War Of The Ring: The Card Game had its debut this past weekend at UK Games Expo. Ares Games was showing off the game for the first time and it seems like it has gone down pretty well with those who got to play it.

War Of The Ring: The Card Game // Ares Games

The game is a two-to-four player team affair where you take control of the Free Peoples of Middle-earth or the forces of Shadow under the dominion of Sauron. During gameplay, the Free Peoples will be using their pre-constructed decks of cards to secure their lands against the forces of evil whilst also completing the quest of The Ringbearer and getting the One Ring to Mount Doom.

The Shadow, much like in the board game of War Of The Ring, will be seeking to corrupt Frodo on his quest and drive him from his companions, all the while threatening the lands of Gondor, Rohan and beyond, drawing attention away from the plight of the Hobbit.

War Of The Ring: The Card Game Preview // Ares Games

Captain Crumpet over on BGG got a hands-on with the game at UKGE and they had a really positive experience with it. The game plays out over nine rounds where the Free Peoples and Shadow compete over Path and Stronghold cards.

Rounds end when the players all pass and then control of the Path and Strongholds is worked out. The fun twist here is that you're playing as a team so cards in one deck might only benefit your friend. To that end, you'll need to plan and scheme between yourselves as to the best way to approach each of the rounds. You'll also have to make some hard choices as, in Race For The Galaxy style, you bring cards into play by spending other cards from your hand. I do like that!

War Of The Ring: The Card Game Preview // Ares Games

This card game format for War Of The Ring has some obvious benefits in that it takes way less time to play compared to the board game. Ninety to 120 minutes seems like a while but I reckon that game time will decrease rapidly once you're aware of the mechanics. You're still in for the long haul though.

I think it also helps that the card game is going to feature 100 original illustrations from renowned Middle-earth artists. So, you're really in for a treat when it comes to the theme and aesthetic of this game when it hits the tabletop.

It will be interesting to see how the game plays with two or three players compared to the four players the game seems designed for. I guess if you were looking for a two-player experience then I would suggest just playing Fantasy Flight's cooperative card game. The team element to War Of The Ring: The Card Game, seems like a fun bonus that should be embraced.

Could you be tempted by War Of The Ring: The Card Game?