Tales of the Shire Preview - A Delicious Delight

Frolicking through the Shire used to be a dream, but Tales of the Shire brings those dreams to reality. With an adorable art style, a world that feels alive, and excellent cooking mechanics, Tales of the Shire is shaping up to be everything cozy Lord of the Rings fans were hoping for.

I was able to preview Tales of the Shire for 90 minutes earlier this week, and it was better than I could’ve hoped. The story follows a Hobbit moving from Bree to the Shire. Some Hobbits aren’t big on change, and the player will need to win everyone over and help build the Shire up. And what better way to get Hobbits to warm up to someone than by sharing a meal?

There are a ton of things to do, like farming, foraging, helping other Hobbits, and – of course – cooking. Cooking and sharing meals is a staple in the life of a Hobbit (after all, who can forget about Second Breakfast). 

Cooking is actually fun in the Tales of the Shire Preview

Preparing meals has a few different components to it that make it complex enough to keep your attention. Texture plays a big part in meals, along with flavor, just like in real life. Players have to choose the best ingredients possible while also cutting and cooking things just right to get the best texture. 

This was much more interactive than I was expecting, and it fit perfectly in for a game centered around cooking. The act of sharing meals was also more complex – the Hobbits all have specific things they like, and it’s not as easy to figure out as most would expect.

Everything centered around the home was incredible, including home design. I enjoy decorating in games, but it generally feels a bit stiff. However, Tales of the Shire had a delightful decorating system, and the decorations were so cute that I spent a bit too much time in it for the 90-minute preview. 

I don’t regret it, though – between the cooking and home decorations, it’s my definition of cozy to the max. 

The other great things to do in Tales of the Shire

That doesn’t mean that you want to spend all your time inside. Between exploring, helping other Hobbits, fishing, and collecting ingredients, there’s not a lack of things to do outside the house. 

The world is gorgeous. When the first looks at Tales of the Shire were released, people were skeptical about the art style. However, it works beautifully in-game. The world is dazzling, and little details are scattered everywhere that make it feel full of life. What better way to represent the Shire?

The music is also what you’d expect in a Lord of the Rings game. The soundtrack was calming and charming, and it matched the vibes of the Shire perfectly.

Tales of the Shire had a few small problems

There were a few bumps in terms of gameplay. The guiding system is really clever and uses birds to help guide players to objectives. However, it never seemed to work right. Birds would appear after I’d go down the correct path, so they weren’t really helpful for leading. There was also a moment when the game just stopped working.

However, the game is six months away from release. I’d be amazed if I ran into no hiccups in 90 minutes of playtime. 

All in all, Tales of the Shire is one of 2025’s most anticipated cozy games

The first 90 minutes of Tales of the Shire is more than I could’ve dared hope for. The small issues I encountered didn’t drag the game down. I’m very excited to see how the game continues to improve, and how it progresses in terms of complexity when it releases early next year.