Tales of the Shire Reviews

All of the groundwork is there for this Hobbit life simulator to be a delightful jaunt through the rolling hills of Tolkien’s imagination, but the execution is lacking on almost every front. From bugs and poor optimization to uninspired dialogue and ill-paced progression, Tales of the Shire takes what should be a reflection on the lessons we might learn from Middle-earth’s most humble of races and mangles it into a bleak reminder that the “simple life” is no fun at all.

Welcome home, Hobbit! Live the cosy life of a Hobbit in the wonderfully serene landscape of the Shire. Discover, decorate, and share in this idyllic corner of Middle-Earth. PC version reviewed. Review copy provided by company for testing purposes.

There’s been no shortage of The Lord of the Rings games over the years, but precious few of them focus on the real stars of J. R. R. Tolkien’s books, the humble hobbits. Granted, outside of the unlikely adventures of the Baggins family, hobbits are known for living rather unexciting lives, so perhaps it’s not surprising that game makers would rather focus on Middle-earth’s elves, orcs, and dragons. But, of course, not all games have to focus on action and excitement – enter Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game,  a new cozy life sim in the vein of Stardew Valley or Animal Crossing that aims to celebrate hobbit life in all its sleepy glory.

A great idea lost under the weight of tiresome game mechanics.

Tales of the Shire has some charming ideas, but dull gameplay, heaps of bugs, and a general sense of emptiness ultimately drag the promising life-sim down to the pits of Moria.

There is something magical in Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings Game, but it’s sometimes hard to find it… Still, I keep thinking that while a Hobbit hole means comfort, Tolkien’s favorite characters also deserve a bit more depth than just resting on genre fundamentals.

Tales of the Shire brings enough original content to the second breakfast table to satisfy Tolkien fans and devout cozy gamers alike.

There’s no way to progress individual relationships outside shared meals, so if players focus more on the main story, milestone cutscenes between characters later on become odd. After spending weeks being integral to the village campaign, I got cutscenes with my neighbors about how I’d just arrived and that they knew nothing about me. My relationship didn’t rise with anyone through any of the quests I worked on with them, which feels like a real oversight for any players who tend to focus on the main storyline first.

I am a bit disappointed with Tales of the Shire. The idea was great, but the execution just didn’t capture the magic of Tolkien’s world.

Tales of the Shire captures the serenity of living life in a backwater village as a Hobbit, warts and all.

For those looking for a quiet life in Hobbiton, Tales of the Shire is perfect. Wētā Workshop masterfully delivers a game about community in a cozy format that's small in size, but big in heart. It only seems to struggle when it gets too close to it's environments.

Maybe it’s a bit surprising we’ve taken so long to get to a The Lord of the Rings style life sim, but Tales of the Shire is finally here. Players take on the role of a hobbit in the burgeoning village of Bywater as it seeks to become an official village in the magistrate’s eyes. Along the way, you’ll be cooking, fishing, foraging, and gardening your way into the hearts of your fellow hobbits.

Tales of the Shire is a confusing cozy game. It stars the Hobbits, who cook up a great meal and enjoy fishing. However, many of the other activities they get up to in the Shire are as dull as the last 30 minutes of Return of The King. Stardew Middle-earth, this is not.

Tales of the Shire is a new take on the life-sim genre for the Lord of the Rings franchise, but it frequently falls flat in the areas that matter most. The focus on cooking is refreshing for the genre, but it quickly proves to be rather lacking. Meanwhile, the other activities don't give nearly enough depth to engage players, including essential actions like talking to the other villagers.

Great cooking and foraging systems, but not a lot else to keep you busy.

Tales of the Shire does Tolkien's lore justice and has a new approach to unlocking features in cozy games that'll make your heart sing. However, Bywater struggles to keep you content with staying in the Shire for long.

The Lord of the Rings has been on a bit of a losing streak since 2017's Middle-earth: Shadow of War. 2023 brought two Lord of the Rings titles, with the first being the infamously panned Gollum, and the second being the slightly better-received Return to Moria. Now, after a few lengthy delays, Tales of the Shire is here, swinging open its brightly-painted Hobbit home doors and beckoning the world to feast on what it's prepared.

There’s the foundation for greatness here, with an incredibly cute art style, gorgeous world, and compelling characters I genuinely want to know more about, but Tales of the Shire just doesn’t deliver. If you’re looking for a super relaxing and cozy experience, you’ll have a fine time with this one, but don’t expect a game that’s going to stick with you.

Tales of the Shire has a lot to enjoy for Lord of the Rings fans and cozy gamers alike, but several key problems hold the game back from its potential.