We had a chance to play an early build of Private Division’s Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game and have some initial impressions to share!
A cozy farm/life-sim game set within the world of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings feels like a game built entirely for me. While so many other games over the years have focused on the epic battles and action of the heroic stories (many of which also ruled), it’s nice to see developers take a new, slower, approach with things here. After all, the life of a Hobbit is meant to be peaceful and filled with food and merriment.
As such, I’ve had my eye on Tales of the Shire since its initial announcement. So when Private Division reached out to let me play an early build/demo of the game, I jumped at the chance. During yesterday’s Hobbit Day livestream, they announced a March 2025 release date for the game, which is good…as it’ll give them some time to polish a few things. Check out my initial impressions while I play:
I’m loving the overall feel of the game and the vibes are right. The gameplay just needs a little more tightening up. I think this could be something special and allow fans to live out their Middle-earth dreams in an all new way.
Embark on a cosy adventure in Tales of the Shire where you experience the quiet life of a Hobbit in J.R.R Tolkien’s Middle-earth. Begin by creating your unique Hobbit avatar, choosing from a variety of very Hobbit-specific features to express yourself – including foot-hair styles and personality ‘moods’ that bring your character to life. Perhaps your Hobbit is a friendly soul with fiery red hair, a cute button nose, and bright green eyes? Or maybe your Hobbit is more of a Sackville curmudgeon, with a broad nose and balding hair! The choice is yours. Then set out to make your home in sleepy Bywater and enjoy the simple pleasures of life in the Shire.
Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game hits PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, Nintendo Switch, and PCs on March 25, 2025.
