Tales of The Shire: Official Game Preview

Exciting news is on the horizon for fans of the iconic Lord of The Rings franchise, as 
Weta Workshop gives us an official sneak peek of the upcoming cozy simulator Tales of the Shire. The showcase aired on September 22, 2024, and we got a first look at so many of the features the game will offer.

Let's discuss everything we know about Tales of the Shire—from concept to release date.

Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game

You inherit a Hobbit house from a family relative, and a mysterious traveler drops you off at Bywater, the little village in Middle Earth you'll call home. Bywater is a real place from the novel by J. R. R. Tolkien, as well as many of the different aspects of Tales of The Shire we'll discuss further.

Immerse yourself in the life of the Hobbits inhabiting Bag End, the beautiful nature that surrounds you and changes as the seasons go by, enjoy home-cooked meals, and build relationships with the villagers. All of that, and so much more you can do in the Tales of the Shire.

Home Customization

Decorate and clutter up your nook and turn it from a Hobbit hole to a Hobbit home. You'll be gifted an array of furniture and decorations you can fill up your space with, and place freely anywhere you want! You can enjoy the comfort of your new home with a hot cup of tea, or map out any future home renovations you're set out to do.

The more relationships you develop with the villagers, the more furniture variants you'll unlock, and the more you'll be able to customize your space to your liking.

Exploring Bywater

Head outside of your cozy Hobbit home and meet the gorgeous scenery of Bywater. You'll be able to fish, forage for mushrooms and plants, and grow your own crops! With the seasons changing in Middle Earth, you'll watch your surroundings change as well. You can kill so much time just staring at the trees and the lush fields of Bywater, and to be honest, that is the Hobbit way.

Explore Bywater's hills and streams and what local nature offers you, and immerse yourself in the wonderful scenery. Who knows, you might unlock an achievement while skipping around.

Recipes and Cooking

One of the biggest social aspects of the game is cooking—you'll be able to learn and prepare a ton of Victorian meals, as well as some Hobbit classics mentioned in the novel. Your ingredients will have quality and a type of flavor, which will determine the taste of your final dish. You can treat your neighbors to their favorite meals, after all, the way to a Hobbit's heart is through the stomach.

Fill your pantry with goodies, discover all the recipes in the game, and cook up everyone's favorite meals to become the talk of the village!

Build Your Community

In Tales of the Shire, you'll truly feel a sense of community. You'll be able to trade with the inhabitants of Bywater, strengthening your relationships as you help them out with daily tasks or misfortunes. Every villager in the game has something to teach you or help you out with, so don't be shy! Venture out into Bywater and become a friend of all, learn about the locals' backstories, and create your own fellowship. 

Tales of the Shire: Release Date

Weta Workshop pushed back the release date of the game with the intention of refining the experience. While at first fans were a bit disappointed that they needed to wait more, now they're excited to see the hard labor of Weta Workshop coming to fruition. We won't get to be a part of Middle Earth for Christmas, but the announced release date isn't that far off. 

• Release Date: March 25, 2025
• Platforms: PlayStation 4 & 5, PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X│S

Here is also the official showcase video that Weta Workshop streamed on Hobbit Day, September 22, teasing all the upcoming features of Tales of the Shire: