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Tales Of The Shire receives low review score

The hobbit-themed game by Wētā Workshop scores just 4/10 due to disappointing gameplay.

July 28, 2025 at 04:00 PM

Tales Of The Shire: A The Lord Of The Rings Game review - Animal Crossing with hobbits

Tales Of The Shire tries to blend hobbit charm with village life but falls short in execution.

Tales Of The Shire fails to deliver engaging gameplay

The new game Tales Of The Shire from Wētā Workshop is a village simulator set in the world of The Lord Of The Rings. Players take on the role of a hobbit tasked with transforming Bywater into a proper village. Unlike typical quests for glory, here the focus is on friendship and cooking, with gameplay revolving around fulfilling fetch quests. Although the game features beautiful landscapes and a creative navigation system using birds to guide players, it suffers from tedious gameplay, repetitive tasks, and bizarre character animations. Critics suggest it lacks the charm and depth found in similar games like Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley, leading to an overall disappointing experience.

Key Takeaways

✔️

Stunning landscape design but limited character appeal

✔️

Majority of gameplay involves tedious fetch quests

✔️

Creative navigation system offers a unique experience

✔️

Cooking is a major gameplay element but becomes repetitive

✔️

No violent elements may appeal to younger audiences

✔️

Overall, lacks depth compared to Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley

"It's a grim, drudge-filled reminder that looking cute is no substitute for gameplay."

This highlights the main critique of the game, emphasizing that aesthetics alone cannot carry a gaming experience.

"Unfortunately, everything you do is an extended, multi-part fetch quest."

This quote encapsulates the repetitive nature of the game's tasks, which detracts from player enjoyment.

"There’s something depressingly flat about Tales Of The Shire."

This statement captures the overall sentiment that the game's execution lacks enthusiasm and innovation.

"Most of your time is spent in transit without shortcuts."

The quote indicates a significant drawback in gameplay, focusing on lack of engagement and tedious movement.

Despite promising visuals, Tales Of The Shire struggles to captivate with its lack of engagement in gameplay. The reliance on repetitive fetch quests dampens the players' experience, a stark contrast to the compelling narratives offered in its genre counterparts. This raises concerns about the future direction of cozy games, highlighting the importance of balance between an appealing art style and rich, immersive gameplay. Wētā Workshop may be more adept at creating stunning visuals, but the demand for more dynamic and meaningful interaction remains crucial in today's gaming landscape.