The Lord of the Rings is by now a legendary franchise, born from J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels published back in the 1950s. A fantastical world, full of mysteries and the epic adventures of its heroes, it became the canvas for countless films, animations, and games.
In July 2025, another game set in this wonderful universe hit the market—Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game. What exactly is this title, what’s its backstory, and is it worth picking up?
Today, I’ll walk you through this brand-new LOTR production and give you the full picture of what awaits you in the game (I’ve already clocked over 50 hours of playtime!), who it’s meant for, and whether it deserves your time!
The Story Behind Tales of the Shire
Tales of The Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game was developed by Wētā Workshop and published by Private Division. The game was first announced in September 2023, with a teaser trailer dropping in April 2024.
Originally, the plan was to release it later that same year, but the official date was then set for March 25, 2025. Things got pushed back a little, and in the end, it launched on July 29, 2025 — simultaneously on PC, Switch, PS5, and Xbox Series X. What’s nice is that the game runs surprisingly well on the handheld Switch, and the PC system requirements aren’t too demanding either (CPU: Intel Core i5-7600K or AMD Ryzen 3 1200; GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770, 4 GB or AMD Radeon R9 270X, 4 GB or Intel Arc A580, 8 GB; 16 GB RAM; 3 GB available space).
According to statements from the devs, the idea for this game came about during the pandemic a few years ago. The goal was to create something cozy, slow-paced, and “comforting” — a ”game focused on relationships and everyday, down-to-earth (Middle-earth) activities”.
Interestingly, this is Wētā Workshop’s first large-scale video game project. Before this, they made a mixed-reality title called Dr. Grordbort’s Invaders, which has generally positive reviews but isn’t widely known. Wētā itself, of course, is world-famous for something else entirely: concept design and manufacturing for creative industries. They’ve worked on props, costumes, and animatronics for massive productions like The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Avatar: The Way of Water, M3GAN (and M3GAN 2), and Dune. They’re also known for producing licensed merch — including gorgeous collector’s pieces from The Lord of the Rings.
So What Is Tales of the Shire?
This is a sandbox-style cozy game that blends elements of RPG, adventure, and life sim. Think Animal Crossing or the wildly popular Stardew Valley, and you’re in the right ballpark.
You play as a Hobbit you create from scratch (though the customization options aren’t super deep) and… well, you live out the life of a Hobbit in the charming village of Bywater, just next to Hobbiton. The game doesn’t push you with a main goal, time pressure, or “win” conditions. Instead, you’re free to explore, collect plants, fish, bond with villagers, and decorate your own hobbit home.
As time goes on, you can plant crops, raise chickens, or even set up some hives and collect honey. The more you contribute to your community and grow your relationships with fellow Hobbits, the more possibilities open up: new areas of the map, access to your entire home and a huge garden, kitchen upgrades, and the chance to gather rare cooking ingredients. But don’t worry — there’s no rush. The game lets you progress at your own pace, taking on tasks in whatever order feels right.
Food also plays a huge role here (no surprise to anyone familiar with LOTR lore and Hobbit culture!). Most of what you gather, receive, or grow will end up in your cooking pot — and the cooking mechanics are actually pretty fun. You’ll need to chop, season, and prepare dishes carefully to match your guests’ tastes while also meeting certain requirements.
When Does Tales of the Shire Take Place?
The timeline isn’t spelled out exactly, but the game is set within a 60-year period between Bilbo Baggins’ adventure in The Hobbit and the events of The Fellowship of the Ring.
Along the way, you’ll meet brand-new characters created specifically for the game — but also some familiar faces, “old friends,” you may say, including Gandalf The Gray himself. The story is firmly rooted in Tolkien’s lore, with frequent references to well-known figures like Thorin Oakenshield, Bilbo Baggins, and the Gamgee family (old Hamfast and Samwise) popping up in conversations with villagers.
Graphics, Music, and Gameplay Mechanics
Mechanically, the game feels a little like stepping back into older titles. Movement and actions are intuitive enough, but since your Hobbit can’t jump or climb (only walk and run), you’ll occasionally run into invisible walls — for example, at the edge of a cliff or near big objects such as trees — and have to go around.
The world is semi-open: the map is limited, but for a Hobbit with short legs, Bywater still feels quite spacious, especially as new areas unlock over time. There’s also a dynamic day/night cycle, weather changes, and even seasonal shifts, which affect both the world’s look and the resources available to you. That, in turn, impacts your cooking options and simple repeatable “club tasks” (like “bring me this…”, “plant that…”, “catch me a fish…” etc.).
Visually, the game uses a charming, watercolor-inspired art style. Fans of photorealistic AAA graphics might be a bit underwhelmed, but the style has its own warmth. It’s worth noting, though, that the visuals look noticeably better on PC and the big home consoles (PS5, XSX) than on the Switch.
The soundscape is another highlight: a pleasant, atmospheric soundtrack enriched with natural ambient sounds. Characters don’t have voice acting (no dubbing), apart from occasional laughs, sighs, or gasps — dialogue appears in text, similar to classic RPGs.
The Community’s Mixed Reactions
From the moment Tales of the Shire was announced, cozy game lovers and LOTR fans (as myself) alike were keeping a close eye on it. While there are no official sales figures yet, estimates put it at around 1 million copies sold so far. But what about the reviews?
Well, opinions are split. Fans of cozy sims that mix RPG, building, and adventure elements tend to rate it highly — especially those who already love Tolkien’s world. Many players (myself included) find it to be a genuinely heartwarming, cozy game that transports you into an idyllic fantasy world where you can slow down, enjoy simple activities, and just soak up the atmosphere.
That said, criticisms are out there. Some highlight graphical shortcomings, others point out the repetitiveness of tasks or certain limiting mechanics (for example, home customization leans more toward decoration than actually adding functional furniture like you’d get in Animal Crossing).
So… Should You Play Tales of the Shire?
As always, opinions vary. But if you’d like my personal take, dear reader—the answer is… yes!
It’s genuinely charming, heartwarming, and beginner-friendly — you don’t need twitch reflexes or years of gaming experience to enjoy it, and you don’t need a high-end gaming rig either. If you’re a fan of Peter Jackson’s LOTR trilogies or Tolkien’s books, you’ll feel right at home here.
But if what you’re looking for is endless quests, puzzles, deep lore to uncover, challenging battles, or photorealistic graphics, you might want to check out the Middle-earth titles by Monolith Productions instead.