This page is all about Computer and Video Games which have only slight connections to Tolkien or were not fully released commercially but have some collectable aspect (given away in magazines, printed in books etc).
Some of these are here because there is very little information about them to either fully rule them in or out as either Tolkien related or collectable elements.
Does not include any software only available on download.
Middle Earth
Dendron Amusements
1979
Northstar Horizon
This is NOT a Tolkien game (set in the middle of our earth), see this game description (from Creative Computing September 1982):
Hobbit
CLOAD Magazine Inc - August 1979
1979
TRS-80
The only Tolkien element is the name of the game and it features a Hobbit, the game itself is not Tolkien based.
Akalabeth (World of Doom)
1979/1980
Apple II, PC
Was the forerunner to the Ultima series.
Very loose connection with Tolkien, just the game name and featuring a Balrog.
Developer Published
Initially self published by the developer in very limited numbers, 12, in ziplock bags.
Very rare
California Pacific published
Space Gamer Magazine
Also included in the Ultama Collection
Balrog Sampler
Part of the Maces & Magic series
1980
Apple II, Atari 400, TRS-80
Arkenstone
Type in game from Book - Zap! Pow! Boom! Arcade Games for the VIC-20
1982
US version only (named ‘Adventure’ in the UK version of the book)
ISBN: 9780835995382
Lord of the Rings: Part 1
CPS Games/Holdco
1982
ZX81, Atari 400/800
Not to be confused with the Melbourne house game.
Sinclair User June 1982 page 56
Computer and Video Games volume 9
advert
other adverts
Trilogy
Texasoft
1982
PC
Unsure if this is Tolkien related, maybe only cover image used.
Unsure if this was a commercially available game.
I have only found a few references.
This review in PC Magazine is very ambiguous
Middle Earth Trilogy
Level 9
Colossal Adventure, Adventure Quest and Dungeon Adventure.
Amstrad/Atari/BBC/Lynx/C64/MTX/MSX/Nascom/Oric/Spectrum
Article
Your 64 Issue 1, April 1984
Advert (many magazines)
Adventure Quest
Level 9
1982
This is the second of the Trilogy, the 1st game doesn’t appear to make any reference to Tolkien elements.
Set in Middle-Earth but after the Lord of the Rings.
Dungeon Adventure
The third of the Trilogy, this has only a few Tolkien references.
Ring of Doom/Odesringen
Microworld
1983
Microbee
This appears to be fully Tolkien based.
Australian Personal Computer March 1984, page 83
Advert
Lord of the Balrogs
1983
Supersoft
Commodore 64
Originally published as Lord of the Dragons for the Commodore PET.
This game has a very small tie to Tolkien with only the name Balrog, the actual gameplay is not Tolkien related at all, although it does have an ‘Eye of Smaug’ artefact.
Here is a Video of the game.
Review
Home Computing Weekly #24, 16th Aug 1983, page 23
Advert
Journey to Mount Doom
1983
Tom Mix Software
TRS-80 CoCo
Magazine advert, Rainbow Magazine Volume 3 No 2, September 1983
Gandalf the Sorcerer
1984
Game Gems
Commodore 64 (published on the Spectrum as Sodov the Sorcerer)
This game has a very small tie to Tolkien with only the name Gandalf, the actual gameplay is not Tolkien related at all.
Magazine adverts and articles
Computer Gamer April 1985
Your Commodore issue 7
Your Computer March 1985
Compute 1986
Mario
1984
Commodore 64
Based on Mines of Moria but with all names changed for copyright.
V1 printed in Sonderheft 64’er issue 2, 1985
V2 printed in Sonderheft 64’er issue 52
Der Kleine Hobbit
1984
Commodore 64
Printed in Sonderheft 64’er issue 4, 1986
Las Tres Luces de Glaurung
1986
Spectrum, MSX, Amstrad
Also published as Conquistador
Only in Spain.
The three Jewels of Glaurung.
Advert
MicroHobby #90 - Aug 1986
Cover, Article and Map
Balrog
Amstrad Action
Amstrad CPC
1987 (1992/3)
I don’t believe this game was ever commercially available, and has been misclassified as 1987, it appears to be another entry in Amstrad Action magazines 1992 competition won by “Who’s Afraid of the Balrog” (see below).
Belegost
Spectrum
1989
Czech only
Freeware
This was not available commercially.
Tuor
C64
1989
German
Came with 64’er Extra Magazine Number 23
The Hobble Hunter
Spectrum
1989
Compass Software
Parody
Alternate cover
Your Sinclair 53 review
Memorias De Un Hobbit
1990
Spectrum
Spain
Lord of the Rings Return of the King Sega
Sega Megadrive/Genesis
Gloryson
This is an unofficial bootleg.
I’m not even sure what what the produced packaging actually is.
It is not an original game but a skin of an existing fighting game.
Moria
Amiga
1983
Public Domain
There have been various revisions of this game.
Various public domain copies have been available, but it has not been released commercially.
Not The Lord of he Rings
Spectrum
1991
Parody
This was not a commercial product (ref designer interview: https://prism.ucalgary.ca/server/api/core/bitstreams/69933c0f-0092-41b6-999a-9f376c829c66/content)
The Game of Moria
Amiga
1992
Public Domain
Public Domain Nationwide
This was not a commercial product!
I believe this is an updated version of the Moria game above.
Whose afraid of the Balrog
Free with Amstrad Action Magazine 93, June 1993
Amstrad CPC
1993
Winner of a competition in 1992
Fellowship of the Ring
Atari 2600
Freeware
Entered in the IntroComp competition
Not sure if this was ever available commercially.
Kingdom O Magic
Kingdom O Magic
PC
1996
Parody
Not advertised as Tolkien related but full of Tolkien elements.
US
UK
Cardboard Sleeve release
Other Hands Magazine article
UK
Cardboard Sleeve release
Other Hands Magazine article
ZX Spectrum
2018
Homebrew - not licensed
Published by Noentiendo
Deluxe Edition
ZX Spectrum Gamer 5, April 2018
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