The Lord of the Rings: Return To Moria follows the Dwarves of Middle-earth as they embark on an original adventure to reclaim and restore their Dwarven homeland of Moria.

The story of The Lord of the Rings: Return To Moria takes players beyond the books and into the Fourth Age of Middle-earth, the fantastical world created by J.R.R. Tolkien. Summoned to the Misty Mountains by Lord Gimli Lockbearer, players take control of a company of Dwarves tasked to reclaim the lost spoils from the Dwarven homeland of Moria—known as Khazad-dûm or Dwarrowdelf—in the depths below their very feet. Their quest will require fortitude, delving deep into the Mines of Moria to recover its treasures. Players will join forces to survive, craft, build and explore the iconic, sprawling mines. Courageous expeditioners will need to be vigilant as mysterious dangers await.

The Lord of the Rings: Return To Moria offers endless experiences by featuring a procedurally generated Dwarven realm of Moria, so no two adventures will be alike, and every expedition is traversable either solo or online with companions. Players can mine to craft greater gear and resources, but beware, mining makes noise, and noise created in the quiet deep threatens to awaken the dangers below: where there’s clatter, there’s combat. Excavate the mysteries of three legendary mountains, extract precious metals, scrape to survive, and battle unspeakable forces to learn the secret of the Shadow that lurks within.

Free Range Games and publisher North Beach Games announced that The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria now includes an Alpha version of Sandbox Mode on the PC.

This update for The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria also includes various UI updates and features and other improvements.

In addition, the price on both the PC and PlayStation 5 versions of the game has officially dropped to $24.99. With new game modes, additional content and improved functionality, the game is an exceptional value at its new price point.

There’s no better time to answer the call of Lord Gimli Lockbearer and lead your band of Dwarves on an all-new adventure to reclaim their forgotten kingdom in the darkest deeps of the fabled Mines of Moria.

“This update is packed with many of our communities' top requests,” said Jon-Paul Dumont, Game Director at Free Range Games. “We took time to reach out to our players, to dive into their feedback and read everything they have asked about. On top of a whole new way to play in Sandbox, we've made the campaign experience even better for groups and solo players alike."

"We are beyond excited with the new update to The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria," said John Miller, CEO of North Beach Games. "The Alpha version of Sandbox Mode is a game changer for replayability on the PC and we look forward to bringing it to other platforms in the future. The new lower price on PC and PlayStation 5 makes the game an incredible value."

In The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria, the Alpha version of Sandbox Mode is built for players who wish to take on the challenge of traveling through Moria free of any linear progression or storyline constraints. Along the way, players will also uncover new environments, new armor and weapons, and experience Moria in a completely reimagined way.

Along with the Alpha version of Sandbox Mode, this update includes various UI updates and features, such as single player pause and difficulty settings, as well as various bug fixes and improvements. We have also made enhancements to the building system and implemented new items like ceilings, ornamental building pieces, and decorative objects including rugs and lanterns, granting players the ability to construct more expansive and ornate bases wherever their heart desires.

Game Updates Include:

• Sandbox Mode: Players who wish to explore Moria more freely can now experience the Alpha version of Sandbox Mode! In Sandbox Mode players can expect independent exploration through the mountain, outside of the storyline or linear progression. The various environments in Moria will be randomly interconnected, so dig carefully, you may not be prepared for what comes next. Due to the minimal tutorials and lack of guided progression in this mode, it is recommended for players who are already familiar with Return to Moria or other Survival games.
• New Weapons and Armor: Players who choose to participate in the Alpha version of Sandbox Mode can discover recipes for 14 new weapons and armor including a Wolf Skin Hat, Gondorian Shield, Khazad Halberd, and Barôkamlut. While these recipes are only discoverable in the Alpha versions of Sandbox Mode, players can bring new objects into Campaign Mode as long as their dwarf is equipped with them when transferring over.
• New Building Parts and Decorations: Spruce up your base with over 100 new building objects, including new cosmetic decorations such as light fixtures, rugs, banners, home furnishings, tables, and chairs.
• Building Improvements: Restoring Moria is now easier than ever with the changes made to the stability system as well as improved object snapping. The miscellaneous buildings throughout Moria are now less prone to collapse, expanding players’ ability to build expansive bases where they choose.
• Single Player Pause: In an effort to improve solo player experience, those playing offline can now pause the game by hitting “escape” on PC or opening the settings menu.
• Difficulty Settings: Are you having a tough time making it through the mountain, or perhaps you’re looking for more of a challenge? Players can fine-tune the level of difficulty of various aspects of the game including enemy aggression, combat, horde, siege and patrol frequency, world and mining drops, and survival difficulty.
• Multiplayer Connectivity Fixes: Multiplayer connectivity has been improved, making for a smoother, faster, and easier joining experience.
• Various Bug Fixes and Improvements: For a more detailed explanation of the update, patch notes can be found here.

Key Features:

• Feel the Fellowship: Experience the Fellowship of the Dwarves like never before, with the rich lore of the iconic fantasy world from J.R.R. Tolkien interwoven into the very fabric of The Lord of the Rings: Return to Moria. 
• Survive the Dark: To survive the treacherous Mines of Moria players must conserve resources, hunt, and gather for food and manage their sleep, temperature, and noise levels. Utilize dynamic light systems for safety and to blaze a path further into the darkness. Battle unspeakable evils and survive hordes of monstrous Orcs in visceral combat, while uncovering the secret of the Shadow that looms within the mountain. 
• Base Building: Find solace from the darkness. Reveal and clear new locations to create architecture on a grand scale. Get creative and construct bases from scratch or build upon the existing environment. Beware the evils which seek to destroy Dwarven progress. 
• Rebuild and Reshape Moria: Restore the long-lost ancient kingdom of Khazad-dûm to its former glory, recovering Dwarven landmarks as the story progresses. Resurrect old mines and refire their forges to yield their untouched resources. 
• Explore: Delve into the depths of the Mines of Moria. Procedurally generated environments are abundant with resources and fraught with mystery and danger, providing a unique experience each and every time. 
• Co-op Multiplayer: Adventure alone or band together with friends in online cooperative multiplayer with up to eight players.  
• Craft Dwarven Tools, Weapons and More: Craft and loot legendary Dwarven armor, tools, weapons and structures. Rebuild ancient forges to strengthen, repair and enchant gear. Upgrade and unlock new technologies and fantastical machines. 
• Uncover Magic Artifacts: Discover ancient magic items including swords that glow when Orcs are near, maps of long-dormant Mithril veins, books with forgotten crafting plans and amulets that give strength or wisdom.  
• Mine Ore and Jewels: Establish mines to unearth deposits of precious resources such as iron, gold, and quartz; and fantastical materials such as Mithril. Access crafting stations and forges to convert ore to ingots and upgrade gear. But be prepared, mining is loud and can awaken what lurks in the darkness. 
• Comprehensive Dwarf Builder: Players become part of Dwarven Legend as they create their own Dwarf in the custom character creator. Dwarves can be customized in a variety of ways to create a unique Dwarven identity. Then, during gameplay, players can find and craft armor and weapons to further enhance their unique style.  

The Lord of the Rings: Return To Moria is coming to PC (Epic Games Store) on October 24, 2023 at $39.99/€35.99, followed by PS5 on December 5, 2023 and Xbox Series X|S in 2024.