It’s not often that I find myself completely at odds with the mainstream gaming press, but Return to Moria is one of those rare occasions. When the game initially launched, many major outlets, such as PC Gamer, gave it surprisingly low scores, even lower than Gollum, which, if you’re familiar with that title, set a new standard for how underwhelming a Lord of the Rings game can be. Having personally endured the mess that is Gollum, I can assure you that Return to Moria is far from deserving that kind of scorn. In fact, after spending dozens of hours spelunking in Moria’s dark and mysterious depths, I’m here to give my Return to Moria review and make a case for why it is a must-play for fans of both survival games and Tolkien’s world.
I’ve played through Return to Moria from start to finish, collecting every single achievement along the way, and can say with confidence that the other critics missed the mark. Beneath its modest exterior lies a deeply satisfying and immersive experience—one that captures the essence of being a dwarf reclaiming his ancestral home. If you’re a fan of the books or movies, you’ll find the allure of exploring the Mines of Moria irresistible. And if you’re into survival games, Return to Moria is a thoughtfully designed and enjoyable title that blends classic survival mechanics with a Lord of the Rings flavour.
Delving into the Depths of Moria: What Makes the Game Shine
The premise of Return to Moria is as simple as it is compelling: you’re a dwarf, summoned back to Moria by the famous Gimli Lockbearer, to reclaim the lost kingdom of your forefathers. Set in the Fourth Age of Middle-earth, decades after the War of the Ring, you’re tasked with navigating the sprawling, crumbling halls of Khazad-dûm, rebuilding its ancient structures, and purging the goblins, orcs and other nefarious dark things that have infested its depths. The game’s atmosphere is spot-on, with each corridor and chamber dripping with history and foreboding. This is a place both haunted and holy.
Unlike other survival games that often lack a cohesive narrative or sense of purpose, Return to Moria smartly mixes its campaign into the survival mechanics. You have clear goals: find and restore the legendary forges of old, rebuild monuments to unlock upgrades and blueprints, and ultimately make Moria a livable home again. There’s a genuine sense of progression as you carve out multiple small havens and way rests amidst the dark, a feeling that’s enhanced by the game’s myriad collectables and secrets.
Lore-Laden Easter Eggs for the Faithful
Fans of Tolkien will find much to love here. One of the game’s greatest strengths is how it weaves in iconic moments and locations from the lore. You can retrace the steps of the Fellowship, stumbling across small, lore-appropriate artifacts like Pippin’s infamous stone that caused the horde (in the books it is a carved stone, not a skeleton) or Gandalf’s lost hat. Then there’s the Chamber of Mazarbul, a chilling reminder of Balin’s and Ori's tragic fate. These little touches, while not essential to gameplay, enrich the experience and make every discovery feel like a reverent nod to Tolkien’s world.
The attention to detail in these references is wonderful and unexpected for a game that’s primarily a survival sim. Unlike the clumsy and superficial fan service seen in some other adaptations, Return to Moria incorporates these Easter eggs in a way that feels organic, giving players a genuine sense of being part of this legendary saga.
Satisfying Survival Mechanics with a Lord of the Rings Twist
Let’s address the survival elements, which are the core of the game’s gameplay loop. Whether you’re playing solo or with a group of friends, the game’s mechanics are engaging enough and well-balanced (though the harder difficulties are where the true fun is). You’ll spend a lot of time mining, gathering resources, crafting gear, and managing your hunger and stamina. But what sets Return to Moria apart from other survival titles is its unique “horde/noise” system. Make too much racket while breaking rocks or fighting, and you’ll alert the goblins and orcs lurking in the dark. This feature adds a layer of tension and strategy to even the simplest tasks, as you’ll often have to weigh the benefits of quickly mining a rich vein of silver against the risk of summoning a deadly swarm.
What makes this mechanic even more compelling is that the game’s audio cues are masterfully done. The deep, ominous drumbeats that echo through the tunnels when you’ve attracted too much attention are genuinely unsettling.
Mining is More Than Just Busywork
Speaking of mining, Return to Moria handles this core activity better than almost any other game I’ve played in the genre. In many survival titles, gathering resources can quickly become a chore—one that feels repetitive and devoid of any real excitement. But here, mining has a soul. You’re not just chipping away at a rock wall for stone and ore; you’re unearthing the remnants of a once-great kingdom. There’s an emotional weight to the process, and the game amplifies this by letting you occasionally burst into song. It’s a refreshing change from the usual survival gameplay of hitting rocks and trees ad nauseam.
Yes, you read that right. As you dig, your dwarf when prompted, can break into an inspirational working song, granting you a temporary stamina boost. It’s a small touch, but one that adds a surprising amount of charm and character to the experience. It reminded me a bit of Deep Rock Galactic, another excellent mining-focused game that leans heavily into the dwarven motif. There’s just something about being a dwarf, swinging a pickaxe, and belting out hearty tunes that awakens a primeval joy in me—something I could do for hours without ever feeling bored.
But Return to Moria takes it a step further by incorporating songs of reverence, too. When you encounter one of the great statues of Durin, your dwarf will sing a somber, haunting melody in honour of the Deathless. It’s a simple yet powerful moment that connects you to the legacy of your character and the world around you. It’s rare for a survival game to make you feel so deeply part of its world, but Return to Moria manages it effortlessly.
Rebuilding a Kingdom, One Stone at a Time
Another standout feature is the statue-rebuilding system. Throughout Moria, you’ll find ruined statues, broken bridges, and ancient forges that you can restore to their former glory. Rebuilding these structures not only gives you access to new blueprints and buffs but also imparts a tangible sense of progress. You’re not just surviving in Moria; you’re reclaiming it, piece by piece.
There’s a particularly satisfying feeling when you manage to restore a great statue, seeing the rubble clear away and the craftsmanship of the dwarves shine through once more. These reconstructed monuments grant bonuses and unlock crafting options, rewarding your efforts with more than just a visual improvement. It’s a clever way of merging gameplay, and progression into a single system.
A Fun and Affordable Adventure for Fans and Newcomers Alike
Given all of this, I find it baffling that the mainstream reviews were so critical. PC Gamer, for instance, gave it a score lower than Gollum a game that was riddled with technical issues, a lifeless story, and deeply frustrating gameplay. To call Return to Moria worse than Gollum is, frankly, absurd. So where did the disconnect come from?
Part of the issue might be expectations. Return to Moria is not a AAA title; it was made by a small studio with a clear passion for the material. The budget isn’t on the same level as a big franchise release, but what it lacks in polish, it more than makes up for in heart. It’s a game built for a specific audience: people who love Middle-earth, enjoy survival games, and want something a little different from the usual fare. If you don’t fall into that niche, you might be underwhelmed. But if you do? There’s loads of enjoyment waiting for you in Khazad-dûm’s darkened halls.
It’s also worth mentioning that the game is priced very reasonably. This isn’t a £60 title that leaves you wondering if it was worth the cost. For the price of a pizza, you get a solid survival experience set in one of the most storied locations in fantasy literature. The pacing is good, the progression satisfying, and the world compelling to explore. Compared to the bug-ridden messes that some major studios churn out for four times the price, Return to Moria is a bargain.
Of course, Return to Moria isn’t perfect. The game does have a few rough edges—some minor bugs and occasional AI jank—but none of these issues ever felt game-breaking. They’re more like small scuffs on a gemstone: noticeable if you’re looking for them, but hardly enough to diminish the gem’s overall beauty. The multiplayer experience, while fun, can sometimes be a bit finicky, especially if you’re trying to join up to a friends game but after a 2-3 attempts you're generally right as rain. And while the crafting system is reasonably varied, a few more quality-of-life improvements (like bulk crafting) wouldn’t go amiss.
But again, these are small quibbles. If I had to sum up my feelings in a single sentence, I’d say that Return to Moria is a mithril in the rough and a game that deserves far more appreciation than it’s received.
See you next time gamers, til’ Durin wakes from sleep.