Tales of the Shire Review - Home Is Where the Apple Tart Is

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Rightly or wrongly, one of the major criticisms leveled at J.R.R Tolkien’s prose is the fact that he’d spend ages waxing poetic over the most insignificant of things. A random gnarled tree trunk? A whole page. A forgotten bridge over a trickling stream within Middle-earth? Three pages. You get the picture. Ironically, Wētā Workshop’s first major title as a game developer suffers from a slightly similar issue. At times, the overall experience of Tales of the Shire can feel a little bit like a meandering time sink. But thankfully, despite this problem, there’s still a lot to appreciate in this cosy, casual sim, if you have the patience to see it through.

Wait, I’m NOT Going on an Adventure?

At its core, Tales of the Shire is a life sim set in The Lord of the Rings‘ universe that blends everyday chores like fishing, gardening, cooking, foraging, and relationship building, while also serving as a light RPG to gift players the rare opportunity of roleplaying as the humble Hobbits at the heart of Tolkien’s much-loved fantasy novels. While it does boast some very notable strengths, it’s tricky to give a blanket recommendation to all, as it does occasionally feel like you’re navigating a lovingly crafted museum, of sorts. In other words, at times, Tales of the Shire feels like an experience that relies heavily on looking at its beautifully realised world, rather than actively engaging with it.

Players assume the role of a fresh-faced Hobbit from Bree who has just moved to Bywater to start a new life. Unsurprisingly, a whole host of oddball characters already live there, and so after a few introductions, including a brief appearance from everybody’s favorite wizard, you’re set free to eke out an existence in this fairy tale-esque world.

What I must emphasise off the bat is that this is a game that doesn’t involve any combat at all — unlike what you’d expect in The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit — but instead this is a tale all about friendship, fellowship, and well… cooking lots of meals for your neighbors. If that’s getting your pulse racing, then — oh boy — have Wētā Workshop got the game for you!

So, let’s start with what Tales of the Shire absolutely nails, and that’s its stunning presentation. Most notably, its authenticity to the source material and the overall vibes are off the charts largely thanks to the fact that Wētā Workshop is the developer behind this project. After all, this is the creative company that worked on Peter Jackson’s critically acclaimed filmic adaptations that we all know and love. Not only did the New Zealand-based team design armor, costumes, creatures, characters, and environments in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, but they also worked on some of the special effects and prosthetics, too. As a result, Tales of the Shire looks like it’s been lifted straight out of Tolkien’s noggin, which is a huge compliment, of course.

Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost

Rolling hills brimming with blooming flora and wandering fauna stretch out as far as the eye can see. Nestled in between the grassy knolls are the signature Hobbit-holes that you may remember from the filmic renditions of the Shire, replete with its recognizably quirky olde English architecture. Trickling brooks snake their way across the landscape, and quaint bridges, hollowed out logs, and rarely trodden paths add a sense of enchanting whimsy as you skip merrily through the dappled undergrowth.

Butterflies flit to and fro, guiding you to nearby berries, mushrooms, and nuts, and bluebirds flutter down from the skies to help escort you to your next objective marker. Oh, and I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention how you can actually greet all the animals in the game — like swans, pigs, sheep, horses, and ducks. That’s a pretty adorable touch, right?

Seriously, the game’s painterly art style simply oozes with beauty, and it’s quite possibly one of Tales of the Shire‘s strongest assets. Much akin to how Tolkien had a deep reverence for nature, Wētā Workshop has gone above and beyond to capture that gorgeous natural landscape that is so synonymous with Tolkien’s literature. Add in a day and night cycle, along with distinct seasons that even affect what you can and cannot grow, and you have a middle-Earth sandbox that feels, sounds, and looks incredibly faithful to its much-adored source material.

Helping to bolster these strong visuals is some solid writing that’s equally charming as it is comical in its own low-key way. While much of the drama is more grounded and focuses on the small everyday interactions of Bywater’s litany of country bumpkins — your main mission is to help it become an official village, after all — there are still plenty of characters that will surprise you with a cool yarn, cheeky joke, or a surprise quest to keep you busy. Sure, some of the characters are a little one-note, but there are enough wee gags weaved into the narrative that will undoubtedly make you smirk.

From the grumpy Hobbiton Mill owner, Sandyman, whose only interest is in making a quick buck to the smart and independent master carpenter, Willow Took, to the crazy and whacky fishing expert, Old Noakes, the colorful cast is impressive. That being said, it’s worth noting that there is no voice acting in the game, which is a bit of a shame.

Luckily, Tales of the Shire‘s catchy audio design picks up the slack, as it boasts a wonderful orchestral soundtrack bursting with whimsical melodies that really gives the experience a welcoming, warm, and cosy atmosphere.

Boil ’em, Mash ’em, Stick ’em In a Stew!

Let’s move onto the gameplay, then, and it’s here where Tales of the Shire is arguably at its weakest. I totally understand that this is more of an Animal Crossing-style experience, as opposed to a traditional fantasy RPG, but I still felt like the world was a little hollow at times, especially when I went off piste and chatted with some of the locals wandering around Bywater. Really, unless a character is a trader or part of a quest — or a Thing to Do as the game endearingly calls it — they seldom speak, outside of a greeting, which quickly made the world feel a teeny bit smaller, and a wee bit emptier.

Thankfully, there are a whole host of activities that can help keep you busy and while away the hours, though some have more substance than others. Up first, we have fishing, which is quite fun, but gets a little repetitive after a while. Gardening, on the other hand, is a bit deeper, as depending on what other veggies are growing next to your seeds can actually give your plants a buff. For instance, Brown Taters synergise with Eggplants, Beans, and Maize, but don’t grow so well with a Baby Marrow. Planting vegetables that synergise helps net your veggies a three-star rating, which makes them tastier and more valuable.

Additionally, cooking and holding dinner parties is a critical part of Tales of the Shire, as this allows you to build up relationship bonds with your fellow neighbors, which in turn, helps to unlock further recipes, decorations for your humble abode. There are even special pieces of equipment like a Lantern to illuminate the dark and a Shovel to dig up your plants, and even things like a Chicken coop for your home (which I adored!), amongst other handy items to discover.

Rounding out the activities is foraging, which is a surprisingly crucial element that allows you to earn money, while also serving as a way to stock up your pantry with ingredients to cook for all your hungry guests. Seriously, a lot of your time will be devoted to skipping around meadows and scooping up nuts, berries, and fruit to sell at the local market to make some moolah.

While the main quests — or Things to Do — will suck up most of your time, you’ll also be charged with helping to run certain Clubs, specifically: Gardening, Fishing, Foraging, and Cooking. In addition, there are also riddle-based quests called Discoveries that are quite fun as well. Combined together, these all serve as side quest activities that can also help earn you some extra useful goodies. While there are plenty of activities to keep you busy, however, there are still times when the game expects you to entertain yourself on days where not much of note really occurs. Depending on your patience, your mileage may vary here.

Ultimately, Tales of the Shire may be perfect for a casual audience, but its simplistic gameplay, slow pace, and lack of any discernible challenge or agency may be a little off-putting to more seasoned gamers. Still, what it sets out to do, it does so effectively. It captures the serenity of living life in a backwater village as a Hobbit, warts and all. And because it takes the path least trodden, it confidently stands out from the crowd, which is pretty special in its own small way.

Review copy provided by the Publisher.