The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick-Taking
MSRP
$29.99
$25.97
Sale price
$25.97
Skip to product information
Solo Friendly
The Fellowship of the Ring: Trick-Taking
MSRP
$29.99
$25.97
Sale price
$25.97
Our Take
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Trick-Taking Game is a cooperative card game from designer Bryan Bornmueller and publisher Office Dog. Together you play tricks against the deck through a series of cooperative chapters that mirror the first book — from the Shire to the breaking of the Fellowship. Stained-glass art and 20 minutes per chapter.
Game At A Glance
Players
1-4 PlayersBest: 4
Playtime
20 Min
Recommended Ages
10+
Complexity
Medium Light · 2.0 / 5
Only 1 left — order soon
Play Style
Cooperative, Solo-Friendly
Game Type
Trick-Taking, Campaign
Theme
Lord of the Rings, Fantasy, Middle-earth
Publisher
Office Dog
Designer
Bryan Bornmueller
Year Published
2025
Awards
2024 Origins Awards Best Co-Op/Solo Game Nominee, 2024 Golden Geek Medium Game of the Year Nominee, 2024 Golden Geek Best Thematic Board Game Nominee, 2024 Golden Geek Best Cooperative Game Winner, 2024 Golden Geek Best Cooperative Game Nominee, 2024 Golden Geek Best Board Game Artwork & Presentation Nominee
Cooperative trick-taking through the first book of Lord of the Rings
Frodo is in the Shire. Gandalf is on the road. Strider is waiting in Bree. And around your table, the trick-taking deck is dealing out the cards that decide whether the Fellowship makes it as far as Rivendell.
The Fellowship of the Ring Trick-Taking Game is a cooperative card game that wraps the familiar mechanics of Hearts or The Crew around the structure of the first Lord of the Rings book. Each chapter has its own cooperative goal: maybe one player has to win a specific trick, maybe the team has to avoid certain cards, maybe you're protecting Frodo from a specific suit. You can't share what's in your hand. You have to read what your teammates play and trust them.
What makes it work is the storytelling. The chapters mirror the events of the book in a way that feels designed rather than decorative, and the stained-glass card art is some of the most striking art on a co-op card game in years. The cooperative pressure mounts as the Fellowship breaks down through the later chapters, and the final chapter at the breaking of the Fellowship is genuinely tense.
Cooperative gaming groups, Tolkien fans, and families with teens are all great fits. Plays 1 to 4, with 4 the recommended count and a strong solo mode in the box. About 20 minutes per chapter, so you can play through 3 to 5 chapters in an evening.
If you love The Crew but wish it had more story, this is the most natural next purchase you can make.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many players can play The Fellowship of the Ring Trick-Taking Game?
Plays 1 to 4 players. The community most consistently picks 4 as the sweet spot, where the cooperative communication has the most teeth. Solo play is fully supported and remains satisfying — the chapters scale naturally to a single-player experience.
How long does a game of The Fellowship of the Ring Trick-Taking Game take?
About 20 minutes per chapter. Most groups play 3 to 5 chapters in an evening because finishing one always makes you want the next.
Do I need to know Lord of the Rings to enjoy this?
Not really. The chapters reference the book, and Tolkien fans will get more out of the storytelling, but the core mechanics work just as well if you've never read a page. The art and the chapter structure carry plenty of theme on their own.
How does this compare to The Crew?
Both are cooperative trick-taking card games. The Crew is more abstract and the missions are more puzzle-like. Fellowship is more story-driven, with chapters tied to specific scenes from the book. Many groups own both and rotate by mood.
Is this beginner-friendly?
Yes. Anyone who's played Hearts or Spades will pick up the trick-taking core in minutes, and the cooperative twist teaches in another minute. A great gateway co-op for new card-game players.
Should I play this before The Two Towers Trick-Taking Game?
Both are standalone, but Fellowship was released first and tells the first part of the story. If you're going to play both, Fellowship is the natural starting point. If you only have time for one, pick the book or scene that excites your group most.