With a wide variety of races and breathtaking locations, Middle-earth is a great place for an MMORPG. With dozens of games out there using dwarves and elves to prop their stories, it's only fair that Lord of the Rings got the same MMO treatment. Launched in 2007, Lord of the Rings Online has undergone several reworks and updates.

Between the poorly received adventure game Gollum, the poorly received LOTR survival game Return to Moria, and the poorly received cozy game Tales of the Shire, it’s been a rough couple of years for Lord of The Ring games. But things weren’t always like this.

Every occasion to see Gandalf in Tales of the Shire feels a bit exciting, like an old friend is visiting. He never overstays his welcome enough to take away from the game, and his appearances generally bring a dose of lore, introspection, and whimsy, just as one would expect from this wizard.