In Tales of the Shire, experience the storybook return to Middle-earth’s most inviting region by living life as a Hobbit in the idyllic town of Bywater. Unwind in the breathtaking pastures, visit the townsfolks’ local shops, or even enjoy second breakfast.

Help bring the community together and achieve official village status by throwing the greatest Bywater Festival the Shire has ever seen!

Create and personalize a Hobbit with an array of customization to experience the world of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved Middle-earth universe your own way. Settle in and decorate a cosy Hobbit home, choosing from an array of furniture and home décor to create your unique, humble abode. Then head outdoors to Bywater for plenty of cooking, fishing, foraging, gardening, and more relaxing activities in the Shire. Toss your lure to catch trout from the glistening waters of Bywater Pool, gather wild mushrooms, and then use the collected ingredients to bake a succulent pie to serve for luncheon. With a full belly, stroll back outside to explore the Shire and build relationships with the Bywater locals by helping them to build a garden, sharing one of the many daily Hobbit meals, and more.

In honor of Tolkien Reading Day, Wētā Workshop released a brand-new behind-the-scenes video for Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings™ Game. 

Players can get a glimpse behind the developers’ lens with a look into how the game was uniquely designed based on Tolkien’s works and how the team looked to his books first as the key inspiration for the game. The new video explores themes of nature, community and the peaceful Hobbit lifestyle to create a comforting game fit for fans to dive into and relish. 

One of our favorite Tolkien quotes captures the spirit of the game beautifully: “It was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.” - from The Hobbit

Keen-eyed Tolkien fans will recognize iconic characters and families (think Brandybucks and Tooks!), locations (The Green Dragon Inn, Bywater Pond…) and other ‘easter eggs’ from the books throughout! 

A new gameplay video also debuted today that showcases the vibrant community of the Shire - full of friendship, food, decorating and more.

Tales of the Shire is coming to Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam) on July 29, 2025.