service with brilliant products at a very competitive price - will use again! In motion, War of the Ring plays a bit like a souped-up version of Risk, with players rolling dice to determine their available actions and resolve battles between miniatures on the large map board. Cards can be played to call upon allies and trigger events - many of which pay homage to memorable moments from the books, making this easily the most faithful Lord of the Rings board game you can experience as a diehard fan. Avoid Ringwraiths as sneaky Hobbitses - or chase down the Ring-bearer as the Nazgul Hunt for the Ring is split into two different chapters, and can be played as a prequel to War of the Ring.

Not only is Hunt for the Ring distinct for its hidden-movement take on Frodo’s perilous escape, but it also becomes a game literally of two halves. In the first half, the player directly controls Frodo as he moves to Bree without being captured or corrupted by the One Ring. In the second half, the player switches control to Gandalf, who must protect the Ring-bearer from the chasing minions of Sauron, while Frodo moves along a path automatically - making it more of an escort mission. Like rewatching the Extended Trilogy, War of the Ring isn’t short - expect to spend at least a handful of hours playing, and longer if you’re new - but it’s worth the time and effort it demands. If there’s one Lord of the Rings game to rule them all, this is probably it. Dicebreaker is owned by Gamer Network Limited, a ReedPop company and subsidiary of Reed Exhibitions Limited. Hunt for the Ring takes a unique approach to Tolkien’s stories, foregoing epic battles and exploration of Middle-Earth for a tight, tense game of hide and seek. One player controls Frodo, who must sneak his way across the board without being detected by the other player’s Nazgul.It’s Good vs. Evil in this two-player Lord of the Rings board game Anotehr Lord of the Rings board game from the prolific Reiner Knizia, The Confrontation takes its cues from two-player classic Stratego. If your favourite scene in Fellowship of the Ring is the bit where Frodo and his Hobbit companions flee the Ringwraiths on their way to Rivendell, Hunt for the Ring is the Lord of the Rings board game for you. While their gameplay may differ, what the best Lord of the Rings board games all share is their ability to bring the places, characters and stories of Middle-Earth to life on the tabletop, whether it’s through cinematic grandeur or immersive storytelling. From the smallest hobbit to the greatest mountain-dwelling dragon, every inch of Middle-Earth has been covered by one game or another - it’s just a case of finding the one that’s right for you. The Confrontation is the second The Lord of the Rings board game on this list from prolific designer Reiner Knizia, following his co-op adventure game. While the competitive strategy game offers a very different approach to Tolkien’s epic story, it shares its engrossing gameplay and engaging strategy, making it a favourite of players since its release. The Lord of the Rings is less thematic than some of the other Lord of the Rings games on this list, but it’s no lesser as a result. The tense co-op challenge stands up more than 20 years after it first released, making for an enjoyable retelling of Frodo’s journey - if you can make it to the end, that is.