Tales of the Shire Review (Nintendo Switch, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, & PC)

When Weta Workshop announced Tales of the Shire, a cozy Hobbit life game, fans were curious. The studio is known for bringing Middle-earth to life in the Lord of the Rings movies, but making a calm, storybook-style game was something new. There were no battles or big quests this time, just cooking, gardening, and making friends.

After a few delays, the game is finally out. And after spending hours exploring its peaceful hills and cooking up meals for neighbours, it’s clear that Tales of the Shire is an epic adventure. It’s a gentle, relaxing game that captures the quiet life of a Hobbit, and it does it well. Now, let’s dive into the details in this review.

Life in Bywater

You begin as a Hobbit who moves from Bree to Bywater, a familiar village for fans of the lore. There’s no character class or levelling system here. Instead, players create a character using a refreshingly open and inclusive creation tool. No gender selection, no locked body types or hairstyles. Everything is customizable, and the game uses general pronouns for your character throughout. 

The early game is heavy on hand-holding. The tutorial takes a while, introducing every mechanic slowly and carefully. You’ll learn how to plant crops, fish at the stream, forage mushrooms and berries, write letters to neighbors, cook meals, decorate your home, and throw dinner parties. It’s a lot at first, and the intro does drag a bit, but once you’re given full control, the charm kicks in.

Bywater itself is a beautiful and peaceful place to explore. Every path winds past cozy homes, gardens, rivers, and wooded nooks. The visuals are gentle and storybook-like, blending soft watercolour tones with rustic details straight out of Tolkien’s world. Weta poured a lot of love into making the Shire feel lived-in and authentic in the best way.

Cooking and Friendships

The main gameplay loops are simple but engaging. The two main goals are building friendships and decorating your home. Surprisingly, you make friends by cooking meals for your neighbors, hosting dinners, and giving gifts. It’s a wholesome process. Interestingly, the game allows you to write a letter inviting someone over, they’ll reply with the dish they’re craving, and you’ll spend the day gathering the needed ingredients.

Cooking is one of the best parts of this Sim game. It’s not overly complex, but it’s more than just clicking a recipe. The game offers a variety of ingredients based on types, like savory, sweet, earthy, etc. The meals you create are visually delightful. Some combinations unlock new recipes, which is always satisfying. And once you’ve cooked the perfect dish, you get to host a dinner party and watch the friendship meter rise.

Now, as you build stronger relationships, villagers will give you gifts like food, decorations, and recipes. Eventually, they’ll unlock new items in their shops, further expanding your options, and that is a good thing. The whole process is pleasant and rewarding, especially if you’re someone who enjoys giving gifts and checking things off a cozy to-do list.

Home Sweet Home

Decorating in Tales of the Shire is another highlight. If you are a fan of simulation games and struggled with clunky furniture placement, prepare to be delighted. Everything in this game is smooth. You can drag and drop items easily, rotate them, and swap things out without a fuss.

Your home starts out modest, but over time, you’ll unlock new furniture and decorations from your neighbors or the shops. There’s a wide variety of styles, all fitting the Hobbit aesthetic, plenty of wood, cozy fabrics, handmade trinkets, and lots of plants. It’s not about collecting rare items or showing off fancy loot. It’s about making your little space feel like home.

Now, it’s not just the house. Players can also decorate the outside, turning their garden into a serene Hobbit paradise. Whether you want to line the path with mushrooms, build a rustic fence, or hang lanterns from tree branches, the freedom is there. And it all works perfectly. No frustrations, no fiddling. Just creativity and calm.

That said, there’s no major customization beyond aesthetics. Players won’t be remodeling or building new rooms. It’s all about placement and design, which might feel limiting for players used to deeper housing mechanics. But for a cozy game, it’s exactly the right level of detail.

Bugs in the Shire

While Tales of the Shire is lovely, it’s not flawless. There are notable crashes and glitches. That’s not ideal. While you can save manually at any time, there’s no quick-save button. This means players will constantly find themselves opening the menu to save, just in case another crash happens.

To the developer’s credit, patches are already on the way, and they’ve been quick to respond to feedback. Still, it’s something to be aware of, especially if you’re someone who forgets to save often. Another annoyance is the inability to skip time. If you finish your tasks by noon, you can’t sleep until evening. That means you’re left wandering around or fishing just to pass the time. On the one hand, it encourages players to explore and appreciate the scenery. On the other hand, it sometimes feels like you are wasting time with nothing to do.

Quests also lack a clear structure. Some look complete but actually require a hidden prerequisite to unlock. The game doesn’t tell you this, so it’s easy to get confused and assume something is broken. It’s not a dealbreaker, but a little more guidance would go a long way.

Finally, there’s a big question mark hanging over the long-term value. Will players keep coming back after finishing their home and maxing friendships? There’s no multiplayer, no major events, and currently no word on DLC. For some, that might be fine. For others, especially those used to games like Animal Crossing, it might feel a bit too small-scale. Additionally, if you’re looking for challenge, progression systems, or multiplayer interaction, this probably won’t scratch that itch. There are no big quests or boss fights here. 

True to the Lore

This wouldn’t be a Tolkien game without a little lore sprinkled in, and Tales of the Shire does include some lovely details for fans. The game is packed with references to locations and characters from The Shire. You’ll spot nods to the Green Dragon Inn, the Three Farthing Stone, and even older tales, like the mention of Arnorian towers or quotes about the Old King granting hobbits their land.

While you won’t run into Bilbo or Frodo, at least not in the current version, there are plenty of hobbits around. Rosie Cotton shows up. So does a version of Gandalf. And in true Hobbit fashion, there’s a whole lot of chatting, gossiping, and worrying about dinner parties.

On the flip side, some fans might feel a bit boxed in. You’re limited to Bywater, and it’s clear the devs weren’t aiming to let you explore all of the Shire. Hobbiton, Bag End, and the Party Tree? Not accessible, at least not yet. That may change with updates, but for now, you’re very much rooted in one small corner of the world.

If you’re a fan of cosy games, this will absolutely be your game. The slow pace, soft music, and gentle gameplay loops make it perfect for relaxing after a long day. It’s also incredibly kid-friendly. If you’re a Tolkien fan, you’ll get an extra layer of enjoyment. The attention to detail is spot on, and there are loads of book-based references that hardcore fans will recognise. From regional dishes to dialogue, it’s clear that Weta Workshop respected the source material deeply. Ultimately, the game is set between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, so it fits comfortably in the established timeline without needing big plot events. 

Verdict

After a few relaxing days among Hobbits, hosting dinner parties, planting berries, and obsessively decorating a cozy cottage, it’s clear that Tales of the Shire delivers on its promise of a warm, immersive sim. It’s not revolutionary, and it’s not trying to be. Instead, it focuses on doing a handful of things exceptionally well: building friendships, preparing delicious food, and creating a world that feels safe, charming, and full of fun.

Sure, there are a few bugs to iron out, and the long-term replay value might not be there for everyone. But if you’re looking for a peaceful escape with low-stakes quests and high coziness, this game hits the mark. It’s especially rewarding for Tolkien fans who want a break from epic battles and want to live like a proper Hobbit for a while.

At $40, it might feel like a bit much depending on how much gameplay depth you expect. But what you’re really paying for is the polish and atmosphere. This is a carefully crafted experience built with love and attention to detail. If that sounds like your kind of adventure, Tales of the Shire is well worth your time.