Summary
No one asked for a laid-backLord of the Ringsgame, butTales of the Shiremay nevertheless end up being theLord of the Ringsgame fans of the cozy genre didn’t know they needed. Private Division and Weta Workshop’sTales of the Shireis a highly ambitious game, taking a franchise known for its action, adventure, and drama, and adapting it to fit the mold that cozygames likeStardew ValleyandAnimal Crossinghave helped establish over the years. As a Hobbit in the growing village of Bywater, players will live out their days in the Shire, participating in familiar cozy activities such as fishing, foraging, farming, and cooking.
Tales of the Shireis, first and foremost, very brave to adapt a seventy-year-old franchise that has used every bit of those seven decades to build a loyal and often hardcore following, as anything adapted fromThe Lord of the Ringsis often held in the crucible of scrutiny to determine whether it is a lore-accurate adaptation. With such a deep history behind it,Tales of the Shireneeds to ensure it does everything in its power to honor its roots, and that especially includes the Hobbits who are the stars of its show. Unfortunately, this could ultimately beTales of the Shire’s downfall if it doesn’t consider one key aspect of Hobbits in its gameplay.
Tales of the Shire Will Need to Work Hard to Keep Players Invested
The Lord of the Rings' Hobbits Are Naturally Peaceful and Simple Folk
While there are manycharacters inThe Lord of the Rings, Hobbits are perhaps the most distinctive of them all. This is largely due to their appearance, but their lifestyle is also something unique to speak of. By and large, Hobbits prefer a peaceful life beyond busy streets and bustling towns, where their routines are never interrupted and they can eat all the food they want. They are farmers and foragers who prioritize serenity above business, which is why Gandalf is often greeted by Hobbits with expressions of disgust and disdain, as he is known for upsetting their calm and simple way of life.
Tales of the Shire Will Need Diverse Gameplay to Keep Players Entertained
ConsideringThe Lord of the Ringslore,Tales of the Shiremay have a difficult time keeping players invested when Hobbits prefer things so simple.There is no combat inTales of the Shire— as there shouldn’t be — which means there won’t be kill quests of any kind. Additionally, since cooking is one of the most prominent features ofTales of the Shire, the vast majority of the game’s quests will likely revolve around gathering, gardening, and cooking. Unfortunately, if that is the only objective rotation in the game, the food may not be the only thing growing stale after a while.
To keep things interesting enough for players to want to stick around for the long haul,Tales of the Shirewill need to ensure its gameplay is diverse enough to prevent too much repetition. One major way it could accomplish this is by includingmeaningful relationships inTales of the Shire. Of course, this means that each of the game’s characters would need to be interesting and diverse enough to give players more incentive to pursue numerous relationships with the people of Bywater.Tales of the Shirecould also heavily invest in the decoration side of the game to provide players with plenty of different options for customizing their homes.
A lot is riding onTales of the Shireto live up to itsLord of the Ringsroots, especially when it comes to Hobbits. As Hobbits are a peaceful people,Tales of the Shirewill need to work hard to keep players invested. Thankfully, games likeStardew ValleyandAnimal Crossinghave already laid out a solid blueprint for such a task.
