Games like Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™
If Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ is your kind of game, the closest matches are Middle-earth™: Shadow of Mordor™, Maneater and Two Worlds II HD — picked from the ranked list below. Reviewers single out its contemplative, dark and epic. Each pick is ranked by what players of this game also play, shared genres and tags, and review-mined similarity — not a generic popularity list.
Get personalized picks →Middle-earth: Shadow of War is a 2017 Action/Adventure/RPG set in Tolkien's Mordor where players forge a new Ring of Power and build personal armies. The core gameplay loop centers on the Nemesis System, with players highlighting how every orc has unique dialogue and personality that creates memorable rivalries, while fortress sieges feel cinematic and strategic to execute. Combat incorporates randomized enemy modifiers to keep encounters unpredictable, and a talent tree allows specialization in brutal playstyles. Players describe the overall experience as contemplative, dark, epic, and intense. The game runs Verified on Steam Deck and holds an 88% positive rating from 35,896 Steam reviews, available at $49.99.
About Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™: Experience an epic open-world brought to life by the award-winning Nemesis System. Forge a new Ring of Power, conquer Fortresses in massive battles and dominate Mordor with your personal orc army in Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Players who liked Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ also play
Steam players who put hours into Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ also tend to own these titles — a signal called collaborative filtering. imho.run cross-references millions of library ownership patterns to surface games whose real audiences overlap, regardless of whether their genre tags match.
Middle-earth™: Shadow of Mordor™
WHY THIS
Shares nemesis system and an epic mood with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Top pick for Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries.
Fight through Mordor and uncover the truth of the spirit that compels you, discover the origins of the Rings of Power, build your legend and ultimately confront the evil of Sauron in this new chronicle of Middle-earth.
Maneater
WHY THIS
Second-strongest match for Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and Adventure with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Experience the ultimate power fantasy as the apex predator of the seas - a giant Shark! Terrorize the coastal waterways. Tear swimmers and divers limb from limb, give the humans a reason to fear you!
Two Worlds II HD
WHY THIS
Shares a dark mood with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Third-strongest match for Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares RPG with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Check out the new Velvet Edition bundle including both Two Worlds II and Pirates of the Flying Fortress DLC.
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning
WHY THIS
Ranked #4 for Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and RPG with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
The hit RPG returns! Remastered with stunning visuals and refined gameplay Re-Reckoning delivers intense, customizable RPG combat inside a sprawling game world.
Sniper Elite 4
WHY THIS
Ranked #5 for Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and Adventure with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Discover unrivalled sniping freedom in the largest and most advanced World War 2 shooter ever built. Experience tactical third-person combat, gameplay choice and epic longshots across gigantic levels as you liberate wartime Italy from the grip of Fascism.
Mortal Shell
WHY THIS
Shares a dark mood with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Ranked #6 for Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and RPG with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Their Flesh is Your Armor. Mortal Shell is a deep action-RPG that tests your sanity and resilience in a shattered world. Survival demands superior awareness, precision, and instincts. Possess lost warriors, track down hidden sanctums of the devout, and face formidable foes.
Blade of Darkness
WHY THIS
Shares a dark mood with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Ranked #7 for Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and RPG with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Blade of Darkness is a hardcore fantasy action-adventure with unique combat mechanics and role-playing elements that pioneered the “soulsborne” genre. Pick one of four characters to hack and slash through a gory quest to save the world from the forces of Chaos.
Lord of the Rings: War in the North
WHY THIS
Shares a dark mood with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Ranked #8 for Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and RPG with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Work together or die alone in this epic quest to turn the tides in the War of the Ring.
Reviewers mention these as similar to Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™
Surfaced from review text: when other players write 'if you liked X, try Y', we catch the name and resolve it back to a Steam game.
METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN
WHY THIS
Shares a contemplative mood with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Reviewers of Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action and Adventure with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Ushering in a new era for the METAL GEAR franchise with cutting-edge technology powered by the Fox Engine, METAL GEAR SOLID V: The Phantom Pain, will provide players a first-rate gaming experience as they are offered tactical freedom to carry out open-world missions.
Watch Dogs®: Legion
WHY THIS
Shares a dark mood with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Reviewers of Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action and Adventure with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Build a resistance as you fight to take back a near-future London facing its downfall. Welcome to the Resistance.
Middle-earth™: Shadow of Mordor™
WHY THIS
Shares nemesis system and an epic mood with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Reviewers of Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ cross-mention this title as a similar play.
Fight through Mordor and uncover the truth of the spirit that compels you, discover the origins of the Rings of Power, build your legend and ultimately confront the evil of Sauron in this new chronicle of Middle-earth.
Assassin's Creed® Odyssey
WHY THIS
Shares an epic mood with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Reviewers of Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action and Adventure with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
In this action-adventure game, set sail for Ancient Greece to alter its fate. Fight in visceral battles on land and sea, shape your destiny from outcast to legend, and uncover secrets of your past.
Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered
WHY THIS
Shares an epic mood with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Reviewers of Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action and Adventure with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
In Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered, the worlds of Peter Parker and Spider-Man collide in an original action-packed story. Play as an experienced Peter Parker, fighting big crime and iconic villains in Marvel’s New York. Web-swing through vibrant neighborhoods and defeat villains with epic takedowns.
Battle Brothers
WHY THIS
Reviewers of Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares RPG with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Lead a mercenary company in this tactical RPG set in a medieval fantasy world. Chase fame and fortune as you choose where to go, who to recruit, which contracts to pursue, and how to train and equip your men in a procedurally generated open world campaign.
RimWorld
WHY THIS
Reviewers of Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ cross-mention this title as a similar play.
A sci-fi colony sim driven by an intelligent AI storyteller. Generates stories by simulating psychology, ecology, gunplay, melee combat, climate, biomes, diplomacy, interpersonal relationships, art, medicine, trade, and more.
Wasteland 3
WHY THIS
Shares a dark mood with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Reviewers of Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares RPG with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Following the critically acclaimed 2014 Game of the Year winner Wasteland 2, the RPG series that pioneered the post-apocalyptic genre in video games returns with Wasteland 3.
Cheaper alternatives
Games in the same vein priced at least 40% below Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ at current Steam store prices.
Terraria
WHY THIS
Priced ~80% under Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ on Steam right now. Shares Action and Adventure with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Dig, fight, explore, build! Nothing is impossible in this action-packed adventure game. Four Pack also available!
Stardew Valley
WHY THIS
Priced ~70% under Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ on Steam right now. Shares RPG with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
You've inherited your grandfather's old farm plot in Stardew Valley. Armed with hand-me-down tools and a few coins, you set out to begin your new life. Can you learn to live off the land and turn these overgrown fields into a thriving home?
Phasmophobia
WHY THIS
Priced ~60% under Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ on Steam right now. Shares Action with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Phasmophobia is a 4 player online co-op psychological horror. Paranormal activity is on the rise and it’s up to you and your team to use all the ghost-hunting equipment at your disposal in order to gather as much evidence as you can.
Lethal Company
WHY THIS
Priced ~80% under Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ on Steam right now. Shares Action and Adventure with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
A co-op horror about scavenging at abandoned moons to sell scrap to the Company.
Left 4 Dead 2
WHY THIS
Priced ~80% under Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ on Steam right now. Shares Action with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Set in the zombie apocalypse, Left 4 Dead 2 is a co-operative action horror FPS takes you and your friends through the cities, swamps and cemeteries of the Deep South, from Savannah to New Orleans across five expansive campaigns.
Schedule I
WHY THIS
Priced ~60% under Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ on Steam right now. Shares Action with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
From small-time dope pusher to kingpin - manufacture and distribute a range of drugs throughout the grungy city of Hyland Point. Expand your empire with properties, businesses, employees and more.
Hollow Knight
WHY THIS
Priced ~70% under Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ on Steam right now. Shares Action and Adventure with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Forge your own path in Hollow Knight! An epic action adventure through a vast ruined kingdom of insects and heroes. Explore twisting caverns, battle tainted creatures and befriend bizarre bugs, all in a classic, hand-drawn 2D style.
The Forest
WHY THIS
Priced ~60% under Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ on Steam right now. Shares Action and Adventure with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
As the lone survivor of a passenger jet crash, you find yourself in a mysterious forest battling to stay alive against a society of cannibalistic mutants. Build, explore, survive in this terrifying first person survival horror simulator.
Free alternatives
Free-to-play games that recommended players of this title also tend to enjoy.
Doki Doki Literature Club!
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it.
The Literature Club is full of cute girls! Will you write the way into their heart? This game is not suitable for children or those who are easily disturbed.
Life is Strange - Episode 1
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action and Adventure with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Episode 1 now FREE! Life is Strange is an award-winning and critically acclaimed episodic adventure game that allows the player to rewind time and affect the past, present and future.
Ultimate Custom Night
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Welcome to the ultimate FNAF mashup, featuring 50 selectable characters and custom difficulties!
ENA: Dream BBQ
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Adventure with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Experience surreal environments and inexplicable characters as ENA in a new wild world.
Indigo Park: Chapter 1
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action and Adventure with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Explore the abandoned childhood wonder of Indigo Park! Guided by Rambley the Raccoon, help restore power to the destroyed amusement park while you run from the reason it shut down.
STRAFTAT
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
STRAFTAT is a 1v1/2v2 ONLINE first person SHOOTER with quick rounds in over 350 MAPS ; Including all WEAPONS, proximity chat and 4 players FFA.
The Looker
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it.
You wake up, alone, on a strangely familiar island full of puzzles that will frustrate and annoy you.
NGU IDLE
WHY THIS
Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Adventure with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
NGU Idle is a Free To Play Idle game that's full of weird humor, tons of upgrades and hundreds of hours of content! Try out NGU Idle today and experience the joy of Numbers Going Up!
Narrow it down
Head-to-head comparisons
More from Monolith Productions
Other recommendable Steam games by Monolith Productions, ranked by review count so the studio's hits land first.
Middle-earth™: Shadow of Mordor™
WHY THIS
Shares nemesis system and an epic mood with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Another title from Monolith Productions, the studio behind Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Fight through Mordor and uncover the truth of the spirit that compels you, discover the origins of the Rings of Power, build your legend and ultimately confront the evil of Sauron in this new chronicle of Middle-earth.
Blood™ Fresh Supply
WHY THIS
Shares a dark mood with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Another title from Monolith Productions, the studio behind Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™. Shares Action with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Battle an army of sycophantic cultists, zombies, gargoyles, hellhounds, and an insatiable host of horrors in your quest to defeat the evil Tchernobog. Squirm through 42 loathesome levels filled with more atmosphere than a Lovecraftian mausoleum.
Blood: One Unit Whole Blood
WHY THIS
Shares a dark mood with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Another title from Monolith Productions, the studio behind Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™. Shares Action and Adventure with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
You carved your soul to shreds in servitude to a dark god, but false promises and betrayal were your only reward. Now you have a score to settle and it will be measured in blood! Experience the madness in one carnage-soaked package! All the gore, all the unholy war! Zombies, gargoyles, hellhounds and blood-crazed hordes of horrors await!
Blood II: The Chosen + Expansion
WHY THIS
Shares an intense mood with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Another title from Monolith Productions, the studio behind Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™. Shares Action and Adventure with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Includes original Blood II: The Chosen and add-on package The Nightmare LevelsAn immersive atmosphere full of dark humor and exciting actionFour playable characters and wide variety of weapons
Blood: Refreshed Supply™
WHY THIS
Shares an intense mood with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Another title from Monolith Productions, the studio behind Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™. Shares Action with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Things are about to get… bloody! Soak up 42 pulse-pounding levels dripping with Lovecraftian atmosphere as you battle your way through armies of sycophantic cultists, zombies, gargoyles, hell hounds, and other insatiable horrors, in your quest to defeat the loathsome Tchernobog.
Shogo: Mobile Armor Division
WHY THIS
Shares an epic mood with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Another title from Monolith Productions, the studio behind Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™. Shares Action and Adventure with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Shogo is an anime-inspired first-person shooter. Fight on foot or pilot a giant mech in both open and urban levels. You will know the true power of giant robots!
Plays great on Steam Deck
Valve-Verified or Playable picks from the similar pool — ready to go on Deck out of the box.
Middle-earth™: Shadow of Mordor™
WHY THIS
Shares nemesis system and an epic mood with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Deck Verified — runs on Steam Deck out of the box.
Fight through Mordor and uncover the truth of the spirit that compels you, discover the origins of the Rings of Power, build your legend and ultimately confront the evil of Sauron in this new chronicle of Middle-earth.
Maneater
WHY THIS
Deck Verified — runs on Steam Deck out of the box. Shares Action and Adventure with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Experience the ultimate power fantasy as the apex predator of the seas - a giant Shark! Terrorize the coastal waterways. Tear swimmers and divers limb from limb, give the humans a reason to fear you!
Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning
WHY THIS
Deck Verified — runs on Steam Deck out of the box. Shares Action and RPG with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
The hit RPG returns! Remastered with stunning visuals and refined gameplay Re-Reckoning delivers intense, customizable RPG combat inside a sprawling game world.
Sniper Elite 4
WHY THIS
Deck Verified — runs on Steam Deck out of the box. Shares Action and Adventure with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Discover unrivalled sniping freedom in the largest and most advanced World War 2 shooter ever built. Experience tactical third-person combat, gameplay choice and epic longshots across gigantic levels as you liberate wartime Italy from the grip of Fascism.
Mortal Shell
WHY THIS
Shares a dark mood with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Deck Verified — runs on Steam Deck out of the box. Shares Action and RPG with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Their Flesh is Your Armor. Mortal Shell is a deep action-RPG that tests your sanity and resilience in a shattered world. Survival demands superior awareness, precision, and instincts. Possess lost warriors, track down hidden sanctums of the devout, and face formidable foes.
Blade of Darkness
WHY THIS
Shares a dark mood with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Deck Verified — runs on Steam Deck out of the box. Shares Action and RPG with Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
Blade of Darkness is a hardcore fantasy action-adventure with unique combat mechanics and role-playing elements that pioneered the “soulsborne” genre. Pick one of four characters to hack and slash through a gory quest to save the world from the forces of Chaos.
Frequently asked about Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™
- Is Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ verified for Steam Deck?
- Yes — Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ is Steam Deck Verified, meaning Valve has confirmed it runs well on the Deck with full controller, text legibility, and default configuration support.
- How much does Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ cost?
- Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ is listed on Steam at 49.99 USD (current store price; Steam sales may reduce this temporarily).
- What games are most similar to Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™?
- Based on Steam play patterns and shared genres/tags, the games most often recommended alongside Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ are Middle-earth™: Shadow of Mordor™, Maneater, Two Worlds II HD.
- Who developed Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™?
- Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ was developed by Monolith Productions and published by WB Games.
imho.run ranks Steam game alternatives using a mix of collaborative filtering (ALS / iALS / EASE / LightGCN), content scoring over genres, categories, Steam tags, developers, and publishers, plus AI-extracted vibes mined from review text. The page above is generated in seed mode anchored on Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™.
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