The Lord of the Rings: Gollum

🔥 What is The Lord of the Rings: Gollum for PC

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is an action-adventure game developed by Daedalic Entertainment and published by Nacon, bringing players into the twisted perspective of one of Tolkien’s most tragic figures. Released in 2023, it attempts to merge stealth-focused gameplay with narrative storytelling that dives deeply into the fractured psyche of Sméagol and his darker half, Gollum. Set before the events of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the game explores the desperate journey Gollum undertakes in pursuit of his “precious,” spanning familiar Middle-earth locations from Mordor’s wastelands to the dark depths of Mirkwood.

At its core, the game positions itself less as a power fantasy and more as a psychological adventure about survival, duplicity, and inner conflict. Rather than wielding the might of a warrior or the spells of a wizard, you control a frail, cunning creature whose greatest assets are stealth and manipulation. Through this lens, the game aims to offer a very different take on the grandeur of Middle-earth, narrowing it down to the story of a single broken character who lurks in the shadows of greater heroes and villains.

👉 Features of The Lord of the Rings: Gollum

Dual Personality Choices

One of the most defining features of the game is the constant tension between Sméagol and Gollum. At various decision points, players are forced to choose whether to lean into the more manipulative and cruel Gollum side or the weaker but occasionally sympathetic Sméagol side. These choices influence dialogue, relationships, and the overall atmosphere of the story, giving players a chance to experience the infamous inner struggle that defines this character.

Stealth-Driven Gameplay

Unlike other Lord of the Rings games that focus on combat and large-scale battles, Gollum emphasizes stealth, agility, and survival. You will climb walls, sneak through shadows, and use cunning rather than brute force to outmaneuver enemies. This focus makes the game unique within the franchise, though it also demands patience from players who are used to more action-oriented systems.

Exploration of Middle-earth’s Hidden Corners

The game does not take you to the grand halls of Minas Tirith or the sweeping battlefields of Rohan. Instead, it plunges into darker, lesser-known parts of Tolkien’s world, like the perilous depths of Mordor or the shadowy forests of Mirkwood. These settings feel intimate, threatening, and often claustrophobic, aligning perfectly with Gollum’s own small and desperate perspective.

Story-Driven Adventure

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum aims to expand on Tolkien’s lore without rewriting it. While remaining faithful to the canon timeline, it fills in narrative gaps by speculating on what Gollum might have experienced before he intersected with Frodo and Sam. This creates an unusual but potentially rewarding opportunity for lore enthusiasts, even if the execution is divisive among fans.

Gameplay

Stealth and Survival

The primary gameplay loop revolves around avoiding detection. Gollum cannot win a fight against orcs, guards, or monstrous creatures, so the focus is on sneaking past them, distracting them, or using the environment to gain temporary advantages. Players will often find themselves hiding in shadows, timing movements carefully, and using the verticality of levels to escape danger.

Climbing and Mobility

Borrowing inspiration from platforming and parkour mechanics, Gollum climbs cliff faces, scales fortress walls, and navigates dangerous terrain. The traversal mechanics are central to gameplay, creating moments of tension when one wrong jump can mean capture or death. While not as polished as other modern climbing systems, the emphasis on agility fits the character’s wiry, desperate nature.

Moral Choices and Dialogue

The split personality system is more than just a narrative flavor it functions as a gameplay mechanic. Dialogue trees often force you to resolve internal conflicts between Sméagol and Gollum, with each personality trying to dominate the outcome. These choices can alter small story beats, influence how characters perceive you, and give players a sense of internal tug-of-war throughout the campaign.

Puzzles and Environmental Interaction

Beyond sneaking and climbing, players must occasionally solve environmental puzzles. These range from moving objects to create paths, to distracting guards with thrown items, to leveraging environmental hazards to clear a way forward. While simple in design, they contribute to the sense that Gollum must constantly outthink rather than overpower his surroundings.

Graphics

Dark and Gritty Art Direction

The visual style leans into a bleak and oppressive tone, reflecting both Gollum’s tortured mind and the threatening world he inhabits. Mordor is depicted with sharp rocks, choking smog, and burning fires, while Mirkwood is a tangle of twisted roots and eerie light. These areas may not have the breathtaking grandeur of Peter Jackson’s films, but they succeed in setting an unsettling mood.

Character Design and Animation

Gollum’s character model is deliberately grotesque, exaggerating his gaunt features, bulging eyes, and twitchy movements. Animations emphasize his nervous energy, from his scuttling gait to the sudden flares of aggression when his darker side surfaces. Supporting characters, such as orcs and elves, vary in quality, with some feeling detailed and expressive, while others appear stiff and dated.

Lighting and Atmosphere

Lighting plays a significant role in building tension during stealth sequences. Shadows are your ally, and dimly lit corridors become both protection and prison. Flickering torches, glowing eyes, and shafts of pale light through Mordor’s smoke all contribute to an atmosphere that feels hostile, lonely, and claustrophobic.

Technical Performance

Unfortunately, the game’s performance has been a point of criticism. Frame rate drops, outdated textures, and occasional glitches undermine immersion. While patches have improved stability somewhat, the technical shortcomings remain one of the most discussed aspects of the game, leaving it struggling to meet the visual standards of other modern AAA titles.

Pros and Cons

✔️ Pros

• Unique focus on Gollum’s perspective, offering a fresh narrative lens in Tolkien’s world
• Engaging dual-personality system that adds moral tension and narrative variety
• Atmospheric level design that emphasizes stealth and survival over brute combat
• Exploration of lesser-known areas of Middle-earth with strong lore connections

❌ Cons

• Inconsistent graphics and outdated technical presentation hurt immersion
• Clunky animations and controls make stealth and traversal feel frustrating at times
• Limited gameplay variety, with repetitive stealth encounters dominating the experience