Does LOTRO Hold Up In 2024?

A deep dive into The Lord of The Rings Online exploring a beginner's experience with this MMORPG and how it holds up today.

►Music Credits

The Lord of The Rings Main Theme - Howard Shore

The Uruk-Hai - Howard Shore

Inside A House - The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess OST

A Walk In The Shire - The Hobbit (2003) OST

Prelude - The Hobbit (2003) OST

►Media Credits

Video clips from "The Lord of The Rings: The Fellowship of The Ring"
The Witch King clip is from "The Lord of The Rings: The Return of The King"
Going on an adventure clip from "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey"

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#lotr #lotro #gaming

[MakoRuu]

This is the only Youtuber I've seen who has made a "Is MMO worth it in XXXX Year" video where he actually made it out of the fucking tutorial map.

[TheErinV]

Very happy you checked out LotRO! I've been playing since the beta, and was even crazy enough to purchase a lifetime account at the time, not knowing if the game would even last. They've added a crazy amount of content since launch (Gondor and Minas Tirith are something to see!). The characters are a bit dated, but they're slowly implementing new customization options. They renovated the race of Man not long ago.

Also, fun fact, it's where I met my now-husband. xD

[lionheartfilms]

To be fair tom bombadil just skipping aeay merrily ignoring the wider worlds problems is pretty on brand for him as a character

[synthetic]

It's also worth pointing out that the game is still receiving regular full-sized and smaller expansions that continue the story. Currently, we're between the wedding and coronation of Aragorn, now called King Elassar, and the Scouring of the Shire. So in the meantime, the Dwarves retook Mount Gundabad and the story has moved on to problems arising in the Arabian/pirate-themed Umbar. 150 levels across the entire War of the Ring and beyond. Oh, and an alternate starting region that'll get you to Level 30 and focuses on Boromir trying to find Rivendell.

And just for the sake of lore, a Cargul is what happens to you when you die to a Ringwraith's blade. You come back as a lesser wraith under the control of the Nazgul that killed you.

[osluz]

I have been playing 12 years now and always feel the urge to come back when the nostalgia hits. One of the best MMO communities, if not the best.. I can easily say the nicest people I've met in a game was in LOTRO.

[cattysplat]

For better or worse this game is an absolute love letter to Vanilla/Classic WoW design. Huge world, huge grinds, random questgiving NPCs you'll stumble across all over the map encouraging you to explore more, world grounded in official lore and fantasy, designed for steady on foot exploration, unique class playstyles, dangerous if you pull too many monsters. Personally love it but many people likely prefer faster combat and higher quality of life in modern MMOs today.

[elliepowder]

I think it's so cool when a playerbase is so committed to a game, that it stays alive for so long. Your video really made me want to start playing it, MMOs are the best, i just wish i didn't get addicted so easily, haha

[jodofe]

It really is a good MMORPG. A bit old-school (some parts of the game are positively ancient, and the graphics are a charming 2000's retro), but I definitely think it holds up well. In fact, I think it is better than ever. With so much content, continued support, and such a massive world to explore and a thriving community of Tolkien nerds that is always willing to help, there has never been a better time than now to start playing LOTRO.
Actually, this video makes me want to start playing again with a new character too.

[mooreaper]

This game has so much to offer in terms of content. During my leveling process, I always just stop and think about how even just one zone has $10-$15 worth of content in it. Many of these zones across the entire games lifespan so far take on average 2 hours to quest through, with some taking 5+ to get through all of the quests and really take in the experience. The vistas and dev efforts to fill in the holes in the map are also commendable. LOTRO harkens back to an age when these were virtual worlds and less the lobbies MMOs have turned into now. Good video!

[bran]

The hobbits you see playing with Weatherstock in their name are players that have played at the yearly Weatherstock festival in the Summer. Every year in July at the summit of Armon Sul a bunch of player bands will play music throughout the day and it is called Weatherstock and it has been going on 16 years now. It is really cool how they do it, developers and GMs will join in, it is usually streamed to Twitch so people can watch, it is a lot of fun. A lot of bands were playing in Bree this weekend for the start of the 17th Anniversary Festival. This sense of community and role playing is what really brings me back to LOTRO, there really isn't any MMO like it.

[Burning-Embers]

Awesome that you checked this game out! Got some pretty good chuckles out of your jokes. I also can confirm that encountering a full sized band playing in the streets is a semi-regular occurence in Bree.

[DigiDoesStuff]

10:06 *Aragorn blair witching in the corner* "FIND ME TOM BOMADIL"

[FollowTheBeam]

I have so many fond memories with this one, oh man

[NotTheWheel]

LOTRO from my own personal experience is a Game which may not be what we expect from MMORPGs but is in every aspect the corner stones of what an MMO is supposed to be. A Massive World, With multiple players, Role Playing. Middle-Earth lends itself to allowing people to make their own stories. So while it's not a MMO I play all the time I am very impressed by it. A World worth getting lost in.

[BreeNix]

I'd love to see more of this honestly. I really enjoyed this video, looks like you had a ton of fun playing it, and I love the humor and story telling.

[JazzJaguar]

I started playing this probably 2 or 3 months ago. I find it to be a way to unwind. The gameplay is slow enough and manageable enough that I'm never too worried about dying. It's pleasant to look at though it does show its age. The music is excellent. And the little lore nuggets are nice when I stumble onto them.

I've found the community to be friendly and helpful as well. It quickly moved up to the top of my play list.

[Kooptrot]

LOTRO is my comfort game I always come back to every year to relax and explore

[Sheetro]

The way Tom Bombadil's house theme has a chokehold on my childhood

[MetalMonkey]

Hey There Delilah at the inn was a thing of beauty.

[DjErrour]

loooong ago, probably 13 years, me and some friends played, and the moment i decided i loved the game was when i learned you could midi instruments and form bands. i joined a troupe of shirtless dwarves, and was a dwarf myself, where i transcribed several songs for each of our 4 musicians. first song i transcribed for us was "What is Love" and threw in a few unique flourishes. partied for like 3 hours once in the same tavern dancing on the tables shirtless and getting tips. the first four months of my play time was playing music in taverns, and i wasnt even level 15. after that, i adventured for a bit with my friends, and did some fights, but always would go back to a tavern everyonce in a while and play my bass horn.