So apparently Talion is more powerful than Gandalf the Grey. Things get pretty complicated, but here are nine ways Shadow of Mordor and War drastically change LOTR canon. In many others, they’re gratuitous ways to include characters or imagery that fans will recognize (aka, fan service). In some cases, they overwrite established canon. Talion’s adventure(s) could conceivably fit as “canon,” but the games create a series of inconsistencies and other discrepancies that don’t match up neatly. We explore Mordor with Talion, an undead human ranger who used to guard the Black Gate, and Celebrimbor, the elven lord turned wraith who is bound to Talion after a ritual. Like the first game, Shadow of War takes place in the 60 years or so between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Warning: Spoilers follow for Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor and Shadow of War. Where does the ranger Talion’s adventure fit in with Tolkien’s timeline of Middle-earth? Does this game and its predecessor count as real Lord of the Rings canon? Here’s a deep dive into the biggest ways Shadow of War impacts LOTR canon. The combat and novel mechanics may be excellent, but the liberties taken with this universe’s lore could confused, or even offend, hardcore fans of Tolkien’s work. Tolkien’s fantasy universe continued with the sequel Middle-earth: Shadow of War in 2017. The thrilling third-person action game set in J.R.R. One of the best games of 2014 was Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor.

Shadow of mordor age rating