Fantasy Flight Interactive has launched The Lord of the Rings: The Living Card Game via Steam Early Access for PC and Mac. The Early Access is currently available to players who purchase one of the Founder’s Pack bundles, starting at $7.99. Founder’s Packs include cards, in-game currency, and cosmetic items.
As the name suggests, The Lord of the Rings: The Living Card Game is based on a physical card game by Fantasy Flight. It’s considered one of the best cooperative card games. Players take on the role of famous heroes from the Lord of the Rings novels and use their custom 30-card deck to combat the evil forces of Sauron.
Unfortunately the current Early Access status is limited to single player, with two player co-op to follow upon release. The digital version will mimic the Hearthstone model of purchasable cards and expansion content.
“Living Card Game” or LCG is different than Collectible Card Games (CCG) in that players don’t purchase blind boxes or booster packs, but instead purchase expansion decks or bundles, knowing their exact contents.
“We’re incredibly excited to bring this adaptation of the original table top game to life in Early Access,” stated Timothy Gerritsen, Head of Studio for Fantasy Flight Interactive. “This is just the beginning as we add new play modes, new adventures and explore the incredibly rich world and characters of Middle-earth.”
Fans of the physical game can also purchase The Lord of the Rings: Living Card Game Limited Collector’s Edition (whew) to receive access to the digital Early Access version on Steam. It comes with a bunch of other goodies, including an MP3 soundtrack and a custom playmat.
