The Fellowship of The Ring: Trick-Taking Game Review

The Lord of the Rings and cooperative card games have both been popular for a long time. Now, Tolkien fans can enjoy both with The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick-Taking Game. This card game lets you and your friends experience the first book of the trilogy while working together to complete goals.

What’s Inside the Box?

The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick-Taking Game comes in a small box with beautiful stained-glass style artwork and a shiny ring on the cover. Inside, the box is divided into three parts, with one part containing the cards and counters you’ll use to start the game. The other parts hold chapter ribbons that you will use as you play.

The cards have a unique stained-glass design, which may not seem like the perfect match for The Lord of the Rings at first but it grows on you as you play. The art still brings the characters and moments from the book to life.

How Fellowship of The Ring: Trick-Taking Game Works

This game is based on traditional trick-taking games like Whist and Bridge. In these games, players take turns playing cards, and the highest card of the same suit wins. In this game, the suits are forest, hill, mountain, and shadow, which range from one to eight, and rings, which range from one to five. There is also a trump card—the ring card—that beats all other cards.

The main twist is that this game is cooperative. Instead of competing against each other, you work together to reach a goal. The game is divided into chapters, and each player takes on a character from The Lord of the Rings. Each character has their own goal to complete.

Characters and Goals

Each character has a specific goal that relates to their role in the story. Frodo, for example, always has the goal of winning ring cards. Other characters, like Aragorn and Legolas, also have their own goals. Some characters, like Gildor the elf, have goals that are more abstract, such as playing a forest card in the final round.

The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick-Taking Game is a fun and easy way for The Lord of the Rings fans to experience the story in a new way. With its simple rules and beautiful art, this game is perfect for both card game beginners and experienced players. Whether you’re a The Lord of the Rings fan or just love cooperative games, this game offers a great adventure to enjoy with friends.

Getting Used to Cooperative Gameplay and Strategy

At first, working together to win specific tricks for each player might feel unusual, especially if you’re used to competitive trick-taking games. There’s also a rule that prevents players from discussing the cards in their hands, making the game more challenging. But after a few rounds, you’ll start to grasp the basic tactics, and the game will feel more natural. It strikes a good balance between strategy and luck: sometimes, the cards you’re dealt may not align with your goals, but the ability to choose your character and exchange cards with others adds extra chances for success.

Surprising Twists and Chapter Mechanics

Just when you think you’ve mastered the game, it introduces new rules and character goals. There are 18 chapters in total, and each one brings creative changes to keep you on your toes. Some chapters tie into the story better than others. For example, the Barrow-downs chapter adds a fog effect by removing random cards from the deck to create confusion. Other villains like Old Man Willow, the Ringwraiths, and the Balrog also make appearances, keeping things interesting.

Similar to ‘The Crew,’ but with More Thematic Depth

Veteran gamers might notice that The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick-Taking Game shares similarities with another popular cooperative trick-taking game, The Crew: Mission Deep Sea. Both games adapt trick-taking to a group goal with individual objectives. However, the Tolkien adaptation offers some advantages. While The Crew focuses on vague difficulty levels, The Fellowship of the Ring brings a sense of progression with its familiar story and rich artwork, making each challenge feel more engaging. Additionally, the single trump card of the One Ring is more interesting than the standard trump suit in The Crew, and the game’s objectives are more varied and thematic.

Solo Mode for an Extra Challenge

Surprisingly, The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick-Taking Game also includes a solo mode, and it works surprisingly well. In solo mode, you control four characters at once, starting with half the cards dealt and drawing more randomly as you play. This simulates the uncertainty of not knowing what’s in other players’ hands. Coordinating each character’s goals across multiple hands is a tough challenge, adding an extra layer of depth for solo players.

• Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii Review – A Fun and Wild Spin-Off Adventure
• PGA Tour 2K25 Review: A Big Step Forward for Virtual Golf
• Schedule 1 Early Access Review – A Bold First Step into a Twisted Future

Prod and Cons of Fellowship of The Ring: Trick-Taking Game

Pros	Cons
🎨 Beautiful stained-glass artwork	🧩 Some character goals don’t fit the story well
🤝 Cooperative gameplay that encourages teamwork	🕒 Takes time to learn for new players
📖 Fun, story-driven chapters from The Lord of the Rings	🔄 Not deep enough for those seeking complex strategy
🃏 Simple rules, great for beginners	♟️ Similar to The Crew for experienced players
🎮 Solo mode for added challenge	🍀 Luck can heavily influence the outcome
🎭 Unique character goals that vary throughout the game	🔄 Might feel too casual for hardcore gamers

Conclusion

With its beautiful art, cooperative gameplay, and The Lord of the Rings theme, The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick-Taking Game offers great fun in a small box. Its simple rules and teamwork-based mechanics make it perfect for families, while the unique twists on trick-taking and the storytelling elements make it appealing to a broader audience. Although it may not satisfy those seeking deep strategy or those familiar with The Crew series, it’s a game worth trying for anyone who enjoys a fun adventure in the world of Middle-earth.