Which Expansion

The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth expansions

Base game: 1–5 players60–120 minFantasy Flight Games5 expansions checked
  1. #1 overall

    The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth: Shadowed Paths

    Buy this first

    BGG rates it 8.60 from 2,189 ratings. An owner review says the base game has only two campaigns and few heroes, which this expansion addresses.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: A new 13-scenario campaign through Mirkwood and Moria, plus new heroes, enemies, terrain and items that also work in other adventures.

    Fixes: Adds the campaign and hero variety that BGG owners say the base game lacks.

    Big box1–5 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any group
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Fantasy Flight Games
  2. #2 overall

    The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth: Spreading War

    Worth it

    BGG rates it 8.66 from 1,109 ratings, but it is a second big campaign. Take Shadowed Paths first, and note the publisher called this the last big-box expansion.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: A 15-scenario campaign across Rohan and Gondor, with six new heroes, 21 enemy miniatures, 18 double-sided map tiles, new roles and terrain.

    Fixes: Adds the largest campaign plus map tiles and heroes, and extra variety that owners say the base game lacks.

    Big box1–5 playersAbout the same rules loadFine for any group
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Fantasy Flight Games
  3. #3 overall

    The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth: Villains of Eriador Figure Pack

    Depends on your group

    BGG rates it 7.97 from 1,707 ratings, the lowest of the set. Many BGG posters say the miniatures should have been in the base game.

    Needs: Just the base game

    Adds: Three unpainted plastic figures for the Gulgotar, Atarin and Coalfang enemies, plus six trinkets and three titles.

    Fixes: Replaces generic enemy stand-ins with detailed miniatures; adds a few items.

    Mini expansion1–5 playersAbout the same rules loadBest for experienced groups
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Fantasy Flight Games
  4. #4 overall

    The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth: Dwellers in Darkness Figure Pack

    Depends on your group

    BGG rates it 8.17 from 1,119 ratings, but its figures are used only in Shadowed Paths and Haunting of Dale, so it needs that expansion.

    Get The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth: Shadowed Paths first.

    Needs: The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth: Shadowed Paths first

    Adds: Figures for the Supplicant of Morgoth, Ollie the Troll and the Haunting of Dale shade, plus a Knife copy with upgrades and the Silver Circlet trinket.

    Fixes: Replaces generic enemy stand-ins with detailed miniatures for the Shadowed Paths and Haunting of Dale campaigns.

    Mini expansion1–5 playersAbout the same rules loadBest for experienced groups
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Fantasy Flight Games
  5. #5 overall

    The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth: Scourges of the Wastes Figure Pack

    Depends on your group

    BGG rates it 8.38 from 478 ratings, but it only decorates the Spreading War and Poison Promise campaigns and adds little else.

    Get The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth: Spreading War first.

    Needs: The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth: Spreading War first

    Adds: Three sculpted miniatures of the main villains of the Spreading War and Poison Promise campaigns, plus five new item cards.

    Fixes: Replaces generic enemy stand-ins with detailed miniatures for the Rohan campaigns.

    Mini expansion1–5 playersAbout the same rules loadBest for experienced groups
    DetailsReference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Fantasy Flight Games

Need the base game?

Reference:View on BoardGameGeekBuy:Fantasy Flight Games

Stuck between two?

The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth expansions: quick answers

Which The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth expansion should I buy first?

The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth: Shadowed Paths. BGG rates it 8.60 from 2,189 ratings. An owner review says the base game has only two campaigns and few heroes, which this expansion addresses.

Is The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth: Shadowed Paths worth it?

Our verdict: buy this first. It adds: A new 13-scenario campaign through Mirkwood and Moria, plus new heroes, enemies, terrain and items that also work in other adventures.

Do I need The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth: Shadowed Paths before The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth: Dwellers in Darkness Figure Pack?

Yes. The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth: Dwellers in Darkness Figure Pack needs The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth: Shadowed Paths first.

The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth: Shadowed Paths or The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth: Spreading War: which first?

We’d buy The Lord of the Rings: Journeys in Middle-earth: Shadowed Paths first. See the side-by-side comparison for what each adds and needs.

Other games’ expansion guides

Same publisher

Rankings are our editorial picks, built from the reviews linked on each expansion page. Last checked 2026-10-15.