Game Boy Advance · Adventure
The Hobbit: The Prelude to the Lord of the Rings
| System | Game Boy Advance |
|---|---|
| Released | 2002 |
| Genre | Adventure |
| Developer | Saffire |
| Publisher | Sierra |
| Players | 1 player |
| Commitment | Weekend project (Roughly 6–20 hours) |
| Series | Lord of the Rings |
| Legacy | Deep cut |
Developed by Saffire and published by Sierra, The Hobbit: The Prelude to the Lord of the Rings arrived on the Game Boy Advance in 2002 as an adventure game.
It came out in the GBA's second year on the market. Other notable GBA releases from 2002 include Sonic Advance 2, Metroid Fusion and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Four Swords.
It is part of the Lord of the Rings series; on the GBA you can also try The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. The series also appears on other systems with J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings: Volume 1 (SNES) and J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings: Volume One (SNES). Saffire also made Justice League: Injustice for All, Around the World in 80 Days and Van Helsing for the GBA.
The Hobbit: The Prelude to the Lord of the Rings is a single-player game, so it's one to enjoy at your own pace.
Pick it if…
- you want to get lost in a long quest
- you have time for a weekend project (roughly 6–20 hours)
- you've played the GBA hits and want something less obvious
Maybe skip it if…
- you want fast action rather than puzzles and exploration
- you are looking for something to play with friends
What playing The Hobbit: The Prelude to the Lord of the Rings is like
Adventure games focus on exploration, story and puzzle-solving rather than combat. Progress comes from examining your surroundings, collecting items and figuring out how they fit together.
Tip for newcomers: Classic adventure games can be cryptic by modern standards. Take notes, try everything on everything, and save before risky choices.
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Playing GBA games today
The GBA is one of the best-value retro libraries around, with deep RPGs and tactics games that suit portable play. A growing selection is on Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack, and Rec0m88 supports GBA if you own the games.
The Hobbit: The Prelude to the Lord of the Rings FAQ
When did The Hobbit: The Prelude to the Lord of the Rings come out on the GBA?
The Hobbit: The Prelude to the Lord of the Rings was released for the Game Boy Advance in 2002.
Who made The Hobbit: The Prelude to the Lord of the Rings?
It was developed by Saffire and published by Sierra.
Is The Hobbit: The Prelude to the Lord of the Rings multiplayer?
No. The Hobbit: The Prelude to the Lord of the Rings is a single-player game.
How long does The Hobbit: The Prelude to the Lord of the Rings take to play?
As an adventure game, The Hobbit: The Prelude to the Lord of the Rings typically falls into the "Weekend project" category: roughly 6–20 hours. Your time will vary with skill and how much you explore.
Facts on this page are compiled from the open libretro database and Wikidata; "legacy score" reflects how widely a game is documented across Wikipedia's language editions. Spotted an error? Let us know.