Since so many cozy games are designed to provide their players with years of seemingly endless content, it can be harder for a breakout game to rival some of the heavy hitters of the genre, but The Lord of the Rings: Tales of the Shire might just have what it takes. Not only is the game based around a beloved franchise that’s been around since the 1950s, but it seems to have put together all the best elements of the genre to create something truly special.
In Tales of the Shire, which launches on July 29th, 2025, you’ll begin life as a Hobbit in a place none other than the Shire. Here, you’ll design and decorate your own Hobbit hole, tend to a stunning garden, and do your part in town to help it flourish. Enjoying a quiet life with beautiful sprawling landscapes has never been so cozy, and no, you don’t need to know anything about The Lord of the Rings to enjoy it.
Tales Of The Shire Looks Addictive For Cozy Game Fans
Tales Of The Shire Has Taken The Best Gameplay Aspects From The Genre & Put Them Into One Game
When you think of cozy games, the first things that come to mind are probably Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley, Disney Dreamlight Valley, The Sims, as well as a few others. Even though most of these franchises have been around for years, their audiences remain as active as ever simply because each one understands what makes a cozy game work. For the most part, there needs to be a steady gameplay loop that has players working towards a larger goal, as well as a fair amount of customization in some capacity.
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Tales of the Shire Preview: LOTR Life Simulation Sets Up An Expected Party
The upcoming cozy take on Middle Earth has a lot going for it, at least as far as the target audience of life simulation fans is concerned.
Thankfully, it appears this cozy LOTR life-sim seems to be following in the footsteps of these other notable titles, at least based on what we’ve seen of it so far. From the gameplay trailer shown during the Wholesome Direct at Summer Game Fest, we know that players will be able to engage in a myriad of cozy tasks that include fishing, gardening, cooking, and more. In addition to those, you’ll also be able to customize your Hobbit character and your home, to make everything feel like it was made just for you.
Although there will undoubtedly be some sort of story element to the overall game, as is typically the case with games like this, it appears that the story is primarily just a tool to move gameplay along and not necessarily the main focus, based on trailers and descriptions of the game. Through the changing seasons of Bywater, the town in the Shire where the game takes place, you’ll be able to fully embrace your peaceful new Hobbit lifestyle.
Why Tales Of The Shire Should Be On Your Wishlist
More Than Just A Game For LOTR Fans
Given how many new games are released for this genre any given month, it’s easy to overlook the ones that aren’t tied to a significant franchise or known indie developer already. However, in the case of Tales of the Shire, most of the attention it has received pre-release is because of its LOTR association, but that doesn’t mean you should write this off as just another LOTR game that’s exclusively for fans of the franchise.
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Tales Of The Shire Announces Physical Edition Complete With Map Of Bywater
Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game has revealed a physical edition that will come with a physical map of Bywater, where it’s set.
Yes, those with franchise familiarity will likely enjoy some references and world-building that may go over another player’s head, but that doesn’t mean you need to know anything about the world to enjoy the game. Most cozy games that aren’t based on some other source material require you to learn the ropes of a completely unfamiliar world, and so, even if you know nothing about being a Hobbit, this will still be no different from learning how Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley operates for the first time.
Tales of the Shire is currently available for wishlisting on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and Steam.
The art style and gameplay seem to be promising a comforting and engaging experience, at a relatively reasonable price, that is most definitely going to occupy several hours of my life following its release, and maybe yours too. If The Lord of the Rings: Tales of the Shire has even a fraction of the magic that the source material does, this is something you definitely won’t want to miss out on this month.
Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game
Systems
- Developer(s)
- Wētā Workshop
- Publisher(s)
- Private Division
- Franchise
- The Lord of the Rings
- Number of Players
- 1
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- PC Release Date
- July 29, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- July 29, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- July 29, 2025
- Nintendo Switch Release Date
- July 29, 2025
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Nintendo Switch, PC
