The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is an upcoming RPG designed to take players through a relatively unexplored part of Gollum's history. The game is set after Gollum has found Sauron's ring but before the events of The Lord of the Rings books, taking players on an adventure through Middle Earth. In a game centered around one of the most well-known characters from the franchise, fans should expect other familiar faces to be part of The Lord of the Rings: Gollum.
First announced in 2019, the game was originally slated to release in 2021. However, in January developer Daedalic Entertainment pushed the release date to sometime in 2022. Though it has yet to be explicitly stated by the developers, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is likely set specifically between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, as the game's plot describes Gollum as on a journey to find his lost ring, and the only time that is known to have happened is when Bilbo famously found it in the cave.
In a gameplay video released during July 6's Nacon Connect, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum project lead Harold Riegler said that Gollum has been everywhere and met everyone in Middle Earth. Several notable locations have been confirmed to be part of the game, such as Barad-dûr, Mirkwood, and Helms Deep, teasing some characters that may appear, though only a handful of characters have been confirmed for The Lord of the Rings: Gollum.
Characters Set To Appear In Lord of the Rings: Gollum
While the title of the game may be Gollum, a story about the former river-folk would be incomplete without incorporating Sméagol, the other half of his personality. The Lord of the Rings: Gollum's RPG elements largely come from the Gollum and Sméagol dynamic, as players can choose which personality to use as they make decisions and interact with NPCs. Sméagol's character adds softer, more sociable options for players, and his conflict with Gollum will certainly
The wizard Gandalf is one of the key characters throughout all major The Lord of the Rings stories, and The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is no exception. It's still unclear what kind of interaction Gandalf will have with Gollum, but preliminary character art shown during Nacon Connect's gameplay trailer confirms he will still be of the Grey Order.
Thranduil is a relatively unknown character for fans of the movies, but will be recognizable for those who read the books. He is king of the elves in Mirkwood, one of the game's named locations, as well as the father of Legolas, though it's unclear if his famed son will make an appearance. Bilbo and the dwarves go to Mirkwood after Bilbo finds the ring in The Hobbit, so if Gollum is tracking his ring in this story, it makes sense Thranduil and his people will play a significant role in the game.
The Lord of the Rings films depicted Mordor's Mouth of Sauron, a minor character also known as the lieutenant of Barad-dûr, who will be a major character in the game. Riegler described him as "constantly scheming," though it's unclear if he will be working with Gollum to find the ring or simply torturing him for information. Regardless, fans should be excited for his appearance, as The Lord of the Rings: Gollum will show the Mouth of Sauron's face for the first time ever.