Based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth writings Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO) is a fantasy MMORPG in which the story takes place inside the Lord of the Rings (book) time window. The game developed by Turbine was launched on April 24, 2007 and was followed by two expansion packs: Mines of Moria (released Nov. 17, 2008) and Siege of Mirkwood (released Dec. 1, 2009). A third expansion called Rise of Isengard was announced and its release is expected during the fall of 2011.

The game offers nine playable classes: Burglar, Capitain, Champion, Guardian, Hunter, Lore-master, Minstrel, Rune-keeper and Warden. Accessing these classes is limited by the chosen race, of which there are four: Dwarf, Elf, Hobbit and Man.

While Lord of the Rings Online doesn’t stray too far from the well-known fantasy MMORPG recipe, there are several features that stand out. One of them is the trait system which allows players to equip and combine traits in order to gain different bonuses and special abilities. Another refers to the PVP system of the game called Monster Play or Player vs. Monster Player (PvMP). After reaching level ten, all players can start playing a level 65 Monster and fight high level regular player controlled characters in specially designed PVP areas. The goal of the PVP clashes is controlling various keeps in the Ettenmoors and of course slaying members of the opposing faction.

The Lord of the Rings Online gives players a feeling of quality that is very rare in today's MMORPG environment. Every single detail of the game is crafted to near perfection with famous characters and locations from the books and movies bringing the game to life in ways you could never imagine. Whether you've read the books a hundred times or just seen the movies once, you'll find your mind returning to your memories of Middle-Earth as you explore The Shire, Helms Deep, the historical town of Bree and many other iconic locations from the franchise.

The Lord of the Rings Online is also one of the most updated MMORPG games currently on the market. Players are regularly treated to new content updates, brand new expansions, additional dungeons and much more. The dungeons and end-game raids in The Lord of the Rings Online are some of the best in the industry. Requiring expert levels of communication and teamwork the end-game challenges in LOTRO will require the very best your guild has to offer.

LOTRO is currently running on a free-to-play business plan which means you can explore the world of Middle-Earth for free.