Tales of the Shire Life Sim Offers Cozy Gameplay

Tales of the Shire is a cozy village simulator set in Bywater, developed by Wētā Workshop and part of the Lord of the Rings video game universe. The game focuses on gardening, cooking, and building relationships with fellow hobbits, and draws comparisons to Animal Crossing and Disney Dreamlight Valley. Players can customize their hobbit character and home, with gameplay emphasizing peaceful activities over adventure or combat. While the game’s setting and attention to Shire detail have been praised, reviews cite shallow mechanics, repetitive social interactions, and technical issues as shortcomings. Familiar characters from Tolkien's world appear sparingly, and the cooking minigame offers relatively more depth than other activities. The game appeals to fans of cozy simulations, though it lacks depth and polish compared to genre peers.