Trick-taking games are among the oldest types of card games. If you’ve played classics like Bridge or Whist, you’re already familiar with the concept. If not, here’s a quick explanation: in trick-taking games, one player leads a trick by playing a card. In clockwise order, others play a card from the same suit (or a trump suit, if applicable). The player who plays the highest card in the leading suit—or the highest trump card—wins the trick and typically leads the next one.

The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick-Taking Game, as the name suggests, is a trick-taking game with a Lord of the Rings theme and fully cooperative gameplay. Each player assumes the role of a Lord of the Rings character with a unique objective. Players play with hidden hands and collaborate to complete all objectives before the game ends.

Gameplay and The Campaign

The rules will feel familiar to those who have played trick-taking games. The game has five suits: four numbered 1 to 8 and the Ring suit numbered 1 to 5. While there’s no trump suit, the 1 of Ring is a trump card. Ring cards cannot lead a trick initially. However, if a player cannot follow suit during a trick and plays a Ring card instead, Ring cards may then be used to lead future tricks.

Before the game begins, the player holding the 1 of Ring becomes Frodo. Without communicating, other players examine their hands and choose characters one by one. Some characters allow card exchanges after this step, helping players work toward their goals based on character requirements.

Character objectives include various conditions such as winning a set number of tricks, winning cards from specific suits, winning the fewest tricks, or playing a particular suit in the final trick. Players must keep these goals in mind with every card they play. Since each chapter requires a different set of characters, everyone can assume various roles and experience how each impacts gameplay. This variety keeps the chapters engaging and challenging. The campaign also introduces surprising twists, such as new rules and objectives for existing characters, that closely align with The Lord of the Rings story.

The game is divided into 18 chapters and as players progress through the campaign, more characters, cards, and game mechanics are unlocked. The rules start off straightforward, and new elements are introduced gradually, making this game incredibly easy to learn and teach. While the chapters are designed to be played in order, players can choose to play any chapter independently. Once the campaign is completed, it can be reset and replayed. A complete version of the game is also outlined for those who want to play the game without replaying the campaign.

Making a game like this thematic isn’t easy or even necessary. However, this game incorporates some thematic elements such as short story pieces before chapters and the introduction of new characters throughout the campaign that match the progression of the original story. Even the character powers and objectives make thematic sense. The Lord of the Rings fans will certainly appreciate these references.

Player Count

While the game is for one to four players, the solo and two-player games each have a different set of rules and are quite different from the three and four-player experience. In solo play, the player manages four open hands of four cards each. After each trick, one card is drawn for each hand to maintain four visible cards per hand.

In the two-player mode, each player has a hidden hand and there is a pyramid of cards representing a third player. Some cards in the pyramid are visible, while others are hidden. Only the uncovered cards can be played, and one player plays cards from this pyramid to simulate a third player.

For three and four players, all hands are secret, which creates the best experience. While the solo and two-player modes offer enjoyable puzzles, the game truly shines at higher player counts.

Artwork and Components

The artwork and component quality are excellent and give the game a deluxe feel. The shiny, sturdy box includes compartments for cards and tokens and fits sleeved cards. Each compartment has a ribbon to make card removal easy which is a nice touch. The cards are high-quality, though sleeving them would be a good idea as they get shuffled frequently.

Final Thoughts

If you don’t enjoy trick-taking or cooperative games, this one might not be for you. However, if you do, it’s likely you’ll have a great time. While the game is worth trying at lower player counts and could appeal to some, we found it most enjoyable with at least three players.

The game is compact, fun, plays quickly, and has straightforward rules. The fans of The Lord of the Rings will appreciate the thematic details, while others can enjoy the fun gameplay. It’s an excellent choice for relaxed game nights and one of the best trick-taking games we’ve ever played.

Disclosure: We received a review copy of this game. Also, there may be an affiliate link in the links included at the end of this article.