The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King for Game Boy Advance is a 2003 action role-playing game developed by Griptonite Games and published by EA Games. Released in North America in November 2003, it is the handheld counterpart to Electronic Arts’ film-based finale, drawing on Peter Jackson’s The Two Towers and The Return of the King. Rather than being a reduced version of the contemporary home-console game, this GBA release is built around an isometric, three-quarter overhead view and character-driven quests through Middle-earth.

The campaign places the player in the final struggle against Sauron, with story routes following the Fellowship and its allies as the fate of the One Ring is decided. Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Gandalf, Frodo, and Éowyn are the principal playable heroes, with additional characters available through the game’s extra content. Their journeys visit locations associated with the films, including the road toward Minas Tirith, the Pelennor Fields, Mordor, and Mount Doom. The separate paths give the conflict several viewpoints instead of asking one hero to cover every major event.

Each adventurer has a distinct combat role. Close-range fighters work directly in the crowds of Orcs and other foes, while Legolas relies on archery and Gandalf fights with magical attacks. Movement is handled with the directional pad, basic attacks use a face button, and the game lets players select active skills, interact with containers and world objects, and open the inventory and character screens. This control scheme supports immediate action while leaving room for equipment and ability choices between encounters.

Progression is a central part of the Game Boy Advance version. Defeated enemies and explored areas yield equipment, items, and improvements that can strengthen a chosen hero over a campaign. A rune system lets players enhance weapons and armor: runes can be found during adventures or acquired at rune forges, then applied to gear for useful effects. That focus on collecting and customizing equipment gives the game a more role-playing-oriented identity than the third-person console editions released under the same name.

The story moves through combat-heavy maps with objectives that extend beyond simply clearing enemies. Players search locations, open chests, use shrines and forges, and prepare each character for tougher confrontations. Bosses and major encounters draw on the climactic events surrounding the War of the Ring, while the hero-specific routes encourage returning to the adventure with different fighting styles. Optional bonus material and secret characters add further goals after the main journeys are complete.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King GBA also supports two-player cooperative play through the Game Boy Advance link function. This feature lets two players take compatible heroes into the adventure together, a notable inclusion for a handheld action RPG of its period. A GameCube–Game Boy Advance link connection can also unlock content, tying the portable game to EA’s separate console release without making the handheld campaign dependent on it.

As the follow-up to Griptonite’s Game Boy Advance version of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Return of the King continues that studio’s handheld interpretation of the film trilogy. Its combination of overhead action, separate character campaigns, equipment collecting, and rune upgrades distinguishes it from the better-known console game. For players exploring Lord of the Rings games on Nintendo’s 32-bit handheld, it offers a self-contained take on the trilogy’s closing battles and the journey to destroy the Ring.