The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game

A collectible card game that lets you play out the Lord of the Rings movies from Bag End to Mount Doom.

Designers: Chuck Kallenbach, Tom Lischke, Mike Reynolds
Published by: Decipher
Editions by: Devir, Wargames Club Publishing

The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game (2001) turns the movie trilogy into a collectible card game. Frodo and his companions walk from Bag End all the way to the fires of Mount Doom, and the cards stay mostly loyal to the films while borrowing some lore and atmosphere from the books. Some card sets even show actors in roles that never appeared on screen, so Tom Bombadil and Ghan-buri-Ghan get to play. Veterans of collectible card games will feel at home, with two differences: combat plays like a magic-style duel but resolves more gradually, so each lost fight costs you only a little. You build a deck from your own collection and play one on one.

Cards follow the movies, with lore from the booksDeck building from your own collectionCombat that resolves a little at a time

Who it's for

You love the movies, you like collecting cards and you have a friend to build decks with.

Not for you if…

You do not want to collect cards or to spend money building a deck.

Vibe's take

It feels like you are playing the movie rather than the book. The journey is paced and the losses are gradual rather than sudden.