Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game Review – Hobbiton Crossing

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Over the past 15 years or so, the independent game development sector has grown significantly, leading to a flourishing of the ‘cozy games’ genre. As things stand now, though, this genre is primarily ruled by just two titles – one from a major console manufacturer (Animal Crossing) and another indie creation (Stardew Valley). However, with Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game, developer Weta Workshop has introduced an intriguing spin on the conventional gameplay.

In essence, the game titled “Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game” is set within J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth from the “Lord of the Rings” series, with events unfolding around the time when “The Fellowship of the Rings” begins. As Gandalf journeys towards Hobbiton for Bilbo and Frodo Baggins’ birthday, he encounters a hobbit who appears to be napping by the village of Bywater. It is here where you enter the storyline.

In this game, known as “Tales of the Shire”, you assume the role of a sleeping Hobbit character. After creating your player, Gandalf provides transportation to Bywater, where you’ll begin calling home. The main story here revolves around spending time with other Hobbits living in Bywater and discovering their lives. However, beyond a tutorial, there isn’t much narrative progression that propels you forward within the game. In fact, for the most part, there is little overarching storyline, save for a few initial events involving the residents of Bywater debating whether or not Bywater can be considered a village.

Among the Hobbits who reside in Bywater, you’ll find numerous smaller tales unfolding as you interact with them over time.

Essentially, the storyline in Tales of the Shire primarily serves as an introduction to your peaceful village existence, with occasional visits from the Hobbiton Assessor enabling house upgrades. However, it’s important to note that the laid-back ambiance and the sense of being on a perpetual vacation in the Shire are likely what will keep you engaged. In the end, whether or not you continue playing is largely dependent on your personal enjoyment of the gameplay within Tales of the Shire.

In terms of gameplay mechanics, nearly every feature in ‘Tales of the Shire’ is centered around its culinary system. Beyond decorating interiors, virtually any activity you engage in leads to discovering new recipes or acquiring ingredients for them. This encompasses tasks like foraging, fishing, farming, and even finishing quests. Even social interactions are tied to this; while you can offer gifts to the inhabitants of Bywater to enhance your bond with them, most of your social exchanges with friends primarily revolve around meals.

The functioning of this system is quite straightforward, and interestingly reminiscent of Hobbit lifestyle. If you’d like to socialize with a few locals, you can extend invitations for a communal feast at a location of your preference. After an in-game day, the Hobbits you invited (remember, by sending them letters) will respond via letters, indicating their attendance and their food preferences on that specific day. It’s then your task to collect the necessary ingredients and employ the somewhat intricate cooking system to prepare a meal according to their tastes.

In terms of gameplay, almost every feature in the game ‘Tales of the Shire‘ is centered around its culinary system.

When it comes to the cooking process itself in the world of Tales of the Shire, there are numerous stages to follow once you’ve gathered the suitable ingredients and seasonings. The food in these stories can possess various characteristics such as taste and texture. The way you carry out the different steps of cooking—like dicing vegetables or deciding whether to sauté them before combining them in a bowl—will influence the consistency of your dish, making it smooth or chunky. Additionally, the selection of ingredients, whether it’s a specific fruit or vegetable, and the choice of seasonings will determine the flavor profile, such as salty, bitter, spicy, or sweet.

In addition to the great method of making friends with Hobbits, each non-player character (NPC) Hobbit has favorite dishes they adore. For instance, the grumpy old Hobbit who enjoys fishing is particularly fond of fish cakes. When inviting them for a meal together, you might find that they prefer something salty or bitter. This can help determine the best type of fish to use in making cakes for this specific Hobbit. As your friendship with the Bywater community grows, you’ll learn more and more about their preferences and dislikes. Luckily, there’s no need to remember everything; a helpful journal is available to track relationships with other Hobbits, as well as recipes for meals and how various ingredients might taste.

To assist you in your quest of cultivating new friendships through shared meals, here are some engaging activities to try:

1. Foraging is an easy way to start; as you explore Bywater, butterflies will serve as your guides, directing you to various edible ingredients. The colors of the butterflies indicate different types of ingredients. For example, yellow butterflies will point out seasonings like mustard flowers, while white ones will lead you to mushrooms.

2. Fishing and gardening are slightly more complex activities. If you enjoy spending time by the water or working with soil, these hobbies can provide a bounty of fresh ingredients for your cooking endeavors.

I have some suggestions to aid you in building friendships through cooking delicious meals together. Let me share some activities we can do.

In this game, there’s a straightforward mini-fishing challenge: you need to tug at your line when a fish bites your hook, simultaneously reeling it in before your line snaps. This isn’t a complex fishing mini-game, as it follows the usual conventions. However, what adds depth to the fishing experience is that the types of fish you can catch are influenced by various factors such as the time of day, location on the map, and even the weather conditions.

At first glance, gardening may seem simple as planting seeds in a container and ensuring they’re watered daily. However, increasing your produce becomes a more intricate process. Beyond dealing with seasonal limitations for many plants, the plants growing together in the same container can influence each other positively or negatively. This interplay between different species often leads to impressive harvests when crop rotation is skillfully employed.

In Bywater, as you engage in various activities, you’ll find smaller narratives that can be advanced by participating in different clubs related to those activities. As you accomplish straightforward tasks within these clubs, you gain access to more sophisticated equipment. For instance, this could enable you to prepare dishes with richer flavors and intricate textures. Essentially, the clubs serve as a means to draw you back into the world of Tales of the Shire.

To put it simply, gardening seems like a straightforward task where you plant some seeds in a pot and ensure they get watered daily.

Essentially, what makes “Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game” engaging is its skillful application of its source material. The game offers a unique perspective on Hobbit life that is rarely delved into beyond the early chapters of some of J.R. Tolkien’s books and appendices. For instance, in this game, there’s no sprint button, but instead, a “merrily skip” option that lets you leisurely hop across Bywater without significantly increasing speed. This encapsulates the essence of what the game is all about.

The Shire Tales game doesn’t have specific goals or objectives. Instead, it serves as a relaxing escape from other intense games you might be playing. The appeal of the game lies in its leisurely pace and peaceful atmosphere, perfect for unwinding. It becomes even more delightful if you’re already a fan of Tolkien’s works. However, it should be noted that the game may not provide a deep narrative experience, but rather offers a tranquil vacation in the Shire.

This game was reviewed on PC.

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2025-07-29 16:46