- BGG rating
- 8.0
Middle Earth: Dark Minions
- 1–5 players
- 90 min
- 1996
- BGG rank
- BGG #1,959
- BGG rating
- 7.4
Middle-earth
1995
Rules assistance for Middle-earth
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 1–5 players
- 90 min
- 12+
- Complexity 3.7/5
For 1 player
Rules assistant for Middle-earth
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Middle-earth is a board game released in 1995 for 1–5 players, 90 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Coleman Charlton and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Area Movement.
Expansions
- BGG rating
- 8.4
Middle-earth: The Dragons
- 1–5 players
- 90 min
- 1996
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About the game
ICE's now-out-of-print CCG (they lost their license to produce Middle-Earth products in 1999). Players take the role of the Istari, or Wizards - most familiarly Gandalf, Saruman, and Radagast, but also Pallando and Alatar - in the struggle against Sauron in Middle-Earth. Each player competes to bring the greatest strength to bear against the Shadow, including Factions such as the Riders of Rohan or the Great Eagles, allies like Gwaihir or Shadowfax, items such as the lost Palantiri, Glamdring, or Narsil, and the completion of various quests - from the relatively straightforward rescue of prisoners through the involved Reforging of the Sword that was Broken, restoration of the White Tree to Minas Tirith, or the quest of quests, the destruction of the One Ring. Players build decks in which half are composed of resource cards and half of hazards, dedicated to the stopping of your opponent. This is where the big bad guys come in, with cards for the 9 Nazgul, a couple of Dragons (Smaug being the recognizable one), Shelob, and the Balrog.
Designers
Publishers
- Iron Crown Enterprises
- Hexagonal
- Queen Games
- 999 Games
- Stratelibri
- Joc Internacional
- ACE Pelit Oy
Questions and answers
Middle-earth supports 1–5 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Middle-earth is 90 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Middle-earth for ages 12 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Middle-earth has a complexity rating of 3.7 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Middle-earth belongs to these categories: Card Game, Fantasy, and Fighting. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Hand Management, and Area Movement. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Middle-earth are: Coleman Charlton. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Middle-earth as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.