Middle-earth: Shadow of War
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Based on 149 critic reviews
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Unscored Reviews
Top Critic
Top Critic
A greatly expanded and improved action game let down by a dreadful story.
Top Critic
By God, it's delicious.
Top Critic
The fundamental issue here is that being good at Shadow of War means the process becomes routine. Find intel. Target underlings. Go after Warchiefs. Attack the castle. Defeat the Overlord. Appoint your favorite orc as new Overlord. With so many maps this time around, I grew fatigued of this procedure halfway through. And because Talion is so overpowered, I barely died—so there were fewer chances for orcs to remember our previous encounters.
So, I’m not giving this the recommended sticker. It’s too inconsistent for that. But I will say by ignoring the microtransctions and accepting the story for what it was I did have a blast playing Shadow of War, and found myself constantly going back to track down a few more Captains or to just play around with Nemesis system.
There is a chasm the size of middle-earth itself that separates the ingenuity of the game’s Nemesis system and the snorefest that is the game’s ‘point of interest’ system
Shadow of War is a worthy sequel and we've given it a Must Buy. However, note that the Loot Box system is optional if you're willing to work with the game's system and actually play the game (which is what you should be doing!).
Top Critic
Middle Earth: Shadow of War builds on almost every facet of its forerunner carefully – and the result is generally very exciting, if uninspiring.
By operating under the maxim that "bigger is better" Monolith has turned in a sequel that's technically superior but lacking the efficiency and focus of its predecessor.
While no game is perfect, Middle-earth: Shadow of War still manages to get a lot of things right. It has its faults, sure, and the ones behind it made a few mistakes, but if you can see past that and see it for what it is at its core, I’m sure you’ll find a great adventure worthy of a few playthroughs. The improved Nemesis system is a joy to behold, and all the new places you can visit are great. Throw in a few highly cinematic fights and some fantastic attention to the history of the world, and you have a game that I’m a bit sad isn’t canon because it offers many smart and exciting additions to the story that I think might have impressed even Tolkien himself.
Scored Reviews
Top Critic
Everything about this game outdoes the first, and with the expanded Nemesis System, superb combat, and epic story, you'll be immersed for a long time.
Top Critic
With a major graphics evolution, a vast world to be explored, a better developed story and new gameplay mechanics, Middle-earth: Shadow of War shows how an adventure game should be. There will be hours and hours of exploration in Middle-earth which will make the player want to play it more and more. Put it simply, it's one of the best games of 2017.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
So, Middle-earth: Shadow of War has taken the addictive nature of Shadow of Mordor, thrown in various new beasts, creatures and Orc types to enhance the experience and made sure there’s a shed load of stuff to do across the massive regions within. Having spent many hours already slaying and recruiting, I can assure you that it’s a real joy to be back in Middle-earth.
We can definitely say that game ticks every box which makes it a very exciting and enjoyable game. It is definitely a trendsetter and will be an inspiration for many games like these in the future.
Top Critic
You are a merciless tornado of ruin touching down in an unforgiving world of battle and domination, and embracing that unfettered power is a joy
Top Critic
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is a massive and ambitious action game that delivers an epic sense of scale. From single stealthy murders up to the never-ending fortress battles available via online play, Shadow of War is a blast.
Top Critic
An expanded Nemesis System creates fascinatingly interesting player stories, and the amount of freedom afforded to the player is staggering for a game of this scope. Microtransactions never get in the way of the game itself, so any objection to them is based purely on personal principles. Lore purists may find fault with Middle-earth: Shadow of War, but those willing to suspend their disbelief and enjoy the game Monolith built around Tolkien's world will find the best Lord of the Rings game to date. With the immortal words of Samwise Gamgee at my lips, I smile and walk into Mordor, returning to the Gondorian boots of the Gravewalker: “Well, I'm back.”
Top Critic
The combat system from the first game is back and still just as great.
Middle-Earth: Shadow of War is a large game, it provides countless hours of gameplay and consistently brings new twists along the way.
Shadow of War is bigger and better than its predecessor. With a revamped Nemesis System, there are limitless possibilities for each player. You'll definitely spend most of your time hunting and recruiting Orcs for your army. Microtransactions also make an appearance in this game, but can be completely ignored if you don't want to spend more than the full game value.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
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Shadow of War brings the video game to epic: it's an exciting tale in Middle-earth, less rich than Christian Cantamessa did with the first one, but in the same time throbbing.
Review in Italian | Read full review
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Middle Earth: Shadow of War is bigger and better than its predecessor in almost every conceivable way. If you don't mind the repetition found in most open world games, there's a robust strategy layer here that combines with a great combat system to offer hours and hours of Orc slaying, army building fun.
Top Critic
A huge Lord of the Rings experience that's always enjoyable, although its scale leaves it straining at the seams at times.
Top Critic
Middle-Earth: Shadow of War has successfully improved all the good features of the last game. Despite all the graphical problems and its average storytelling, it is still a unique experience and I can tell you that Middle-Earth: Shadow of War is a good game in total; especially if you are a fan of the previous games in the series or you’re an action adventure lover.
Review in Persian | Read full review
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Similar to the way Batman: Arkham City built on the foundation of Arkham Asylum, Middle-earth: Shadow of War is bigger and more ambitious in scope than Shadow of Mordor, with great results. The way it expands the Nemesis system with far greater variety and fortress sieges makes even better use of the stand-out generated characters, and its battles with memorable uruk captains remain challenging all the way through the campaign and into the clever asynchronous multiplayer beyond.
Top Critic
Shadow of War is such an enjoyable game – the Nemesis System and fortresses are intricate and provide unique, compelling gameplay. The combat mechanics are fluid and suit the game perfectly, allowing you to charge into a crowd of orcs and emerge unscathed or silently take out enemies from the shadows.
Even though I liked the first game better it obviously is superior to its predecessor. The new Ork system 2.0 has very much improved and fighting down bug castles is a blast. The loot system should be in the game but fortunately it's not needed at all to progress nicely.
Review in German | Read full review
It’s the best Lord of the Rings game I’ve played to date and I recommend this game to any lord of the rings fan who’s into the lore.
Top Critic
Save for Talion, the characters and story are what make this game worth playing. If you could care less about that, than the Nemesis system is sure to win your heart.
Top Critic
Middle-earth: Shadow of War somehow finds a way to improve on the winning Shadow of Mordor formula and create an incredibly dense and entertaining new piece of Tolkien lore.
Top Critic
Shadow of War is the perfect sequel- it builds on its predecessor's strengths, improves upon its weaknesses, and makes strong, smart additions of its own, bringing it all together for an addictive and unforgettable experience.
Top Critic
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is a great sequel to one of the best videogames based on Tolkien's Universe.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Top Critic
Middle-Earth: Shadow of War is Lord of the Rings turned up to 11. Improving on nearly every idea from the original Shadow of Mordor game, it's a gargantuan sequel in both size and scope.
Top Critic
Middle Earth: Shadow of War might look very familiar at first, but as you progress you’ll realize that almost everything has improved. The new nemesis system is a hit and will result in some huge and epic battles that you’ll never forget.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Top Critic
Despite stiff competition from the likes of Lord of the Rings Online, The Battle For Middle-earth and War In The North, Middle-earth: Shadow of War takes its rightful place on the throne as the greatest Lord of the Rings videogame in history.
Top Critic
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is a sprawling action-filled epic adventure with a compelling story and a living, breathing world that creates real consequences for your actions and failures.
The game is fun, wide and well done. The sound makes everything even more appreciable. I enjoyed completing it almost 100% and I spent the last 10 days doing it. I did not regret it and recommend it to everyone. In a video game where you want everything right away, perfectionism is a manna from the sky. However, the game is not free from defects. Some missions, long and especially towards the end, may be repetitive but not a special note. What I did not appreciate was the ability to make micro-transactions by buying the pincers (both real and real money) to find objects and followers as well as bonuses to various experience and token. This was not necessary for me: the game is perfectly feasible without spending a single coin (especially referring to real money), but sometimes it can be a short cut for "lazy" players in finding the strongest object for pure luck without engaging in discovering legendary objects after finishing certain missions. After that, the title really deserves and is a perfect follow-up to L'Ombra di Mordor!
Review in Italian | Read full review
Top Critic
Monolith Productions manages to deliver a magnificent sequel to Shadow of Mordor. Allowing the players to recruit several types of different orcs that display unpredictable behavior thanks to the Nemesis system is a great experience. Overall, it happens to improve in almost every single area over its predecessor, and the possibility to use dragons as a tool for war is very pleasant.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Top Critic
The second part of the Middle-earth series and its release after more than three years of the first game, an excellent leap for the series, the world has become larger and diverse better shape with the addition of many abilities to the main character and refine the story very well and add influential side characters plus the nature of warfare is a beautiful and distinctive atmosphere For the game.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is amazing and I totally loved every moment of my time in the game, the new improved nemesis system, fortress and a shed load more glorious goodies, makes this installement worth the purchase.
Top Critic
Middle-earth Shadow of War adds a lot to the already great formula, with the addition of sieges and the great additions to the nemesis system this is a game of the year contender for sure.
Top Critic
Monolith knew it had something when they took the Nemesis System, made famous in Shadow of Mordor, and expanded it exponentially. The world has never seen so many diverse Uruk-hai.
Top Critic
The visuals and the unnecesary endgame are the only bad things in a sequel that improves everything from the first game: the combat has been refined, the Nemesis System provides infinite stories, and the sieges contain all the epic (and more) that you'd expect from a product based in Tolkien's Legendarium.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Top Critic
Overall, Shadow of War is an excellent game that offers dozens of hours of enjoyable content. It's a game that's worthy of every minute you'll put into it.
Top Critic
You should play the game at least one time.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Top Critic
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is much like its predecessor: there are a lot of orcs to beat up, and it's extremely fun to do so.
Top Critic
Loot boxes and a sexy Shelob aside Shadow of War is an impressive game in a franchise that whilst takes liberties with lore of the land produces a fascinating world full of captivating experiences.
The new nemesis system guarantees great challenges against ferocious orcs. A great game that will take us in the depths of Mordor.
Review in Italian | Read full review
I rubbed my ring finger and murmured "my precious" – as I had grown really fond of my War experience. I'd wager it'll be in my top five games of the year, without a shadow of a doubt.
Shadow of War is incredibly ambitious and delivers so much compared to Shadow of Mordor. The Nemesis system is bigger, badder, and more complex than ever.
Top Critic
Middle Earth: Shadow of War offers us the same as Shadows of Mordor, but better. A conservative game in the playable aspect that only has a few improvements, but enough to not think that we are looking at an expansion of the previous title. With entertaining and well-implemented ideas, an improved Nemesis system and a graphic section that without the best, at least is not hampered by the Old Gen versions.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Top Critic
An almost perfect sequel, but the true ending is behind lengthy grind or micropayments. Don't worry, though – you can see it somewhere else, and the rest of this exceptional game does not need them.
Review in Polish | Read full review
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If Shadow of War is guilty of anything, it's giving you too much to do. The world is seemingly bursting with content and side objectives. In cities, you can over take towers, much like the Assassin's Creed games. Upon taking a tower you'll reveal hidden points of interest within the city, such as collectibles, a “memories of Shelob” mini game, and side missions featuring the fall and demise of Celebrimbor. The game gives so much to keep you occupied and, with the great combat, you'll never get tire of working through it. It's a perfect example of a studio taking an already solid game and improving it on every front.
Top Critic
Middle Earth: Shadow of War is a game unlike anything before it. The already excellent systems introduced in its predecessor have been made better in every way with new consequences and rewarding wrinkles.
Top Critic
Building upon the accomplishments of its predecessor and wielding the influence of The New Ring, Middle-earth: Shadow of War should be remembered as Talion's greatest adventure to date.
Top Critic
It's time to go back to the Midde-earth and Shadow of War is the ideal choice. Story, atmosphere, gameplay. This trio manages to satisy the player.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Top Critic
Improves everything that made Shadow of Mordor just an excellent game but makes new mistakes with pacing and with its narrative. Again an excellent (and deeper) game.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is great sequel even if it still carries the fault the original game. At least, the Nemesis system now truly feels alive and makes it one of the greatest game mechanics applied in a game. All the strengths of the previous game are reinforced, unfortunately some problems persist and I regret mostly the rough technical side of a game that could look much better for a 2017 release.
Top Critic
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is great for veterans and tough for newcomers, but a joy to play for either party once you get a hang of the mechanics. It gets tedious at times, and there are missed opportunities here and there, but the Nemesis System that was a beacon of success in the first game has come back bigger and better than ever. It's definitely a return to Middle-earth that is worth the play, and an homage to Tolkien's works that everyone can appreciate.
Top Critic
If you're a fan of the Lord of the Rings mythology, you'd be forgiven for thinking that the Middle-earth games don't compliment the lore of the books. Spawned from a series of epic fantasy novels, this loud, insane, adrenaline-filled open-world adventure certainly isn't true to the works of author J.R.R. Tolkien. Perhaps you might slap your forehead in dismay by the goofy plot or looseness to the source material but what's undeniable is, that Middle-earth: Shadow of War is a lot of fun.
Top Critic
Shadow of War may not be perfect. Its camera can still get lost, Talion’s free-running can often be a hindrance rather than a help, and the UI can sometimes bug out for no apparent reason in menus and the main game. But these are little issues in a very large game, and even with the Loot Boxes as optional purchases (they truly are optional), I can’t help but recommend this game to any and all fans of open world adventures. With or without the DLC there are dozens of hours of playtime to be had, and it’s mostly of the highest quality. Recommended.
Top Critic
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is a definite improvement over Shadow of Mordor. People who played the first game and wanted to see serious growth will be pleased. There are times when it can feel a bit repetitive. I feel like I would have enjoyed it more if I could have spread the experience out over weeks, picking away at segments and really building up to those major sieges. But the Nemesis system does feel stronger this time around, with orcs that can be rather delightful as you continually fight them or prepare them to serve your own purposes in your army. If you don't take the story too seriously, you should have a good enough time.
Top Critic
Monolith studio built on the success of the Nemesis System in Shadow of Mordor and presented it better in the new Shadow of War, with excellent RPG mechanics making it an RPG game rather than an action game. Although the story is very linear and weak in the game I found myself spending hours and hours playing to form my army and attack other fortresses, as well as daily challenges and community challenges that would make me play the game for a long time without boredom.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Top Critic
In almost all points larger, better and more sophisticated than the predecessor - but not in terms of operation and business model.
Review in German | Read full review
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Despite the odd lull in gameplay, repetitive objective or feeling as though there's too much scale weighing you down – Shadow of War is completely inspirational in the way it's attempting to further narrative storytelling in videogames. The overarching storyline involving Talion is an engrossing one yet that almost becomes a sub-plot in itself – second to the mini meta-narratives you'll create amongst the factions of Orcs and Warchiefs you meet along the way. The voice acting and motion capture performances are really solid and the presentation is glossy and big-budget; it's as close to actually being in Middle-Earth as you're ever going to get. I'm about as swept up in this game as a Drake riding off into a fiery sunset; fantastic.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Middle-earth: Shadow of War. I'm a huge fan of the lore and world here, so that should come as no surprise. What ultimately clinches the deal however, is just how much fun this is to play. I'm utterly addicted to the Nemesis system and everything it churns out, not to mention taking part in epic sieges and open warfare. Yes, the soundtrack is honestly a letdown. On top of that, I'm wary of the very idea of lootboxes touching a singleplayer game, even one as content-packed as this. Not to mention, if you aren't enjoying everything the game has to offer, it might feel like a bit of a grind towards the end. Ultimately however, that doesn't take away too much from what Monolith Productions has accomplished here: An epic conclusion to the story that was started in Shadow of Mordor, a legitimately living world that reacts to player decisions or indecision, and a game set in Middle Earth that feels awesome to play.
Top Critic
Shadow of War presents new features adding to what we already love about Shadow of Mordor. On the other hand, it does not drift far outside of that.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Shadow of War has got off to a rocky start, with potential PR issues with the likes of charitable DLCs, and loot boxes making their way into single player games; I could have ended up being a disaster. However Warner Brothers and Monolith Productions have pulled off a spectacular single player game that does the original justice. If you ignore the bandwagoning hate on loot packages, because really, you don’t need them at all, then Shadow of War should really be a contender for game of the year. You could easily rack up a hundred hours worth of content from finding all the collectables and messing around in the nemesis system.
Top Critic
Shadow of War has taken the Nemesis system from the first game and attempted to expand it by adding allies into the mix. It creates an interesting dynamic that works really well with the combat of the game and even though the story is rather weak, the gameplay and the Nemesis system still offer a fun experience.
Top Critic
Shadow of War finds its success in perfectly expanding upon everything that made Shadow of Mordor so great. Despite the game's slow start, once you get into the weeds of Shadow of War's systems, you'll find yourself engrossed and addicted to its satisfying gameplay loop for hours on end. This increased depth along with the much larger scale of the world and battles within Shadow of War make it a far better game from top to bottom than that of its predecessor.
Top Critic
Brandon Sanderson has an interesting quote after setting a couple of rules in writing fantasy that says “Don't let rules limit your fantasies”. Monolith does that. They take a new approach towards Tolkien's lore and expand on their already successful formula to create on of the best games of 2017. Though the final value can be thwarted due to low difficulty level and microtransactions.
Review in Persian | Read full review
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Despite a lacking story, the Nemesis System is still the coolest gameplay mechanic I have ever seen in a game. Fans of Shadow of Mordor will find lots to love about Shadow of War, and new fans will surely enjoy the addictive and impressive gameplay. Just don't go in expecting a canon Tolkien story.
Middle-earth: The Shadow of War is the perfect synthesis of modern action-adventure. Thanks to an impeccable combat system, a fascinating story and an incredible story, the latest fantasy creature by Monolith Productions and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment is not just a repetition of the gameplay that has characterized the previous chapter but, conversely, draws inspiration from them to give us a more free and, in many respects, daring adventure.
Top Critic
A textbook example of how to make a great sequel, Middle-earth: Shadow of War takes the first game's template and expands upon it in a meaningful and interesting way. The result is a follow-up that's not only a lot bigger, but it's also a lot better. It talks the talk, and yes, it also Orcs the Orc.
Top Critic
If you can live with some bugs, Middle-Earth: Shadow of War is a solid follow-up to Shadow of Mordor. Everything that made the first game such a treat is still fully intact, and the addition of loot makes it even more difficult to decide whether to keep or kill orcs. The new fortress mechanic is very intriguing, especially when multiplayer is thrown into the mix, but it makes concessions so it doesn't heavily punish those who don't always maintain their bases. All of this is thrown together with a wide variety of activities and an overall journey that is rarely boring. Fans of grand adventures absolutely enjoy this title.
Top Critic
Middle-Earth: Shadow of War like its predecessor is built upon the dynamic "Nemesis System." While the sequel offers an interesting story, it often becomes convoluted between the various arcs it wants to go in. Thankfully, the second by second gameplay has never felt better. With the addition of Shadow Wars, the best parts of the game will continue long after the story ends.
Top Critic
On the other hand, the loot boxes won't stop me from replaying this game at least one more time, and to go through all of the expansions. I'm inevitably drawn to it, and I have to say that at least for me, the presence of loot boxes is not enough to stop me from enjoying it, probably much more than it should.
I never really got into Shadow of Mordor the way many others did. Shadow of War, however, is another story entirely and is definitely one of this year’s games that you should not miss.
Top Critic
Shadow of War improves on almost every aspect of the original game. There is so much to do and the systems in place are truly special.
Top Critic
Providing thrilling gameplay, a flowing combat system, pleasing Tolkien landscape, challenging charismatic bosses, deeper story and a bigger end game mechanic to keep the player entertained for many many hours, today Middle Earth Shadow of War is one of the best games available in the third-person RPG-action genre.
Top Critic
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is a good sequel to Shadow of Mordor. Fortress sieges are a nice introduction, but in the long run things could get a little bit repetitive.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Top Critic
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is pretty much a Shadow of Mordor with more of everything. It's ambitious, good looking and the combat system is both fluid and entertaining. As a action game, Shadow of War is almost as good as this genre gets.
Review in Swedish | Read full review
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I wish Shadow of War was as confident in itself as I am in it. Had Monolith proudly led with the Nemesis Fortress system and introduced players to it quickly, they would unquestionably be on the shortlist for making the Game of the Year. Thankfully, the system acts as the Mithril-strong foundations for the game, so while the additional elements may be generic and unwelcome, there is very little digging required to find the shining silver.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is an amazing game. The unique Nemesis system gives us better world design and Orc encounters leading to a truly enjoyable experience.
Top Critic
Shadow of War is stellar in the moments the player focuses on the game's grander scope, but some of the mechanics that tie the rest together should have received a bit more attention. It may start off a bit slow, but the end payoff is more than worth it.
Top Critic
Like an ever-growing castle, Shadow of War takes the strong foundation of Shadows of Mordor and builds several more keeps and floors on top of it. The not-so-faithful narrative continues to be polarizing and the addition of microtransactions won't sit well with some fans. A more fleshed out Nemesis system combined with a ton of content and new features such as fortress sieges, however, provide hours and hours of gameplay for fans of the original. Plus you've got orcs that sing and perform poetry before they try to kick your butt. Just let that sink in for a bit...
Top Critic
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is massive, yet at the same time a prime example of a sequel that's bigger, but not necessarily any better than the original. Once again the Nemesis system shines, allowing players to forge their own unique stories, even if the game tries to do too much with it at times. Getting caught in its tangle of new systems and features can be frustrating, but there's still a great open world game here.
Top Critic
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is an improvement over its predecessor in every way imaginable.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War expands on the unique ideas of its predecessor to varying degrees of success. There are deeper mechanics, the Nemesis system is buffed up and much more prevalent and there are interesting characters that you meet on your adventure. However, it adheres too much on the previous game's mechanics and often feels like a retread. There is a mountain of content to play through and even though much of it can feel the same after a while, the momentum it sustains can keep you engaged. A very solid open-world experience awaits you if you choose to jump in and if you enjoyed the previous game, you will have a lot more of it to play in this iteration.
Top Critic
Shadow of Mordor was a bombastic, grandiose romp through a very storied land, steeped in a much-beloved history, as penned by Tolkien. Shadow of War takes what made the original such a great experience and magnifies it tenfold, blowing it up into a titanic game. Embrace the Bright Lord and play this game if you've got even a passing interest in the Lord of the Rings saga. Even if you don't, this high-fantasy action game has a bit of everything.
Top Critic
Middle-earth: Shadow of War (2017) is a fantastic sequel aside from the controversial transactions and quite terrible marketing campaign. It follows up Mordor effortlessly with the expanded nemesis system, being the best mechanics in current generation video games. It can sometimes get bogged down with confusing mission placement and skill requirements for story progression. Tolkien fans will be happy as the lore is expanded upon and newcomers are set to enjoy an insight into the famous world
Top Critic
The sequel boxes are generally ticked off with Shadow of War, it's bigger, better, and a touch more ambitious than Shadow of Mordor was, but there are aspects that feel somewhat dated now, and there's a lack of polish to certain controls that dilutes the fun just a smidgen. The Nemesis system remains the star, and with the addition of sieges and tribes, it's a star that burns brighter than ever.
Top Critic
Middle-earth: Shadow of War isn't a perfect game and the story has some problems, but it offers great gameplay and things like capturing enemy castles, riding a Drake and finishing different quests is very enjoyable. Middle-earth: Shadow of War, in fact, is the best game based on middle earth series.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Top Critic
Monolith did a lot of things right, but didn't know when they should end the game. The best way to play is to finish Act 3, watch the ending and then look for the bonus cinematic on YouTube. This way you'll save your time and spare your nerves.
Review in Russian | Read full review
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Middle-earth: Shadow of War is stellar sequel to a surprisingly great game. The Nemesis System remains the real star of the show in all of its expanded glory, and while its dynamic brilliance threatens to make the main story missions seem boring by comparison, there's enough heft to the overall package that you can look past its shortcomings. In the barrage of blockbusters hitting PS4 over the next few months, Shadow of War should not be missed.
Top Critic
Massive in scope and improving on its predecessor, Middle-earth: Shadow of War is a triumph in every way that matters. While certain aspects are underdeveloped, or simplified to embrace “player choice”, the Nemesis 2.0 system, combat improvements, and genuinely engaging combat system keep things fresh for the 40 hour adventure. If only they hadn't followed the movies and extended the ending well past its welcome.
Top Critic
It's hard work following a sleeper hit, and at times Shadow of War looks like it's trying to do too much over too wide an area for a bit too long. Its storylines run the gamut from deftly handled through to daft, and ludicrous liberties are taken with Tolkien's characters and lore.
Top Critic
It's a shame the story is so strangely paced, but you hardly need it. Fortress Assaults are great set pieces, and there's a lot of fun to be had with the upgraded Nemesis System alone.
Top Critic
A hell of a lot of game for your money and for the most part a ton of fun, sadly it outstays its welcome leading to total fatigue as you enter the overly long unnecessary home stretch.
Top Critic
There's plenty here to love, but you will need patience and you will need resolve, because the orcs and their player-defined society is a thing of, as I said earlier, unnatural beauty, it's just a shame the rest of the game suffers in their expanded development wake.
Top Critic
Middle-earth Shadow of War consistently shocked and surprised me around every corner, with every Orc betrayal, every revelatory fortress takeover, and menacing look from the Bright Lord. It gripped me in ways I certainly didn't expect having played the first game, and I'm already missing my trip through Mordor. I can't wait to see more from this excellent franchise.
Top Critic
Shadow of War is up there in with the best when it comes to great action RPG experiences and you'll have hours of fun smashing your way through enemies in an abrupt fashion, or stealthily assassinating your targets from bushes or rooftops.
Top Critic
An excellent sequel that goes on for perhaps a bit too long, just like The Hobbit
Top Critic
With Uruk-hai rallied to your side, this return to Middle-earth impresses in its fearless ambition but is soon let down by repetitive mission design.
Top Critic
Middle-earth: Shadow of War might not have had the best time pre-release, but it manages to be a solid, competent follow up to 2014's Shadow of Mordor. It's a gigantic time-sink of a game that's well worth your time and attention.
While the story feels half-baked at times, the follower and Nemesis systems and the consistency of the world of Mordor make Shadow of War a remarkably fun romp through Middle-Earth.
Top Critic
Shadow of War is much bigger than its predecessor, offering more orcs, more gear, more to conquer, and your very own orc army. It's a massive game with so much to do that it can feel like a bit of a grind later in the game. Likewise, the loot box mechanic interfaces with army upkeep in a way that feels less than satisfying. Shadow of War is still a great game, but there's a linger corruption that keeps it from perfection.
Top Critic
Middle-earth: Shadow of War's extensive orc variety and improved nemesis system blends extremely well with its hectic combat. While the story is better than the original, the implementation of quests is poor. Attacking and defending forts is great, although overused in the already lengthy campaign.
Monolith’s Shadow of War is mostly sacrificed by gaming world’s enormous expectations. However, WB Games’ hyping up the game was also big enough to create this not so good atmosphere. Middle Earth: Shadow of War didn’t make it to satisfy its players the way it should’ve done. Yet it’s still an entertaining and elegant piece of work which is undoubtedly attractive for almost all of the fans of action-roleplaying games. Therefore, In spite of its flaws, Shadow of War is recommended to everyone.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Shadow of War is like someone telling you a really exciting story, but they're so indulged in it that they trip over their words and you end up confused and you can't grasp the great magnitude of the adventure in their brain. Muddled but ultimately satisfying and fun, this is a gorgeous Orc pancake with a little too much sickly syrup.
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Endgame aside, Shadow of War hits the right marks, and is worth another run through the Black Gate.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War plays to the strength of its predecessor by doubling down on the Nemesis System. In a lot of ways, this works in the game’s favor. Creating rivalries and forced companionship out of the wildly eccentric hordes under Sauron is an absolute joy. Whether Talion is attacking strongholds or defending his own, these personalities punctuate the action. The height of this achievement quickly reveals the areas of Shadow of War that have fallen short, such as the narrative that dips into a monotonous grind and the overly cluttered systems present in the menus. Still, Shadow of War‘s attention builds itself around the Nemesis backbone and it succeeds more than it fails by doing so for the majority of this adventure.
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If you can get past the microtransactions, Shadow Wars seems set to provide a much meatier extended playtime than Shadow of Mordor ever offered. But more than anything, that's my biggest disappointment with Middle-earth: Shadow of War: Everything about it seems to come with a caveat, some small annoyance or two that you need to dig past to get to the still-very-fun game underneath. The Nemesis System is still a wonder that has yet to be replicated. The movement and combat are thrilling.
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Middle-Earth: Shadow of War is a great expansion, built on the foundation of it's predecessor. But still, it's not a prefect product. Shadow of war is an undeniably messy experience. While the core mechanics, specially the nemesis system are fun and solid, the whole game feels sloppy and the adventure is forgettable.
Review in Persian | Read full review
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The Shadow of War offers a solid gameplay, a compelling concept and a much more varied setting than the previous episode, with excellent production values and an awesome soundtrack. The sequel is bigger, better and stronger, but somehow caged in a repetitive framework. The game is full of good ideas and potential, that cannot be truly fulfilled due to a storytelling without personality and a huge but boring endgame.
Review in Italian | Read full review
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The nemesis system shines in this unwieldy, bloated, and occasionally magnificent fantasy epic.
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A handful of issues, some much more annoying than others, do not negate how solid of an action RPG Middle-earth: Shadow of War is. A tremendous achievement for the team at Monolith Productions, this is an exciting, if not sometimes slow, and too often unfair, title that manages to be as impressively fun as it is big. While those issues will definitely find their way into your grinding teeth and clenching hands at least a few times throughout the experience, Middle-earth: Shadow of War has more than enough merit to keep drawing you back in.
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Shadow of War is absurdly fun to play, with excellent combat mechanics, a deep progression system, and plenty of enemies to defeat. However, it's let down by an incoherent plot and its disappointingly poor treatment of Tolkien's work.
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If you enjoyed Shadow of Mordor, you'll also enjoy Shadow of War, but if you feel fatigued as I do from this type of formulaic open world game, Shadow of War amplifies the issues with the genre rather than improves upon them.
There’s a lot to like and the nemesis system is really great but I wish that the game built around it was more interesting and engaging.
Ultimately, Shadow of War is a good game that isn’t as endearing as its predecessor or as revolutionary in its ideas. While it adds layers of new mechanics on top of the emergent gameplay found in the first, its creaky fundamentals, questionable endgame, and lackluster story hold it back from being quite as essential as what came before it.
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The follow-up to Shadow of Mordor is bigger in scope, but not always better than its predecessor.
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Middle-earth: Shadow of War aims for the spectacle of the films, but falls short with a directionless, lore-breaking campaign.
Shadow of War managed to grab hold of me much harder than any other open-world game ever has. Despite its inherant faults, I still had a great time playing through, and can’t say I regret the hours I put in to it.
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The base gameplay is more than solid, but the overall experience feels lessened by a combination of unnecessary expansion and lots of repetition.
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If you spent more than a few hours with Shadow of Mordor, there's little doubt you'll find plenty of reasons to do the same with Shadow of War . And there's little reason to think anyone curious about the first game wouldn't find plenty to love in the sequel.
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Middle-earth: Shadow of War is not a bad game, but it becomes repetitive and boring in the process. You still can have fun, but we recommend short playing sessions.
Review in Russian | Read full review
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Middle-earth: Shadow of War is a sequel perfect for the fans of the original game and fans of repetitive gameplay. They’ll love this game but they won’t be surprised at all. The combat system is really cool, the story is okay (albeit too long) but all in all Monolith took a step back as if afraid to do something new.
Review in Polish | Read full review
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Middle-earth: Shadow of War has a lot of fluff that attempts to sabotage it, but the game succeeds in its effort to make its world worth roaming around and killing things in. Although I wasn't enthralled by the silly story beats that try to dance around telling an actual epic and somber tale, the ability to create my own stories with an expanded level of gameplay was more than sufficient to call this a step up.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War wants to be too much at the same time and ends up (besides a greatly improved Nemesis System) in a repetitive mess that doesn't shine in terms of story and graphics. The integration of the Lootboxes doesn't effect the game as much as we expected but it still shouldn't be in a Singleplayer title to begin with. Fans of Lord of the Rings still get to see some of their fan favourites and the gameplay this time is really solid.
Review in German | Read full review
Shadow of War is a nice sequel to Shadow of Mordor. But, as with Mordor, some of the plot holes and annoyances are here and it stops this from becoming a great game. For me Monolith have gone out to improve the Nemesis system, which they have done very well with. But, in doing so forgot the most important part of any game. Tell a good story! If you’re a Tolkien fan and have issues with the lore being played around with, you will find yourself as rage filled as some of the orcs you’re going to be fighting. But, if you’re a casual LOTR / fantasy fan, then the story is there for you to enjoy and make the most of.
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At the end of the day, the big question is: Did I have fun? Yes, yes I did. I had fun killing the orcs, I loved the interactions with the story orcs, and when the combat behaves itself I enjoy the siege battles. The frustration isn't enough to make me glad it's over, and I'm looking forward to the additional story content coming in later. So with that, if you'll excuse me, I need to go find that corpse-loving orc again and kill it. With fire. And poison. And curse.
Middle-earth: Shadow of War is a worthy sequel to the original Shadow of Mordor game in many ways, but it manages to fall short in a handful of others that are impossible to completely dismiss. That is a shame, since Mordor was my contender for Game of the Year when it released, and I had high, similar hopes for Shadow of War that unfortunately doesn't reach those lofty expectations I had hope for.
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Monolith has doubled down on what made the original a surprise hit but hasn't addressed its flaws
All in all, as a newcomer, Middle-earth: Shadow of War brings somewhat clunky controls, unnecessary loot boxes and an ending effectively locked behind either paying or grinding leads to a sour first impression. The game looks brilliant, sounds brilliant and really grips you with it’s updated rendition of the Nemesis System… But I can’t help but feel that there’s better out there. It’s a fun walk through Mordor, but a fun game…? Perhaps not entirely.
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Shadow of War offer probably one of the most interesting open world system. Very deep and intelligent,it's a true living world around us and nemesis system is still brillant. Sadly we have still some issues from the first game, like muddles combats and crazy difficulty at some moments. Also a fan of Tolkien can find lot of mistakes in the game...
Review in French | Read full review
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Lord of the Rings fans will eat this up, as will those who like to delve into a game world and walk away, hours and hours later, without ever coming closer to completion of a main quest mission. If you can ignore all the glitches and bugs, this game is for you.
Unfortunately, while Shadow of War is a decent enough game, it never manages to capture what made the original so special. Bigger isn't always better and in Shadow of War's case its doubly true.
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Shadow of war had a great opportunity to Succeed and reach a level of public success that other games didn't had, but unfortunately with the focus of the studio on the nemesis system and the justification of the micro transactions the rest of the game's sides have been Neglected and dwarfed in favor of the nemesis system which for many times feels that the presence for that system is just unfair to it.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
It’s a shame really, because under a whole load of mess, there’s a game just waiting to be refined and perfected. Shadow of War did in fact right some wrongs, but it lumped them in with some odd choices that really prevent you from investing in a system that they have peacocked left and right.
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All in all, this title is worth a look; just don't expect to grow too attached to it.
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Middle-earth: Shadow of War doubles down on every single aspect of Shadow of Mordor, for better and worse.
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This sequel expands on the vaunted Nemesis system in wildly entertaining ways, even as it falls short around the edges.
It's a long game, but filled with repetition. If you want the most hours for your dollars, this might be a good place, but the time I spent here was only mediocre, and I could have found better.
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The whole experience feels so utterly soulless it's hard to really care about any of it.
