Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings™ Game on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information
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Welcome home, Hobbit! Live the cosy life of a Hobbit in the wonderfully serene landscape of the Shire. Discover, decorate, & share in this idyllic corner of Middle-earth. Join friendly Hobbits & familiar faces awaiting your arrival in Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings™ Game.
Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings™ Game is a life sim, cozy and character customization game
developed by Wētā Workshop
and published by Private Division.
Released on July 29th 2025 is available only on Windows
in 13 languages: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish - Spain, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese - Brazil, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Polish, Spanish - Latin America and Turkish.
It has received 2,148 reviews of which 1,747 were positive and 401 were negative resulting in a rating of 7.8 out of 10. 😊
The game is currently priced at 29.69€ on Steam with a 10% discount.
The Steam community has classified Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings™ Game into these genres:
Media & Screenshots
Get an in-depth look at Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings™ Game through various videos and screenshots.
System requirements
These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.
Windows
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 10
- Processor: Intel Core i5-7600K or AMD Ryzen 3 1200
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770, 4 GB or AMD Radeon R9 270X, 4 GB or Intel Arc A580, 8 GB
- Storage: 3 GB available space
- Additional Notes: Details: 1080p Very Low @ 30 FPS
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
This is going to be long even though I normally never leave reviews. But the reception of this game has been so strange so I have some thoughts. I like this game a lot. I've experienced minor bugs and people are right about the optimization being poor. And I don't like that they've given the dwarf a robotic personality (she doesn't even understand how food works?! Dwarves love food!) but maybe she's from some obscure dwarf culture mentioned in the Silmarillion where the act that way or something. This game is made by much bigger Middle-Earth nerds than me so I'm open to that being the reason. If not, then I don't like it. Oh, and I want to be able to have my character sit on a chair/bench and enjoy the view from her garden. Other than that, I think most of the criticism of this game is generally ridiculous. Let's go through some of the dumb things I've seen with a numbered list. - Dumb group no 1: "This is woke trash." This is such an overreaction, it's insane. And let's be honest, this argument is rarely done in good faith. Let's pretend it is for a moment. There are two parts to this. Skincolours and pronouns. This game is a cozy life sim which means a lot of people will be making self-inserts and generally want to feel immersed regardless of who they are. Playing a game is a different experience than reading book or watching a movie. It makes complete sense to try to appeal to as many different people as possible when making a game like this even though the world is originally based on a (fantasy/folklore version of a) couple of Northern European cultures, my own being one of them. This specific genre of game is basically a materialized daydream so it makes sense to include every kind of player. I literally don't think about the skin colours at all while playing. When it comes to pronouns I can agree that the approach is mildly lazy since there's no voice acting. It's all text so they could have had three different versions with he/she/they as options. Full disclosure, I do find the general pronoun debate to be a bit... silly? at times. But not enough that I'm bothered by this game at all. Like the skin colours, it does not matter at all while playing the game. Dumb group no. 2: "This is lazy/these devs are trash/who are those Weta anyway." If you pretend to care about LOTR-based media and don't know who Weta are, I'm embarrassed for you. When I first heard about this game and then found out it was made by Weta, I felt SO reassured even though they obviously don't make games normally. And no, the game is not lazily made. You'll see when you actually play the game. These devs clearly love Middle-Earth. Dumb group no 3: "This is ugly." This is obviously extremely subjective so there's not a lot to discuss. I will say, though, that the colours in this game are gorgeous. They went for a stylized design with a watercolour look and I personally think it works really well. To be fair, people are mostly criticizing the design of the hobbits themselves. Whenever a new cozy/casual game comes out there seems to be this divide between people who want stylized/cute/artsy and people who want grounded/realistic. Some people are saying that stylized is fine but they'd prefer something more like Palia, for example. A style that I personally think has been done to death by now. It's the Fortnite look and I'm sick of it. I think partially many people just don't do well with original graphics and partially many people really need all their characters to look at least somewhat sexy/hot/pretty. If they can't play as an attractive character, they don't want to play the game. And no, I'm not talking about male gamers. Plenty of my fellow female gamers grab those beauty standards by the hand and take them with them straight into what should be a source of escapism. It's like Stockholm Syndrome (if it were real) but for self-esteem issues. I think you have to be pretty miserable to think this way. The hobbits are cute and that's all they need to be. And no, Gandalf is not wearing eyeliner. People really don't recognize stylized decisions when they see them. And also: I saw people complain about the foot hair. On hobbits. That's impossible to take seriously. Dumb group no. 4: "Not enough farming/no romance/don't care about dinner parties/the game doesn't completely hold my hand every step of the way and spell everything out for me/not everything is unlocked from the beginning" And other idiotic complaints. I don't get where all of this comes from. If you've even just glanced at the promotional material at all then you shouldn't be surprised by what this game is. The devs have been extremely clear about what this game is and isn't. It seems like a lot of players saw the trailers, the beta gameplay etc. and still decided to imagine that it would all change dramatically. When it didn't they bought the game anyway and then declared the game bad. If you want yet another farming sim then play one of the BILLION other cozy games with too much fucking farming. Let the rest of us have one with an acceptable amount of farming. And besides, you can do much more farming later if you want to as more things are unlocked. I've seen people complain about the lack of smoking even though that's the age rating system's fault. I've seen people complain about the lack of garden space even though the game tells you in the tutorial that more areas of the garden will be unlocked. I've seen people complain that they can't cook perfectly yet even though the game tells you in the tutorial that more cooking stations will be unlocked. I've seen someone say they lost all interest in the game because of a clip that showed the player character skipping. Then don't skip??? Only your own character can skip and it doesn't provide a speed boost or anything. It's literally just a visual alternative to running. Personally I skip fucking constantly, let's goooo. I've seen people complain that you can't go on big adventures like Bilbo and Frodo when this was always intended to be a game about the typical hobbit life where they barely ever leave their home town. I've seen people complain that you can't date, get married, have children, grow old etc. Sorry, you're looking for The Sims or maybe Stardew Valley. Or maybe you're looking for real life. Go outside. Games will always have constraints and focus on some things over others. The intent of this game is not to start a family. Play something else that was meant to focus on that. Summary: Something has happened to the way people view media today. I don't know if it's to do with everyone's trashed attention spans or if the internet has normalized that everyone gets to publicly spew their opinions on everything regardless of how uneducated those opinions are. There seems to be this expectation that everything needs to be catered to every individual's tastes. There doesn't seem to be a lot of interest in taking in a piece of media for what it is and then judging it on its own merits. Of course a game can be bad but there's a difference between something being bad and something being different than the fantasy you had in your head. It all seems a bit ironic when it happens to a game that's literally about slowing down and appreciating the simple life. A lot of the gameplay becomes more engaging over time as new functions are unlocked. There are references to Tolkien's lore scattered through the story. There's constantly something to do. The music is relaxing, the environment is so pretty and the vibes are immaculate. The cooking took me a few attempts to fully understand but I really like how they've done it and it can be challenging to cook high quality food. The story is extremely low-stakes but that's what hobbit life is supposed to be. Would love some voice acting but I can live without it. Great game but this release reminded me how much I hate people (and prefer hobbits).
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Platform: PC and Steam Deck I’m genuinely so sad this game was torn apart for all the wrong reasons when it first released. As someone who loves cozy games, I was looking for something familiar but with its own flavor—and this game absolutely nails that. I think a lot of the early reviews misunderstood what it was trying to be. Some expected an action RPG—one article was literally titled something like “A LOTR Game With No Orcs?”—and missed the point entirely. Now for the details if you're curious: Yes, the beginning feels a little empty. But once the story opens up, you unlock more activities that really bring the world to life. While many quests are fetch-quest-style, I honestly don’t mind. You’ll spend your time foraging, fishing, and tending to your garden—but the heart of the game is cooking. Unlike other cozy sims, you don’t really talk to NPCs much—instead, you invite them to dinner. Everyone has food cravings or spice preferences, and learning how to cook for them becomes its own rewarding challenge. And the cooking mechanic? So fun. Same with fishing, farming, and decorating—especially decorating. It really lets the art style shine. Speaking of which: the art style is stunning. It’s what pulls most people in, and rightfully so. It can be a bit tricky when it comes to navigation, but the water effects alone are some of the best I’ve ever seen. There are nods to Lord of the Rings sprinkled throughout, but you definitely don’t need to be a fan to enjoy the game. Performance-wise: If you’re playing on Steam Deck, good news—it actually ran better for me there than on my PC, even though my PC handled it just fine. I was able to max out the graphics with no real issues. My PC had a few minor frame drops here and there, but nothing that impacted gameplay. I’ve heard the Switch version has more noticeable graphical issues, but I can’t personally confirm that.
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Quite the cute little game. Reminds me of MySims, even giving me the feeling of playing it on my old D.S.. Maybe it's like a slimmer version of Animal Crossing. To start, I have not had any performance issues or bugs. It does the Shire well. I do not play too many farming sims/cozy games, but this one is hitting just right. The art style is charming and feels painterly. Contrary to what other reviewers have said, there is a way to upgrade your backpack size--it's by ranking up in the foraging club. And no, they had not forgotten about hobbit festivals. I'm not terribly far in the game at all, and they have mentioned it in the main story. Also, bigger tables for meals open up, and there are random story encounters in the world, if you explore it. It is not the most incredibly in-depth thing, but it is usually quite cute, and often with a little whimsical humor. The map is large enough to be interesting, but not large enough to be bloated or empty. The bird-following "GPS" system is a feature I wish more games would add, or something like it. I think there are some weird expectations about the game, all of which I do not even think was advertised to be in the game. Giving a game a bad review for lack of voice acting (which, like, y'all I do not get why speech bubbles can't be enough) or romance is bizarre (maybe a wedding thing would be cute, I agree), is odd. I think this game capture's "whimsy" well, and highlights how sweet and simple life in the shire is when there is no corruption from Sauron sinking into it yet, at least in Bywater. I think there's something beyond disturbing to me, where many people refuse to try to progress in a game and claim that the features they are looking for are not there, when they are-just not within the first fifty minutes of game-play. Also, I do not care about not having a jump button. lol. I think the game just starts off a bit too slow, but it picks up. It's incredibly stress-free, you can go at your own pace, and the mini-games are easy while still engaging. I feel like if they were to add some things, and I say this as someone who is not through the game yet, maybe add pipes, or ale. Maybe Thom Bombodil would be cute, though I know he does not leave his woods. Also, maybe add more minigames or something. Maybe add more NPC interactions in the world, overall.
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Works on Steam Deck OLED fully supported. Default settings average 30 fps in general gameplay and drop to the 20s in the townsquare. VSYNC setting in game is reversed currently, uncheck to enable. I chose to play streaming from my pc to steam deck for best performance/graphics. What I Like So Far: Character Customization options Save in menu Accessibility option for cooking mini-game Easy fishing Art Style & animations Feels like the Shire (immersion) NPC dialogue (letters, quest & cut scenes) Detail and care throughout Foraging, fishing, cooking, gardening, and trading systems Pacing & progression (Obtain village status, make discoveries and fulfill requests) No crashes or game breaking bugs No energy & no pressure What I Don't Like: Not 60 fps or at least locked 30 fps on Steam Deck OLED No instant text option Inventory limitation (biggest gripe but upgradeable later) Some minor graphical glitches here and there Who is this game for? I think anyone who already enjoys cozy games and compares it to other cozy games of a indie to AA budget. People who have an interest in the Shire (like I do) are probably going to enjoy it even more. This game was made by the same company who made the lotr and hobbit movies, founded by Peter Jackson, I was surprised when I discovered this. This game most closely resembles (of most well-known games) Animal Crossing & Stardew, but has its own identity to set it apart. Comparisons to other games are not doing anything positive for the Life Sim genre. Everyone expects things to be duplicated and games are becoming more homogenized because of it, frankly I think it's largely due to influencers and their echo chambers. The Shire has more exploration and depth than most games out now in this genre, anyone who says otherwise is lying or regurgitating what they heard some lying reviewer say. Try to go into it judging by its own merits, what it has to offer not what some other game has but it doesn't. If you want a better idea of how it plays, watch a cozy gamer play it on youtube, try to ignore the commentary and see for yourself. As for me, I love it and it’s exceeding my expectations. This is the most fun I've had in a cozy game in a long time honestly, and along with Fantasy Life I, it's my favorite game of this year. I'd also say its my favorite game set in Middle Earth after LOTRO (an excellent mmo). NOTE: Steer clear of the IGN review, there are several bald faced lies about the game that anyone who starts the game for under an hour can see aren't true. One example is the complaint about fish variety being 2-3 fish, the encyclopedia shows 31 fish types and they change based on location, time of day, and season. The video shows the reviewer playing the tutorial for fishing to catch 3 fish. Keep in mind also the IGN parent company is the same as Nintendo Life and a huge number of other major game review publications. Look up Ziff Davis gaming media acquisitions, gaming media has been largely consolidated by them and Vox. It won't hurt you to make up your own mind.
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I will come out and say it-- For a cozy game, this is going to be an acquired taste. While I have fully immersed myself in the little tales of this cozy hobbit community, others may find this game lacking. As a stay at home mom to a 16 month old, this game is perfect for me. I can't remember the last time I was able to play a game that was simple, easy to pick up/put down, and utterly charmed me. I stayed up a little too late last night indulging myself, played during nap time, and even got up a bit early this morning with the itch to play before baby wakes up. Do you love reading and getting deep into a story? Are you a LoTR fan? Have you always wanted to live in the Shire? Are you looking for a game that has simplistic controls and is easy to figure out? Are you looking for something that feels nostalgic and cozy? You will absolutely love this game. Personally, I don't need every game I play to offer new, exciting, innovative features. I don't need marriage integrated into a game, I don't need my character to make babies-- I can plenty use my imagination for that, should I decide I fancy that tall, hunky dwarf lady. I don't need endless customization-- a few options, a choice-- I need so much less to think about with my current schedule. I need something that lets my brain be slowly dipped into a cozy warm bath of delicious meal sharing, errands, gathering, fishing, gardening-- Heck the most I've done with my home is clean it up, place a few odds and ends and call it a day for now. If you resonate with these things, I'd strongly recommend the game.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings™ Game is currently priced at 29.69€ on Steam.
Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings™ Game is currently available at a 10% discount. You can purchase it for 29.69€ on Steam.
Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings™ Game received 1,747 positive votes out of a total of 2,148 achieving a rating of 7.82.
😊
Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings™ Game was developed by Wētā Workshop and published by Private Division.
Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings™ Game is playable and fully supported on Windows.
Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings™ Game is not playable on MacOS.
Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings™ Game is not playable on Linux.
Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings™ Game is a single-player game.
There is a DLC available for Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings™ Game. Explore additional content available for Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings™ Game on Steam.
Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings™ Game does not support mods via Steam Workshop.
Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings™ Game does not support Steam Remote Play.
Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings™ Game is enabled for Steam Family Sharing. This means you can share the game with authorized users from your Steam Library, allowing them to play it on their own accounts. For more details on how the feature works, you can read the original Steam Family Sharing announcement or visit the Steam Family Sharing user guide and FAQ page.
You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings™ Game.
Data sources
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Additionally, we incorporate data from the SteamSpy API, which offers insights into game sales and player statistics. This helps us present a comprehensive view of each game's popularity and performance within the gaming community.
Last Updates| Steam data | 10 August 2025 19:32 |
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| SteamSpy data | 10 August 2025 19:58 |
| Steam price | 11 August 2025 04:50 |
| Steam reviews | 09 August 2025 00:02 |
If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings™ Game, we invite you to check out a few dedicated websites that offer extensive information and insights. These platforms provide valuable data, analysis, and user-generated reports to enhance your understanding of the game and its performance.
- SteamDB - A comprehensive database of everything on Steam about Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings™ Game
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- ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of The Rings™ Game compatibility
Game modes
Features
Online players
2,156
Developer
Wētā Workshop
Publisher
Private Division
Release
29 Jul 2025
Platforms