The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings Age-by-Age Guide

If your kids are looking for an epic fantasy adventure, J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings are classic places to start. Generations have been drawn to the characters' heroic quests, which have spawned dozens of books, TV shows, video games, and apps.

There may be One Ring to rule them all, but not every piece of The Hobbit and LOTR entertainment is appropriate for all ages. This guide makes it easy for you to treat your kids to the stories and spin-offs when they're ready. Keep in mind that all kids are different, so consider your child's ability to handle peril and conflict before journeying into this enchanting, complex world.

Age 4–6

Even preschoolers can enjoy Hobbit-inspired shows.

Watch:

• VeggieTales: Lord of the Beans
• Bubble Guppies: The Puppy and the Ring

Age 7–9

A great age to officially enter Middle-earth together.

Watch:

• The Hobbit (1977) (Movie)
• The Lord of the Rings (1978) (Movie)
• The Return of the King (1980) (Movie)

Read: The Hobbit

Age 10–11

Preteen-friendly entertainment that's less intense than the LOTR trilogy.

Play:

• Lego Dimensions (Game)
• Lego The Hobbit (Game)
• Lego Lord of the Rings (Game)
• Lego The Lord of the Rings (App)
• Lord of the Rings: Rise to War (App)

Watch:

• The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (Movie)
• The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (Movie)

Age 12

Expect more action and violence in Tolkien's books and the adaptations.

Read:

• The Fellowship of the Ring
• The Two Towers
• The Return of the King

Play:

• The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest (Game)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth (Game)
• Lord of the Rings: Living Card Game (Game)

Watch:

• The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (Movie)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Movie)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (Movie)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Movie)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (TV Show)

Age 13–17

If your teens have read the books and watched the movies, they can probably handle these action-packed games.

Play:

• Guardians of Middle-earth (Game)
• Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth 2 (Game)
• Lord of the Rings: Conquest (Game)
• The Lord of the Rings: Gollum (Game)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (Game)
• The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Game)

Age 18+: Not for kids

Extreme violence makes these games better suited for adults.

Play:

• Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor (Game)
• Middle-earth: Shadow of War (Game)
• The Lord of the Rings: War in the North (Game)