Tales of the Shire, a new life sim set in the Lord of the Rings universe, fails to deliver on its promise of a charming and engaging experience. Despite its great premise, the game falls short due to poorly designed characters, shallow gameplay, and a lack of polish.
Players take on the role of a Hobbit moving to a smaller settlement in the Shire called Bywater, with the ultimate goal of befriending locals and improving the area until it becomes a village. However, the game’s character creator lacks customization options, and the resulting Hobbits are creepy-looking and uninteresting.
The gameplay loop is shallow, with quests that require repetitive fetches and foraging that can be frustratingly challenging. The objectives often feel like they’re designed to be completed in a specific order, leaving little room for player creativity or freedom. Even simple actions like cooking meals or decorating the home become frustrating due to poor instruction and lack of guidance.
Decorating is one area where the game shines, with a user-friendly object-placement system that allows players to customize their home. However, this aspect is not enough to save the game from its overall lack of polish and variety.
Tales of the Shire fails to capture the whimsy and charm of Middle-earth, instead offering a dull and uninviting experience. Fans of farming sims and life sims will likely be disappointed by the game’s lack of depth and customization options. With its poor design choices and shallow gameplay, Tales of the Shire is a disappointing addition to the Lord of the Rings franchise.
Source: https://www.polygon.com/review/616491/tales-shire-lotr-cozy-game-impressions