There's a glut of competitive card games on the market, one that's soon to grow with The Lord of the Rings: Adventure Card Game. The game promises to offer a strong focus on the story of the game, rather than just being all about battling other players.
There are a lot of CCGs that offer single-player modes, but these are usually just a framework for the player to battle A.I. opponents of scaling difficulty. The single-player modes are a good way to teach the basics of the game without feeling the pressure of facing a human opponent, but most CCGs are focused on the competitive experience.
The Lord of the Rings: Adventure Card Game involves forming a deck that is led by three hero units and these can vary a great deal in regards to how close they were in the story of the books. The story mode gives players a glimpse into stories that exist outside of the normal canon of The Lord of the Rings, which is one of the prime draws of the game aside from its competitive modes.
The story mode in The Lord of the Rings: Adventure Card Game pits the player against Sauron, who is seeking to take control of Middle-Earth. There is an ever-growing Threat meter, which allows Sauron to play Fate cards that can hinder the player as the battle draws on. The player can also access their own Fate cards by using their characters to create Willpower, which can be used to help turn the tide against the forces of darkness.
The success of games like Hearthstone has prompted a wealth of CCGs to enter the market, and The Lord of the Rings: Adventure Card Game might be at a disadvantage due to not being free-to-play. However, the focus on single-player content related to the world of Middle-Earth might be the element that helps the game stand out from the crowd.
The Lord of the Rings: Adventure Card Game is available now on Steam and will be available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One this fall.