Lord of the Rings Online

Based on the books that birthed the genre, the Lord of the Rings Online game is an MMO set in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth, complete with elves, dwarves, orcs, and Frodo, himself. The quests are seemingly endless, the various story lines are entertaining, the scenery is pure eye candy, and there are more hobbits than a player can shake a stick at.

Playable races are Man, Elf, Dwarf, and Hobbit, and there are plenty of classes to choose from: Champion, Captain, Minstrel, Lore-master, Guardian, Burglar, Hunter, and Warden. Each class has a completely unique method of play with unique abilities/spells, and each varies in level of difficulty, level of solo to group play, and in-group duties.

One favorite aspect of the Lord of the Ring Online game is the ability to purchase mounts, and another is housing. Players can decorate their homes with rugs, furniture, paintings, and trophies, and houses have extra storage chests–handy for organization and when the bank begins to fill up.

Players can play as a “VIP” with a monthly charge of $9.99 – $14 (depending on the payment plan), taking advantage of all aspects of the game, or there is a scaled-back, free version that allows players to purchase perks at the in-game “Lotro Store”, using points granted for various achievements.