Tales of the Shire
| Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Wētā Workshop |
| Publisher(s) | Private Division |
| Series | Middle-earth |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | July 29, 2025 |
| Genre(s) | Life simulation |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game is a life simulation video game developed by Wētā Workshop and published by Private Division. Based on the legendarium created by J. R. R. Tolkien, the game takes place between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. The game was released for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X and Series S on July 29th 2025.
Gameplay
Tales of the Shire is a life simulation video game. In the game, the player creates their own Hobbit character, and settles in a village named Bywater.[1] The player must manage the Hobbit's day-to-day life and chores, such as fishing, gardening, and foraging for resources. Hobbit holes can also be extensively customized, and its interior can be decorated with numerous items.[2] They can also cook meals using various recipes, and share them with other non-playable characters (NPC). Players can also explore Bywater and its surrounding areas, completing quests and developing friendships with NPCs. When players place a waypoint in the game's map, a bird will show up in the game's world to guide them to their objectives.[3]
Development
The game is being developed by Weta Workshop Game Studio, a division within Wētā Workshop founded in 2014 to create video games.[4] According to Stephen Lambert, the game's creative director, the goal for the game was for players to live their "idyllic life as a Hobbit". The game is set between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and it has a lighthearted story about "Hobbit-sized problems in a Hobbit-sized world". Lambert added that the game was "very much born out of the COVID-19 period", and that the team wanted to create something relaxing and soothing with a focus on building a community.[5]
A collaboration between Wētā Workshop and Private Division was announced in 2022. The game was officially announced in September 2023.[6] The game is set to be released for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X and Series S on July 29, 2025.[7]
Reception
The game received "mixed or average" reviews upon release, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[8]
References
- ^ Brown, Andrew (September 23, 2024). "I should have loved playing Tales of the Shire, but this Stardew Valley and Lord of the Rings mash-up has a distinct lack of vibes". GamesRadar. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
- ^ McCaffery, Ryan (June 19, 2024). "Tales of the Shire Is the Hobbit Game the Cozy Genre Was Always Meant to Have". IGN. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
- ^ Cogswell, Jessica (September 22, 2024). "Tales Of The Shire Has A Long Ways To Go If It Wants To Be Precious". GameSpot. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
- ^ Jones, Ali (August 17, 2022). "A new Lord of the Rings game is in development from the studio that helped build Middle-Earth". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on January 17, 2025. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
- ^ Brotherson, Corey (March 25, 2025). "Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings Game – community building and shared meals gameplay details". PlayStation Blog. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
- ^ Holt, Kris (September 22, 2023). "Tales of the Shire is a cozy Lord of the Rings game from Weta Workshop". Engadget. Archived from the original on August 10, 2024. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
- ^ Betts, Emma-Jane; Cryer, Hirun (June 3, 2024). "Tales of the Shire: Everything we know about the upcoming Lord of the Rings game". GamesRadar+. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
- ^ "Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game review". Metacritic. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
