Tales of the Shire is bringing gamers a new cozy life sim set in the world of The Lord of the Rings. Players take on the role of their own Hobbit, which is an intriguing prospect. Unfortunately. Tales of the Shire has an uphill battle ahead of it. The state of The Lord of the Rings franchise in gaming has been lackluster lately, and it can potentially lead some to have preconceived notions about the life sim's quality.
The past few years have been tough for gamers who are also The Lord of the Rings fans. Right now, the need for a strong Lord of the Rings experience is greater than ever, and it's currently unclear if Tales of the Shire can make that happen. Yes, the game looks like a fun Hobbit-filled time, but it also raises the important question of whether it will be enough to bring the fantasy franchise out of its gaming slump or not.
Valheim Fan Recreates Lord of the Rings Locations
A Valheim fan recreates iconic Lord of the Rings locations like Moria, Minas Tirith, and Rohan using mod tools and the game's standard resources.
Tales of the Shire Has to Make Up for a Series of Unfortunate LotR Game Launches
The Notorious Gollum Game and Return to Moria
Gollum has gone down in history as a shockingly disappointing game. This spin-off, centered around one of the franchise's most important characters, is considered by many gamers and critics as one of the worst games of 2023. From the clunky controls and a myriad of technical issues, Gollum remains a sore spot in The Lord of the Rings game roster.
Granted, Return to Moria wasn't nearly as notorious or disappointing as its Gollum counterpart, but it wasn't the most stellar of releases, either. This survival title launched to mixed reviews, finding some success but once again marking yet another game adaptation that struggled to capture the spark of The Lord of the Rings franchise. These two titles have showcased that creating a strong Lord of the Rings experience may be far easier said than done. Sadly, the bad news hasn't stopped there.
The Sudden Shut-Down of Monolith Lowers the Curtain On the Shadow of Mordor Franchise
- Warner Bros. Recently announced that it would be shutting down Monolith's in-development Wonder Woman game as well as the studio itself.
The closure of Monolith is an unfortunate end of an era. One of the most upsetting details of such a shut-down is that it likely means the Shadow of Mordor series won't continue. Its sequel, Shadow of War, may not have reached the same heights as its predecessor, but many fans were hoping to see another Lord of the Rings game featuring the beloved Nemesis System sometime in the future. Now it seems as though that may never happen. Monolith had been part of the industry for 30 years, and its closure is made even sadder by the loss of another Shadow of Mordor chapter.
Tales of the Shire was originally slated for 2024, then moved to March 25, 2025. It has now been delayed once more, and is now set for a July 29 release.
Tales of the Shire Can Still Deliver a Surprise
It's important to remember that just because The Lord of the Rings has faced a rocky few years in the gaming industry doesn't mean it will stay that way forever. Yes, it's risky that Tales of the Shire is bringing forth a game that seemingly sidesteps the fight against good and evil that the series hinges on, but it could also be a compelling change of pace.
It remains to be seen what Tales of the Shire has in store for players. Of course, there are the cozy life sim staples to be expected, like cooking, fishing, and socializing, but how it succeeds in adapting The Lord of the Rings lore has yet to be known. Once the game finally arrives this summer, it will hopefully be able to rise above the franchise's dark streak.
- Released
- July 29, 2025
- Developer(s)
- Wētā Workshop
- Publisher(s)
- Private Division
- Franchise
- The Lord of the Rings
- Number of Players
- 1
