Summary
- The Tales of the Shire Creative Director reveals the game aims to honor Tolkien's vision.
- The game has received criticism for its simplistic mini-games, though it has been praised for its art style.
- The director also shared that the game will focus on community and peaceful activities, like cooking and farming, to capture the life of a Hobbit.
The Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game creative director has emphasized that the development team at Weta Workshop is trying to create “something that we felt Tolkien would be happy with." Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game is set for release on July 29, 2025, and while the game has received some criticism about its gameplay, LOTR fans can look forward to a title that aims to respect Tolkien’s vision.
Over the years, the Lord of the Rings IP has inspired many video games based on Tolkien’s fantasy world. The Return of the King (2003) and the more recent Middle-earth: Shadow of War (2017) are two noteworthy examples of titles that succeed in capturing some of the essence of his intricate and fully developed world. However, there have also been several clunky games, like Lord of the Rings: Gollum, that didn’t do a good job of leveraging the iconic IP. Nevertheless, Tales of the Shire has received positive comments about its art style, though the game has also been criticized for having simplistic mini-games. While the game is still awaiting release, the developer has shared some details about the studio’s approach to it.
If Tales of the Shire is a Hit, A Sequel Would Have the Perfect Setting
Tales of the Shire still has a lot to prove, but if it ends up doing well and a sequel is eventually on the cards, it could have the perfect setting.
In a recent interview shared on the PlayStation Blog, Creative Director Stephen Lambert discussed several aspects of the upcoming Tales of the Shire. Lambert emphasized how important it is for the studio to create something Tolkien himself would have been happy with. He recalled an instance where the legendary writer expressed that he wanted others to contribute to his world, expanding what he considered a “mythology”—and Tales of the Shire is aiming to become part of that vision.
Tales of the Shire Aims to Be Something That 'Tolkien Would Be Happy With'
Stephen also provided some information regarding Tales of the Shire's primary gameplay pillars, stating that "so much of the game is about community." The game will aim to replicate the Hobbit lifestyle in Tolkien's world by emphasizing peaceful activities, cooking, farming, and fishing. There will also be areas to explore and secrets scattered around for players to discover—all with a strong focus on interacting with its characters. According to the director, establishing relationships with the community is a crucial aspect of the game’s progression.
By interacting with the different Tales of the Shire NPCs, players will be able to expand their options and storylines. While fans wait for the game’s launch in July, it remains to be seen how the developer will incorporate feedback to release a game that, in addition to respecting Tolkien’s vision, also offers an enjoyable gameplay experience.
- Released
- July 29, 2025
- Developer(s)
- Wētā Workshop
- Publisher(s)
- Private Division
- Franchise
- The Lord of the Rings
- Number of Players
- 1
