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Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™

31 Games with a fantasy setting like Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ that you should try

Games like Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ · Find similar →

We filtered the 50 games similar to Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ down to the 31 that fit the “Fantasy” category. Gothic, Mount & Blade: Warband and Arcania: Gothic 4 top the list, ranked by affinity and similarity score to Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.

NextGameLike83/ 100

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GenreRPGSubgenreAction RPGSub-subgenreThird-Person ARPG
Tags
DarkNarrativeSoloMultiplayer
Year 2017Dev Warner Bros. Interactive

Quick answer

Within the “Fantasy” category, the closest game to Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ is Gothic — scoring 88/100 on our similarity scale. Mount & Blade: Warband and Arcania: Gothic 4 follow close behind.

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The best games with a fantasy setting like Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™

31 similar games foundUpdated May 2026

Handpicked by our similarity algorithm, these are the titles with the highest gameplay match to Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™. Each one has been evaluated across 18 real attributes — from combat style and progression mechanics to world structure and visual perspective — so every recommendation is based on how the game actually plays, not just its genre label.

1

Gothic

88
NGL88
Gothic
Closest on genre
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloStealthMagicMeleeNarrativeDarkOpen WorldFantasyHistoricalMedievalExplorationThird Person
Year 2001Dev Piranha Bytes · JoWooD Entertainment AGOn PC

Same family as Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™: strong narrative focus, open world exploration and stealth mechanics. To that it adds a medieval setting and single-player focus. They part company on progression and visuals: this one brings loot and gear systems.

It predates Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ by 16 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Setting100World100Game mode85Combat78Tone71
2

Mount & Blade: Warband

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NGL87
Mount & Blade: Warband
Closest on game mode
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMultiplayerMeleeTacticalOpen WorldMedievalHistoricalFantasyExplorationFirst PersonThird Person
Year 2010Dev TaleWorlds EntertainmentPlaytime ~10hOn PC · PS · Xbox

What brings it close to Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ is open world exploration, melee combat and a medieval setting, and the two track each other on genre, game mode and setting. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and a first-person view. The distance is in combat and world — its own ground is a sandbox world and ranged combat.

Genre100Game mode100Setting100Progression100Visuals100World68
3

Arcania: Gothic 4

88
NGL58
Arcania: Gothic 4
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloStealthMagicMeleeOpen WorldFantasyHistoricalMedievalExplorationThird Person
Year 2010Dev Spellbound Entertainment · DreamCatcher InteractiveOn PS4 · Linux · PC

Genre puts it alongside Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™, and so does open world exploration, stealth mechanics and fantasy world. Both also lean on a third-person camera and single-player focus. The distance is in progression and visuals — its own ground is loot and gear systems.

Genre100Setting100World100Game mode85Combat77Visuals65
4

Enclave

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NGL80
Enclave
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMagicMeleeFantasyHistoricalMedievalThird Person
Year 2002Dev Starbreeze Studios · Black Label GamesOn Linux · PC · Mac

It comes from the same genre as Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ and shares magic-based combat, fantasy world and single-player focus. To that it adds a third-person camera. They part company on combat and visuals: this one brings ranged combat.

It predates Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ by 15 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Setting100Game mode85Visuals65Combat52
5

Fable

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NGL90
Fable
Closest on tone
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMagicMeleeNarrativeDarkOpen WorldFantasyHistoricalMedievalExplorationThird Person
Year 2004Dev Big Blue Box · Microsoft Game Studios

It shares the essentials of what Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ does: strong narrative focus, open world exploration and magic-based combat. Both also lean on fantasy world and single-player focus. The distance is in combat and visuals — its own ground is a sandbox world and ranged combat.

It predates Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ by 13 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Tone100Setting100Progression100Game mode84World68
6

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

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NGL65
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloFantasyHistoricalMedievalThird Person
Year 2002Dev Hypnos Entertainment · Electronic Arts

The thread back to Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ runs through fantasy world, single-player focus and a third-person camera. They part company on visuals.

It predates Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ by 15 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Setting100Game mode84Visuals64
7

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

89
NGL88
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMeleeStealthMagicDarkNarrativeOpen WorldFantasyMedievalExplorationThird Person
Year 2014Dev Monolith Productions · WB GamesOn PlayStation 3 · PS4 · Linux

On paper it is what Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ is — dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and melee combat — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. The common ground extends to fantasy world and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is progression and visuals: loot and gear systems.

Genre100Tone100World90Game mode85Setting84Combat80
8

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

87
NGL91
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloStealthMagicMeleeNarrativeDarkOpen WorldFantasyMedievalExplorationFirst PersonThird Person
Year 2011Dev Bethesda Game Studios · Bethesda SoftworksPlaytime ~46hOn PC · PS · Xbox

Same family as Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™: strong narrative focus, open world exploration and stealth mechanics. Both also lean on a third-person camera and fantasy world. The distance is in world and progression — its own ground is a sandbox world and crafting mechanics.

Genre100Tone100Visuals100Game mode85Setting84Combat79
9

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

86
NGL94
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMagicMeleeNarrativeDarkOpen WorldFantasyMedievalExplorationThird Person
Year 2015Dev CD PROJEKT REDPlaytime ~43hOn PC · PS · Xbox

If Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ worked for you because of strong narrative focus, open world exploration and magic-based combat, the same is here. To that it adds fantasy world and single-player focus. They part company on combat and visuals.

Genre100Tone100World100Progression100Game mode85Setting84
10

Dragon's Dogma II

86
NGL71
Dragon's Dogma II
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMultiplayerMeleeMagicOpen WorldFantasyMedievalExplorationThird Person
Year 2024Dev Capcom Development Division 1 · CapcomOn Xbox · PC · PS5

Shelved next to Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ for good reason: open world exploration, melee combat and fantasy world. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. They part company on visuals and combat: this one brings 3D presentation.

Released 7 years after Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.

Genre100World100Setting86Game mode84Progression71Combat69
11

Risen 3: Titan Lords

86
NGL65
Risen 3: Titan Lords
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMagicMeleeNarrativeDarkOpen WorldFantasyMedievalExplorationThird Person
Year 2014Dev Piranha Bytes · Deep SilverOn PlayStation 3 · PC

Genre puts it alongside Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™, and so does strong narrative focus, open world exploration and magic-based combat. To that it adds fantasy world and single-player focus. They part company on combat and visuals: this one brings skill tree progression.

Genre100Tone100World100Game mode85Setting83Progression76
12

METAL GEAR RISING: REVENGEANCE

81
NGL88
METAL GEAR RISING: REVENGEANCE
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMeleeStealthDarkNarrativeFantasyHistoricalThird Person
Year 2013Dev Platinum Games · KonamiPlaytime ~6hOn PC · PS · Xbox

Same family as Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™: dark, oppressive atmosphere, melee combat and fantasy world. The common ground extends to single-player focus and a third-person camera. Where the two diverge is setting and visuals: a sci-fi setting.

Genre100Game mode85Tone81Combat76Visuals65Setting54
13

Assassin's Creed III: Liberation

80
NGL59
Assassin's Creed III: Liberation
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMeleeStealthOpen WorldHistoricalFantasyExplorationThird Person
Year 2012Dev Ubisoft Milan · Ubisoft Entertainment

On paper it is what Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ is — open world exploration, melee combat and historical setting — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. The distance is in progression and visuals — its own ground is loot and gear systems, and a sci-fi setting.

Genre100Game mode85Combat79World71Setting69Visuals65
14

Assassin's Creed Rogue

80
NGL78
Assassin's Creed Rogue
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMultiplayerMeleeStealthNarrativeOpen WorldHistoricalFantasyExplorationThird Person
Year 2014Dev Ubisoft Sofia · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3 · PC

On paper it is what Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ is — strong narrative focus, open world exploration and melee combat — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. They part company on tone and progression: this one brings loot and gear systems.

Genre100Game mode100World100Setting82Combat78Visuals65
15

The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings

77
NGL89
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMagicMeleeDarkNarrativeOpen WorldFantasyMedievalExplorationThird Person
Year 2011Dev CD Projekt REDOn Linux · PC · Mac

Genre puts it alongside Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™, and so does dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and magic-based combat. To that it adds fantasy world and single-player focus. They part company on progression and combat: this one brings skill tree progression.

Genre100World100Tone87Game mode85Setting84Visuals65

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Explore games similar to Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ by category

If Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ left you wanting more, this is where you narrow it down. Was it the action RPG or the dark that hooked you? There is a list of just that. And if you play on PC, PS5, PlayStation, Xbox and Mobile, filter by platform and skip the games you could not play anyway.

Rankings in the same genre

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