Summary
Though it’s been around for at least a few decades, thecozy video gamegenre has hit a new golden age of late, and it’s all thanks to games likeThe SimsandStardew Valley. While cozy games can come in many different shapes and sizes, some of the most frequent features in the genre are the ability to heavily customize the player’s in-game living space, complete an ever-growing checklist of repetitive yet relaxing tasks, and use a set of life-simulation mechanics to control a character’s needs and desires.
Over the last few years, the cozy game genre has seen an influx of new entries, many of which are unafraid to wear their influences on their sleeve. From farming simulators totown management gamesto tycoon titles, the cozy genre is flooded with a variety of different experiences, and on July 17, 2025, fans of the genre are going to find out a bit more about one promising new entry:Tales of the Shire.
The Lord of the Rings Is About to Get Its Own Cozy Game
Tales of the Shire Will Debut its Trailer on July 06, 2025
First announced back in September 2023,Tales of the Shireis anupcoming gamethat puts a cozy spin onLord of the Rings' world of Middle-Earth. Normally portrayed as a world on the brink of falling to the powers of evil, it’ll be nice to seeTales of the Shirereally hone in on the beloved franchise’s more peaceful and serene locations, and there’s nowhere better suited to a cozyLord of the Ringsgame than the Hobbits' hometown of The Shire.
Currently, fans know very little aboutTales of the Shire. The only official description of the game promises a “cosy Hobbit life,” and a “heart-warming” take on theLord of the Ringsuniverse. As far as gameplay details go, developersPrivate Division and Wētā Workshophaven’t revealed anything just yet, but that’s all about to change, as they’ve just announced thatTales of the Shireis getting its first full trailer on Jun 30, 2025.
Tales of the Shireis likely just one of the first in an upcoming wave ofLord of the Ringsgames, with Embracer Group stating last June that it plans on “exploiting Lord of the Rings in a very significant fashion.”
Though it’s uncertain what this newTales of the Shiretraileris going to reveal, it seems likely that it’ll offer a general overview of the game’s narrative and setting, along with a few brief glimpses of gameplay, and a big focus on the game’s cozy atmosphere and vibrant art style. WithTales of the Shirecurrently set for a 2024 release, there’s also a real possibility that a concrete release date is presented at the end of the trailer.
WhileTales of the Shirehasn’t confirmed any gameplay or narrative features so far, it seems very likely that the game will follow in the footsteps ofgames likeThe Sims,Stardew Valley, andAnimal Crossing, with all three being incredibly influential releases that can be found in the DNA of pretty much any cozy game of the last decade or so. If this is true, then fans can probably expect a big focus on farming, customization, and life-simulation inTales of the Shire, though fans will have to wait until April 22 to see for certain what type of gameTales of the Shirereally is.
Tales of the Shireis set for a 2024 release on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
The Sims
EA’s life simulation franchise The Sims began in the year 2000 with a game of the same name that was, at one point, the highest-selling PC game of all time.The main series games let players build a home, create a handful of characters, and then guide them through their relationships, careers, and goals.
