Software:Tales of the Shire
| Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game | |
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| Developer(s) | Wētā Workshop |
| Publisher(s) | Private Division |
| Series | Middle-earth |
| Platform(s) |
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| Release | 29 July 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 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows and Xbox Series X/S. 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.
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.This increases the player's Fellowship, which then helps progress the main quest and story. [3] 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.[4]
Development
The game is being developed by Weta Workshop Game Studio, a division within Wētā Workshop founded in 2014 to create video games.[5] 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.[6]
A collaboration between Wētā Workshop and Private Division was announced in 2022. The game was officially announced in September 2023.[7]
Reception
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Tales of the Shire received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.[8][9][10] Fellow review aggregator OpenCritic assessed that the game received weak approval, being recommended by only 25% of critics.[11]
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. https://www.gamesradar.com/games/simulation/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/. 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. https://www.ign.com/articles/tales-of-the-shire-is-the-hobbit-game-the-cozy-genre-was-always-meant-to-have. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
- ↑ Aguilar, Jorge (July 30, 2025). https://gamedevourer.com/fellowship-explained-how-to-increase-in-tales-of-the-shire/
- ↑ Cogswell, Jessica (September 22, 2024). "Tales Of The Shire Has A Long Ways To Go If It Wants To Be Precious". GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/tales-of-the-shire-has-a-long-ways-to-go-if-it-wants-to-be-precious/1100-6526616/. 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. https://www.gamesradar.com/a-new-lord-of-the-rings-game-is-in-development-from-the-studio-that-helped-build-middle-earth/. 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. https://blog.playstation.com/2025/03/25/tales-of-the-shire-a-the-lord-of-the-rings-game-community-building-and-shared-meals-gameplay-details/. 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. https://www.engadget.com/tales-of-the-shire-is-a-cozy-lord-of-the-rings-game-from-weta-workshop-152907546.html. Retrieved June 22, 2025.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game for Nintendo Switch Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/tales-of-the-shire-a-the-lord-of-the-rings-game/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game for PC Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/tales-of-the-shire-a-the-lord-of-the-rings-game/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game for PlayStation 5 Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/tales-of-the-shire-a-the-lord-of-the-rings-game/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-5. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game". OpenCritic. https://opencritic.com/game/17737/tales-of-the-shire-a-the-lord-of-the-rings-game.
- ↑ Fay, Kacee (28 July 2025). "Tales of the Shire review – A cozy hobbit life that sparkles on the surface, but never digs deep". https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/tales-of-the-shire-review-a-cozy-hobbit-life-that-sparkles-on-the-surface-but-never-digs-deep/. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ↑ Lynn, Lottie (2 August 2025). "Tales of the Shire review - lost potential trapped beneath a tedious life simulator". https://www.eurogamer.net/tales-of-the-shire-review. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
- ↑ Cogswell, Jessica (29 July 2025). "Tales Of The Shire Review - Concerning, And Also There Are Hobbits". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/tales-of-the-shire-review-concerning-and-also-there-are-hobbits/1900-6418389/. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
- ↑ Betts, Emma-Jane (28 July 2025). "Tales of the Shire review: "As a long-time Tolkien fan, I'm both pleasantly surprised and slightly frustrated at what should've been my dream Lord of the Rings game"". https://www.gamesradar.com/games/tales-of-the-shire-review/. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ↑ Penwell, Chris (30 July 2025). "Tales of the Shire Review: Charming Gameplay Marred by Repetition, Bugs". https://hardcoregamer.com/review-tales-of-the-shire-a-the-lord-of-the-rings-game/. Retrieved 30 July 2025.
- ↑ Northup, Travis (28 July 2025). "Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game Review". https://www.ign.com/articles/tales-of-the-shire-a-the-lord-of-the-rings-game-review. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ↑ Gray, Kate (28 July 2025). "Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game Review (Switch eShop)". https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/tales-of-the-shire-a-the-lord-of-the-rings-game. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ↑ Rairdin, John (29 July 2025). "Tales of the Shire (Switch) Review". https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/71879/tales-of-the-shire-switch-review. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
- ↑ Livingston, Christopher (28 July 2025). "Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game review". https://www.pcgamer.com/games/life-sim/tales-of-the-shire-a-the-lord-of-the-rings-game-review/. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ↑ Watson, James (28 July 2025). "Mini Review: Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game (PS5) - One Cosy Game to Bore Them All". https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps5/tales-of-the-shire-a-lord-of-the-rings-game. Retrieved 28 July 2025.
- ↑ Thwaites, Sarah (29 July 2025). "Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game review – too cosy for comfort". https://www.theguardian.com/games/2025/jul/29/tales-of-the-shire-a-lord-of-the-rings-game-review. Retrieved 29 July 2025.
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