The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick Taking Game

The game consists of eighteen chapters, which you preferably play in order. The player who deals the One Ring plays as Frodo; the other players then choose a character based on their hand. Each character has their own trick-taking objective: Frodo wants to capture Ring cards, Pippin wants to win as few tricks as possible, and Gandalf must win exactly one. The One Ring is the only trump, but you cannot play a Ring card as long as no one else has played one in another suit, and discussing your cards is not allowed. If you don't achieve all character objectives, you lose the chapter together.

This is one of the strongest Lord of the Rings games in recent years and, at the same time, one of the best-designed cooperative trick-taking games since The Crew. The eighteen chapters build up nicely in complexity, the asymmetric character goals give each hand its own dynamic, and the stained-glass-style illustrations strongly contribute to the atmosphere. Reviewers place it alongside The Crew as a full-fledged alternative for those who appreciate the Tolkien theme or enjoy playing a narrative campaign. The core of the experience remains having to intuitively understand what your teammates need from the cards in your hand, without being allowed to discuss it.