Summary
Tales of the Shiregives players the unique experience of being a homey and adventurous Hobbit in the Shire, particularly in Bywater. Life simulation games will always immerse players in various worlds, allowing them to cultivate virtual farms and even build significant relationships with NPCs. For longtimeLord of the Ringsfans,Tales of the Shireaccomplishes this as it shows a different side of Middle-earth.
Similar to other cozy games likeStardew Valley,Tales of the Shirehas the life sim essentials: farming, cooking, foraging, fishing, and home decoration. There are also hints thatTales of the Shirewill likely have relationship-building mechanics, which may or may not include romantic options. But given the ongoing theme of friendship and brotherhood inLord of the Rings, it’s only right for the Middle-earth sim to adopt a robust relationship system.
Tales of the Shire Must Build Up Its Friendship System
TheLord of the Ringstrilogyby J.R.R Tolkien is focused on the Fellowship’s mission to protect Frodo as he journeys to Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring, and defeat Sauron’s evil forces. Throughout the story, the characters' bonds grow, demonstrating their duty to protect one another.Lord of the Ringsis the typical “good vs evil” story, but its lesson in fostering lifelong friendships with people who will go to hell and back for others is what makes it truly memorable. This theme is also evident in Tolkien’s other books, likeThe Hobbit.
This is why it’s so important forTales of the Shireto capitalize on healthy friendships between the Hobbits, especially after seeing the bond that Frodo, Samwise, Pippin, and Merry have. While games likeStardew Valleythrive with the possibility of marrying villagers, there arearguments for and against including romance options inTales of the Shire. It wouldn’t be a bad thing to have if the game would allow players to build their own Hobbit families, but J.R.R Tolkien’sLord of the Ringsbooks don’t make romance the major plot point despite what was shown in the movie adaptations.
TheLord of the Ringsbooks mention characters being wed, but they are not made the focal point, unlike how the movies gave a lot of screen time for couples like Aragorn and Arwen.
What’s crucial forTales of the Shireis to have a robust friendship-building system where Hobbits can grow their bonds over home-cooked meals, cultivating crops, and village-wide parties to celebrate milestones, like Bilbo’s 111th birthday.Stardew Valleyand other games like ithave done a good job of introducing characters with different personalities, as well as specific likes and dislikes. This is why cozy game fans invest a lot of time in getting to know these characters and researching the best gifts to either befriend or romance them.Tales of the Shirecan capitalize on gifts, on top of the quests that players can accomplish, to establish strong bonds with the Hobbits in Bywater and emphasize the importance of companionship through these acts of kindness and helpfulness.
How Wholesomeness Translates Into Tales of the Shire
The Hobbits of the Shire live in peace and harmony because they’re far away from war-stricken lands. They often spend their days tending to their farms, taking care of their animals, and chatting with their neighbors — unbothered and not worrying about the possibility of evil forces razing the village. This is whatTales of the Shirehopes to encapsulate with the lush farmlands and prancing Hobbits around the village.
Hobbits also live a really long time, which is why they value lifelong companionships, both in their village and when they venture out into other Middle-earth regions. Their peace-loving and sometimes silly nature is what will makeTales of the Shirestand out from other cozy games, and hopefully bring about interesting dynamics with fellow Hobbits and otherLord of the RingsNPCsthat might be introduced in the future.
