Tales of the Shire is bringing The Lord of the Rings into a more laid-back genre this time around, as it's set to be a cozy life sim based around Hobbit life. Far different from the fight against good and evil that The Lord of the Rings is known for, Tales of the Shire is an interesting change of pace for the series.
The game was originally set to launch in the latter half of last year, but developer Weta Workshop pushed it back to March 2025. Unfortunately, that release date was also pushed back, and so far, it seems as though Tales of the Shire has locked in a July date. Of course, there's always the possibility of another last-minute delay, but as of now, Tales of the Shire is bringing cozy Hobbit life to the summer lineup. At first, it doesn't seem like Tales of the Shire has much competition within its genre, but one major release could prove to be an unexpected competitor: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach.
Why Tales of the Shire Needs Its Own Lobelia Sackville-Baggins
Tales of the Shire will presumably have minimal conflict, but it could still take inspiration from one of the Shire's most notorious hobbits.
Death Stranding 2 Could Potentially Rain On Tales of the Shire's Cozy Parade
- Death Stranding 2: On the Beach launches for the PS5 on June 26, 2025.
- Tales of the Shire launches on July 29, 2025.
The First Death Stranding Was a Cozy Sleeper Hit
When the first Death Stranding launched, it was quite divisive. One of the most surprising aspects of the game was just how much downtime there was between missions. The main premise of the game revolves around protagonist Sam Bridges delivering packages and connecting a post-apocalyptic world. Walking to each delivery point can take a while, and over time, it has attracted fans of more laid-back genres.
Between the simple delivery mechanics and the beautiful landscapes players have to journey through, Death Stranding turned out to be a surprisingly cozy option for a lot of gamers. On the surface, Tales of the Shire seemed safe in its release window, but Death Stranding 2 could spell trouble for the indie Hobbit adventure.
Tales of the Shire will release a physical edition for the Switch and the PS5.
Despite Death Standing's Cozy Reputation, the Sequel is Teasing a Change
Based on trailers leading up to the game's release, Death Stranding 2 seems to be leaning into more action-heavy moments. The first Death Stranding had several combat-focused encounters, but it really looks like Kojima Productions is turning up the dial on this aspect. Death Stranding 2's new setting and deeper combat could make it different enough from its predecessor that it doesn't feel nearly as relaxing.
If that's the case, then it could be more promising for Tales of the Shire in the long run, but Death Stranding 2 is still a juggernaut that's looming over the smaller title. As the launch of Death Stranding 2 draws closer, it will be interesting to see how it compares to its predecessor. When Kojima Productions brought forth the first chapter, it stuck out because of its strangeness, and while the second chapter does indeed look just as mind-boggling, the bigger focus on action might be controversial within the game's fan base.
This time around, Sam's adventures in Death Stranding 2 bring him to Mexico and Australia.
Tales of the Shire is a New Frontier For Its Developer
- Weta Workshop is a first-time game developer.
Despite the rookie status of Weta Workshop in the gaming industry, the studio is no stranger to The Lord of the Rings. The special effects division of the studio helped bring the live-action films to life, and that detail makes Tales of the Shire compelling. Only time will tell if Death Stranding 2 is as cozy as the first game, but if so, Tales of the Shire may want to be on alert.
- Released
- July 29, 2025
- Developer(s)
- Wētā Workshop
- Publisher(s)
- Private Division
- Franchise
- The Lord of the Rings
- Number of Players
- 1
