Der Herr der Ringe: Der Ringträger

"A ring to enslave them, to find them all. To drift into the dark and bind forever."

This dark prophecy is borne by the one ring that players will handle in Der Herr der Ringe: Der Ringträger as they take the roles of the ring-bearer Frodo and his companions and make their way to Mordor to destroy the ring and save Middle-earth from the evil of Sauron.

In more detail, the players move across the different landscape tiles, starting in the Shire and fleeing from the constant threat of the Black Riders, the Nazgûl.

One player starts the game as the ring bearer, wearing an actual ring. The game is played co-operatively, with the cards in your hand being partly visible to yourself and partly visible only to the other players; players can play cards from any hand.

Each round, Sauron's power is strengthened and the Black Riders move forward. If they catch the companions, the game is lost. If a fifth card of Sauron's is placed in front of the ring bearer, they fall under the dark power and becomes Sauron's assistant; in the future, the ring bearer plays against the companions, with the "Dark Deck" at their disposal.

After this dark turn, helper cards are laid out and can provide necessary support for the companions. The active player carries out two actions, preparing the journey or discovering the next landscape, before sending the companions on their journey and ensuring them as much of a lead as possible over the pursuers.

If the companions reach Mount Doom without being overtaken by the Black Riders, they win together. If a person becomes Sauron's assistant, they rely on the Nazgûl to enable themselves and their master to win, with the remaining companions trying to prevent this from happening.