New LOTR-inspired life-sim game is launching on Steam

Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings Game is launching on Steam and several other platforms today (July 29). In case you were unfamiliar with the premise, this is a life sim from Wētā Workshop Game Studio, best known until now for their work on the visual effects for Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films. Published by Private Division, Tales of the Shire puts players in the shoes of a Hobbit living in Bywater.

The game centers on day-to-day activities: fishing, gardening, collecting ingredients, cooking, decorating, and making friends with other Hobbits. Customization options are pretty extensive, including appearance and home décor, and everything takes place in painterly versions of the Shire. The main story revolves around organizing a major festival to help the village gain official status.

Wētā Workshop has explicitly stated that their goal isn’t epic adventure or combat, but rather to capture the slower pace and community spirit shown in Tolkien’s work. There’s no jump button, little hand-holding, and navigation is through simple bird guides. Visually, the game goes for a stylized, storybook look - green, lush meadows, rolling hills, and whimsical Hobbit homes.

There's no early access history for the game. Tales of the Shire moved through several release date delays, but always targeted a full, simultaneous launch across platforms. However, select content creators and press received early preview builds or access to limited segments of the game for coverage and promotional purposes.

Reviews so far refer to the game as relaxing, cozy, and true to the setting, but also point out that the core gameplay is fairly simple compared to established life sims like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley. The tasks can feel repetitive, and there’s limited story or progression. Technical hiccups and performance issues have been reported on certain platforms, and there’s no voice acting for any of the familiar Tolkien characters. Co-op fans will not find multiplayer features here.

Tales of the Shire is launching today on PC, Switch (curr. $299 on Amazon), Playstation, and Xbox. It should be appreciated by anyone looking for a low-stress, Hobbit-life simulator with detailed world-building, but for what it's worth, the game doesn't seem to be designed for those wanting more depth or action from this genre.