Lord of the Rings: The King’s Gambit Officially Arrives in 2027 With a Massive Tabletop Battle

A battle brought to the tabletop

The King’s Gambit recreates the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, where Rohan and Gondor unite against Sauron’s forces. The game includes miniatures, terrain, cards and dice, along with 3D models of Minas Tirith and Mount Doom.

Players take charge of Rohan and Gondor across the Pelennor Fields and Minas Tirith. They also direct Aragorn and his companions as they defend the Port Town, and Frodo and Sam as they climb Mount Doom to destroy the ring.

Players shape Middle-earth’s fate

A broad set of miniatures represents the different forces and characters, while cards and dice determine play. Cards offer unique abilities, and players compete for control as the battle unfolds. The game’s scope extends across several storylines from the conflict, placing the outcome of the battle—and Middle-earth’s destiny—in players’ hands.

Crowdfunding and release plans

The project raised $2,576,794 through Kickstarter, backed by 8,325 people. Its developer, Restoration Games, has also produced board games based on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Godzilla. Shipments to backers are scheduled for October 2027. A retail release is expected to follow, though no specific retail date is provided.

Late pledges remain open

Late pledges are still available through the project’s official Kickstarter page. The least expensive tier costs $199. The game is described as a particularly large Lord of the Rings board-game project in terms of components. The article notes that it is not the only recent LOTR board game to receive crowdfunding.