Shop this game
Shop this game
Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™
We may earn a commission from purchases through these links.
Physical games
Search US stores by format. Check the title and edition before buying.
Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™
game·M·Oct 10, 2017·
Shop
Shop this game
Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™
We may earn a commission from purchases through these links.
Physical games
Search US stores by format. Check the title and edition before buying.
Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™
game
M
October 10, 2017
Wokeometer Rating
1Based
Scale: 0 = not woke, 10 = maximally woke
TL;DR Verdict
Shadow of War delivers pure Tolkien fantasy through Talion's quest and the Nemesis System, with zero political messaging or modern social agendas.
Paid creator placementsFeature your article or video on this page
Detailed Analysis
Middle-earth: Shadow of War delivers traditional Tolkien-inspired fantasy storytelling centered on Talion's quest with Celebrimbor to forge a new Ring and dominate orcs via the Nemesis System.
The plot follows established lore beats with original characters like Idril, Eltariel, and Baranor (a Haradrim lieutenant) fitting naturally into the world without altering canon figures. No romance systems, gender-agnostic dating, pronoun options, or LGBTQ+ focal elements exist; searches confirm the absence of such content.
Developer statements emphasize narrative expansion of Shelob and orc domination themes rather than activism, with no consultancy involvement or DEI mandates evident in 2017 production. The images reinforce classic epic battles with orcs, trolls, and armored warriors in a pre-modern setting.
Minor incidental diversity via one original human ally does not drive themes or premise. Reception gaps stem from microtransactions, not ideology, and player discussions center on gameplay mechanics.
Key Factors
- Traditional fantasy plot and characters with no source alterations
- No romance, LGBTQ+, or identity-focused mechanics or subplots
- No developer DEI statements, consultancies, or activist intent
- Incidental original diverse ally (Baranor) fits setting organically
Methodology: Each score synthesizes audience discourse, critic and aggregator reception, and press coverage — weighed against the work itself, not any single source.
Detailed BreakdownPro
Identity Politics & Racial Essentialism
Gender Ideology & LGBTQ+ Themes
DEI Casting & Representation Mandates
Preachiness & Message-First Agenda
Corporate & Creator Activism
See how this title scores across all 5 woke subcategories with detailed explanations.
Unlock with ProFrom $3/month · 3-day trial for $1
The Woke Report
A curated roundup of newly scored movies, shows, and games, with the context behind the scores. Free. Unsubscribe anytime.
Privacy policyIs Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ Woke?
We've run a full content analysis on Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ and scored it 1/10 on the woke scale. Read our detailed breakdown above to see exactly what we found.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of woke content is in Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™?
Our analysis checks for themes like identity politics, race-swapping, gender ideology, environmental activism, anti-religious messaging, and other progressive agenda elements. The score breakdown above shows which specific categories were flagged and how heavily they factor into Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™'s overall score.
Is Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ appropriate for kids?
Wokeometer focuses on ideological content rather than traditional ratings (violence, language, etc.). Middle-earth™: Shadow of War™ is rated M. For a full picture, combine our woke analysis with the age rating to decide if it's right for your family.
How does Wokeometer score video games?
We evaluate media across multiple ideological categories on a 0–10 scale. Scores of 0–3 mean story-first, 4–6 have moderate elements, and 7–10 flag heavily agenda-driven content. Learn more about our methodology →