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Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™

19 Games with a historical 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 19 that fit the “Historical” 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 “Historical” 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 historical setting like Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™

19 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

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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

Assassin's Creed Valhalla

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NGL77
Assassin's Creed Valhalla
Closest overall match
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMultiplayerMeleeStealthDarkNarrativeOpen WorldHistoricalMedievalExplorationThird Person
Year 2020Dev Ubisoft Montreal · Ubisoft EntertainmentOn Xbox · PS4 · PC

It shares the essentials of what Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ does: dark, oppressive atmosphere, open world exploration and melee combat. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and a third-person camera. They part company on visuals.

Released 3 years after Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.

Genre100Game mode100Tone100World100Progression100Combat78
8

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
9

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
10

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
11

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord

78
NGL83
Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMultiplayerTacticalMeleeOpen WorldMedievalHistoricalExplorationFirst PersonThird Person
Year 2022Dev TaleWorlds EntertainmentPlaytime ~20hOn PC · PS · Xbox

Its point of contact with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ is open world exploration, tactical combat and a medieval setting. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on combat: this one brings ranged combat.

Released 5 years after Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.

Genre100Game mode100Visuals100Setting86Progression75World70
12

A Plague Tale: Requiem

75
NGL88
A Plague Tale: Requiem
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMeleeStealthNarrativeDarkMedievalHistoricalExplorationThird Person
Year 2022Dev Asobo Studio · Focus EntertainmentOn Xbox · PC · PS5

Same family as Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™: strong narrative focus, melee combat and a medieval setting. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on visuals and progression: this one brings crafting mechanics and 3D presentation.

Released 5 years after Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.

Genre100Tone100Game mode85Setting84Combat77Progression60
13

God of War: Ascension

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NGL76
God of War: Ascension
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloMultiplayerFantasyHistoricalThird Person
Year 2013Dev SCE Santa Monica Studio · Sony Computer EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3

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

Genre100Game mode100Setting82Visuals64Progression0
14

God of War

69
NGL94
God of War
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloFantasyHistoricalThird Person
Year 2009Dev SCE Santa Monica Studio · Sony Computer EntertainmentOn PlayStation 3

Its point of contact with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ is fantasy world, single-player focus and a third-person camera. The distance is in visuals.

It predates Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode84Setting82Visuals64
15

God of War II

69
God of War II
RPGAction RPGThird-Person ARPG
SoloFantasyHistoricalThird Person
Year 2009On PlayStation 3

Held in common with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™: fantasy world, single-player focus and a third-person camera. The distance is in visuals.

It predates Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ by 8 years, with what that implies technically.

Genre100Game mode84Setting82Visuals64

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