The farming and life simulation genre is highly competitive as developers strive to replicate the success of Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Some are able to stand out more than others. For instance, August’s Fields of Mistria impressed during its early access phase by staying true to the genre’s core elements and creating a town filled with villagers that players genuinely want to connect with. Now, Weta Workshop is entering the fray with a game based on The Lord of the Rings.
In Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game, players take on the role of a Hobbit brought to the town of Bywater by Gandalf. The game tasks players with getting to know and cook for the villagers, farm and forage for food, and elevate the status of the village. After playing the initial two hours, I see potential in Tales of the Shire, but there is still room for improvement to make it a standout in a crowded genre.
A Blend of Ideas
If you’re familiar with life simulation games, the early gameplay of Tales of the Shire won’t come as a shock. The game’s initial hours remind me more of titles like Fae Farm rather than Stardew Valley or Fields of Mistria. Much of the focus is on meeting the villagers of Bywater rather than diving straight into farming activities. While players have the freedom to customize their farming experience, Tales of the Shire places a heavier emphasis on exploring Bywater and preparing meals for its inhabitants.
Navigating Bywater feels intuitive right from the start, and I appreciate unique details like bluebirds guiding players to main objectives and butterflies leading them to forage for plants. While the early build’s frame rate can be inconsistent across different modes, the vibrant world design is engaging. Tales of the Shire promises to be a cozy gaming experience, a departure from the typical action-packed fantasy games based on The Lord of the Rings.
The cooking mechanics in the game offer more depth compared to other titles in the genre. Players must pay close attention to the ingredients they use, the cooking technique, and the presentation of the dish. Each recipe has a specific sweet spot between smooth, chunky, crisp, and tender, requiring players to cook accordingly. This attention to detail in cooking and serving food sets Tales of the Shire apart as it elevates these systems beyond mere menu selections, making them integral to the gameplay experience.
When Tales of the Shire introduces new ideas like these, it shines brightly. However, the game falls short in other areas as most missions revolve around fetch quests, and the characters of Bywater lack the depth needed to compensate for that. Memorable and compelling characters are essential in keeping players engaged in a life sim game, and Tales of the Shire misses the mark in this aspect during the initial gameplay hours.
While the game benefits from being set in a familiar universe, iconic characters like Gandalf and Frodo are not part of the town initially. Essentially, the game serves as an original fantasy life sim, with hobbits replacing humans. It may not evoke the same fondness for its characters as games like Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, or Fields of Mistria.
While the cooking aspect offers depth, gameplay elements like farming and fishing feel more basic in comparison. Once players have explored every corner of Bywater, it’s unclear how Tales of the Shire plans to retain their interest, especially if it continues to rely on fetch quest missions. The game’s camera controls can also be troublesome, especially in the cramped hobbit-built buildings.
If the idea of a cozy life sim game set in The Lord of the Rings universe excites you, Tales of the Shire might appeal to you. However, the initial two hours don’t showcase its full potential, with only a few innovative design choices keeping the interest alive. There is hope for improvement before its release next year, particularly in fixing performance issues and camera problems. Addressing the core gameplay aspects may prove to be a more challenging task.
Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game is set to launch on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and iOS and Android via Netflix on March 25, 2025.
