Tales of the Shire receives mixed reviews as critics cite weak story

Critics praise cooking and fishing in Tales of the Shire but question its narrative depth and pacing.

Tales of the Shire, the latest cosy life simulation set in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, has received a wide range of responses from critics across gaming publications. While the cooking and fishing mechanics have been highlighted positively, the broader gameplay experience has drawn criticism for its lack of depth and engagement.

Jessica Filby of Dexerto described the game as “a confusing cozy game,” pointing to its strong cooking and fishing systems but found much of the remaining content uninspired. “Despite fantastic fishing and cooking mechanics,” she noted, “Tales of the Shire often struggled to hold my attention.”

Travis Northup from IGN delivered a more critical perspective, describing the title as “one of the most disappointing cozy games” in recent memory. He argued that most mechanics are “shallow” and felt the core gameplay loop offered “tedious repetition with very little payoff.” While he acknowledged some “humorous writing” and a comparatively more robust cooking system, Northup concluded that these were outweighed by technical issues and underdeveloped features.

Kate Harrold, writing for Radio Times Gaming, offered a more tempered assessment. While she found many of the game’s elements “half-baked,” she praised the effort to include companion planting in gardening and utensil-specific meal preparation in cooking. However, Harrold maintained that the game “lacks wow factor” and questioned its ability to stand out in an already competitive genre.

Emma-Jane Betts of GamesRadar+ credited Tales of the Shire for its faithful use of Tolkien lore and innovative community-focused progression. Yet, she also found its gameplay loop stagnant, noting that “Bywater feels stagnant after a good few hours,” and the game lacks long-term engagement despite its initial charm.

Overall, while critics appreciated the atmosphere and some mechanics, the consensus suggests that Tales of the Shire delivers a limited and uneven experience.