Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor

Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor is an open-world action game by Monolith Productions. It centers on the ranger Talion, who after his death is bound to a mysterious spirit and hunts Sauron's forces in Mordor.

The game became known above all for its Nemesis System. Orc captains have individual strengths, weaknesses and personalities, and remember earlier encounters with Talion. This creates rivalries, promotions and personal nemeses that develop dynamically from the course of play.

The PC version of Shadow of Mordor was released on Sep 30, 2014; the game was also released for PlayStation and Xbox consoles. The Game of the Year Edition, offered later, bundles the base game with the larger expansions and additional content.

On Sep 30, 2026, a native version for Nintendo Switch 2 will be released. It is announced both on its own and as part of Middle-earth: The Shadow Bundle, and is based on the full GOTY content.

Shadow of Mordor originally released on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. On Sep 30, 2026, Nintendo Switch 2 will become another native platform.

The Switch 2 version is based on the Game of the Year Edition, bringing the base game along with the bundled extra content to Nintendo's current console. Nintendo also adds touchscreen support for this version.

Talion moves freely through open areas of Mordor, combining melee, ranged combat, stealth and supernatural abilities. Enemy captains can be tracked down deliberately; information about their strengths and weaknesses helps you prepare for a fight.

The Nemesis System links these encounters to a hierarchy within Sauron's army. If an orc survives a fight, it can gain power and later recognize Talion. If a captain falls, another one takes his place. This way, the open world is shaped not only by fixed missions but also by long-term personal rivalries.

The larger expansions include Lord of the Hunt and The Bright Lord. Additional war bands, runes, skins and challenge content were also released. The Game of the Year Edition bundles this extra content with the base game.

For the Switch 2 release, the GOTY content is the definitive version; there is no separate GOTY game.

The PC version requires at least 3 GB RAM, a GeForce GTX 460 or Radeon HD 5850, and 44 GB of free space. Recommended are 8 GB RAM, a GeForce GTX 660 or Radeon HD 7950, and 57 GB of storage space.