Gameplay
Tales of the Shire is the latest attempt to bring the world of The Lord of the Rings to life—this time in a cozy game. Instead of battling orcs or traversing perilous mountains, you settle into the shoes (or bare feet) of a hobbit, spending your days fishing, eating, farming, eating, foraging, cooking, and—most importantly—eating. On paper, this is a perfect concept. Who wouldn’t want to live the idyllic life of a hobbit, surrounded by rolling hills, peaceful routines, and second breakfasts?
Unfortunately, once you settle into the game’s loop, the charm wears off quicker than expected. After being introduced to the town’s main hobbits, you’re taught the basics: how to fish, farm, cook, and forage. While each mechanic is serviceable—and in some cases enjoyable—they don’t evolve enough to keep things engaging. The cooking mini-game stands out as a highlight at first, with a fun and tactile feel, but it quickly becomes repetitive. The only real incentive to cook is to share meals with other hobbits and build your relationships, which can start to feel like busywork rather than something meaningful.
Farming has potential but falls short of expectations. While the use of real-world companion planting is a nice touch, the layout options feel too limited and it’s hard to create something truly beautiful—which is a core part of any great cozy game. Fishing, on the other hand, is relaxing and decently designed, but again, lacks variety. All fish feel a bit too similar in how they behave, and there’s little sense of progression or challenge as time goes on.
Ultimately, Tales of the Shire nails the feeling of a cozy atmosphere but stumbles when it comes to gameplay depth. If the developers added more variety, or even a few surprise twists to shake up the rinse-and-repeat loop, this could’ve easily become a comfort game I’d lose hours in. As it stands, it feels like a missed opportunity—so close, yet not quite there.
Graphics & Audio
Visually, Tales of the Shire leans into a charming storybook aesthetic that suits the tone of a cozy Lord of the Rings experience. The soft lighting, warm colors, and gentle animations make the Shire feel inviting and peaceful, and on that front, the game succeeds. However, one visual element left me scratching my head—the Hobbits themselves. They’re just a bit too cute. When I picture Hobbits, I think of them as earthy, homely, maybe a little scruffy—not Disneyfied garden gnomes. The character creator doesn’t help either. Despite offering options, most hobbits end up looking nearly identical apart from hairstyle and the occasional tuft of toe hair.
Graphics glitch that happened a few times
On the flip side, the audio design is spot-on. The soundtrack is beautifully done—light, melodic, and deeply relaxing. It perfectly captures that sense of calm and wonder that defines the Shire. Whether you’re picking mushrooms or skipping along a dirt path, the music makes it feel just right. The ambient sound design also adds subtle immersion, with the chirping of birds and rustling of leaves making the world feel alive in a gentle, unobtrusive way.
Feedback
Tales of the Shire has the heart of a great cozy game, but it needs more variety and aesthetic progression to truly shine. Farming, cooking, and fishing all start strong but quickly become repetitive. Adding more depth—like new recipes, unique fish behaviors, or more intuitive decorative customization—would go a long way in keeping players engaged. Cozy games thrive on creativity and personal expression, and that currently feels limited here.
The character creator also needs improvement. Right now, most Hobbits look nearly identical aside from hair and toe fuzz. Offering more diverse features, body types, and style options would help players feel more connected to their character and the world.
With more attention to visual growth and gameplay variety, Tales of the Shire could become something truly special
Verdict
Tales of the Shire captures the spirit of cozy living in Middle-earth but falls short of delivering a truly engaging experience. Its charming aesthetic and relaxing soundtrack set the right mood, but repetitive gameplay and limited customization hold it back. With deeper mechanics, better aesthetic progression, and a more robust character creator, this could’ve been a standout in the cozy game genre. As it stands, it’s a pleasant stroll through the Shire—but one that may not hold your attention for long. Again, I really wish somebody would take the intitative and make a new and good Lord of the Rings game.
Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings game, is available tomorrow for PC via Steam, Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and Nintendo Switch.
