FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Restoration Games partners with Middle-earth Enterprises™ and Asmodee to release a deluxe edition, retail edition to follow
Sunrise, FL – March 25, 2026. Today, Restoration Games and Space Cowboys announced a joint project to revive a beloved classic board game, The Queen’s Gambit – this time set in the world of The Lord of the Rings. The two publishers are working together on the design and look of the game to create a truly epic experience. Under this joint publication, Restoration Games will oversee a crowdfunding campaign for a limited-edition deluxe version of the game, while Space Cowboys will handle the release of the standard retail edition, distributed worldwide by Asmodee Group.
Like the original, The Lord of the Rings: The King’s Gambit features a sprawling, epic battle across multiple fields of play. The Riders of Rohan clash against hordes of Orcs on Pelennor Fields. The brave Gondorians fend off the forces of Shadow in Minas Tirith. Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas maneuver their way through Haradrim on the Great Port at Pelargir to join the fight. And Frodo and Sam navigate the perilous journey through Mordor to the fires of Mount Doom. Game design is led by Rob Daviau, the legendary designer and co-founder of Restoration Games. Packed with detailed figures, thrilling decisions, and countless ways to win, this game delivers the ultimate experience for fans of The Lord of the Rings and board gaming alike.
“When I first had the idea for Restoration Games, the very first game that came into my head to bring back was The Queen’s Gambit,” said Justin D. Jacobson, owner of Restoration Games. “It was everybody’s grail game and a game that Rob worked on back at Hasbro. We knew we needed an epic license to match the original, and The Lord of the Rings was right at the top of our list. In an unbelievable twist of fate, Restoration Games reached out to Middle-earth Enterprises at the same time as Space Cowboys reached out to Rob with the exact same idea. The rest is history.”
Restoration Games will be crowdfunding a limited deluxe edition of the game later this year. It will feature upgraded components, including three-dimensional representations of Minas Tirith and Mordor to bookend the play area. This edition will only be available during the campaign and for a limited number of additional copies afterwards. Then in 2027, Space Cowboys will release the retail edition worldwide through Asmodee’s global distribution and its network of international partners, complete with the same striking art and exciting gameplay.
“Like so many players, we’ve always been huge fans of The Queen’s Gambit,” said Vincent Goyat, Head of Creation at the Space Cowboys studio. “It holds a special place for many of us at the Space Cowboys studio, and, from the start, we were more than happy to see such an enthusiastic response to this project from the outstanding teams at Restoration Games. With The King’s Gambit, we wanted to honor that legacy while reimagining it for a new generation of players. The Lord of the Rings offers the perfect epic canvas, and together with Restoration Games, we’re excited to help bring this legendary experience back to life for fans around the world.”
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About Restoration Games
Restoration Games is owned and operated by attorney Justin D. Jacobson. Design is overseen by their Chief Restoration Officer, the award-winning designer, Rob Daviau. Together, they identify old games that just need a little love and spit and polish to be restored to their former glory and beyond. The company has released hit games such as Unmatched, Return to Dark Tower, and Thunder Road: Vendetta.
Restoration Games and the Restoration Games logo are trademarks of Restoration Games, LLC.
About Space Cowboys
Space Cowboys is a board game development studio founded in 2014 by experienced industry veterans. Driven by its first success, Splendor, finalist of the famous Spiel des Jahres, the studio has since accumulated many successful titles: Unlock! (French Game of the year 2017 and awarded in 2023 with the Sonderpreis – special jury awards – from the Spiel des Jahres), T.I.M.E Stories, Sherlock Holmes Consulting Detective (Spiel des Jahres in 1985).
About Asmodee
Asmodee is a global leader in tabletop gaming. Inspired by players, asmodee has been crafting and taking to market immersive, shared experiences for over 30 years. Its portfolio includes beloved games and intellectual properties such as CATAN®, Ticket to Ride®, Dobble®/Spot-it®, 7 Wonders, and Exploding Kittens®. Operationally headquartered in France, asmodee operates globally, making its games accessible to players in over 100 countries around the world. Asmodee group’s Class B shares are publicly traded on Nasdaq Stockholm under the ticker ASMDEE B. Learn more about asmodee here.
About Middle-earth Enterprises
Middle-earth Enterprises owns exclusive worldwide rights to motion picture, merchandise, live stage and services inspired by The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit books, by J.R.R. Tolkien. We have produced and licensed goods based upon these four books, for a half century. As Middle-earth’s stewards and custodians, our goal is to consistently deliver a wealth of experiences in both new and known formats, to ensure Middle-earth’s rightful place as the world’s leading fantasy IP & brand, forever. Inspired by our deep appreciation for the legendarium created by Professor Tolkien, we are dedicated to working with those developing the highest quality creations inspired by the lore.
Visit us at www.middleearth.com for details. Middle-earth Enterprises is part of Embracer Group.