Few novels have had such a profound impact on the fantasy genre as The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. After all, historians believe that many of the genre’s recognizable tropes that hold true today — like narcissistic elves, miserly dwarves, and malevolent orcs — can be traced back to Tolkien’s classics. While we’ve had plenty of video games set in Middle-earth, most have leaned into the epic action that takes center stage over the course of the realm’s 6,000 year history. But what about the small, peaceful folk in the Shire? You know the ones: the curmudgeonly hermits who value good food over any sort of risky adventure. Yes, that’s right, it’s time to walk in the footsteps of our hairy-footed pals, the Hobbits, in Tales of the Shire.
Developed by Weta Workshop, the visual effects and prop company that worked on The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies, amongst many other classic films and TV shows, Tales of the Shire is a cosy life sim that gives players the opportunity to eke out a tranquil existence in Bywater, a town situated in the Shire. Instead of battling armies of bloodthirsty Uruk-hai and embarking on against-all-odds quests to destroy the One Ring, you’re whisked away on a relaxing journey where the only real drama is figuring out what the secret ingredient is in that delicious potato soup that Mary Bigfeet cooked up across the road. In other words, Tales of the Shire is the super chill ying to, say, Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor‘s yang.
While it may sound like I was joking about how much Tales of the Shire is fascinated by cooking up yummy dishes, make no mistake: rustling up wholesome and tasty goodies is undoubtedly one of the game’s many core tenets. In fact, during my hands-on demo with Tales of the Shire at Summer Game Fest, a large chunk of gameplay was spent in the kitchen. Essentially, after selecting specific ingredients, players must complete a mini-game in order to get the dish just right for the NPC they’re cooking for. It’s basically like Goldilocks and the Three Bears, but thankfully your patron doesn’t eat you if you make a dog’s dinner of the recipe.
Interestingly, each NPC possesses their own likes and dislikes, so there’s some fun to be had trying to decipher what their favorite cuisine is. While ol’ Sue Hornblower may love the earthy twang of a hearty beetroot, Bob Burrows on the other hand may detest it. Furthermore, balancing the myriad of flavors by the way you prepare said dish is one of the most important aspects when it comes to cooking up a storm in Tales of the Shire‘s kitchen. The whole process is quite involved, as you attempt to balance your dish between, say, chunky or smooth. But it won’t take long before you feel like Gordon Ramsay as you dish out a lip-smacking second breakfast to the halfling next door.
On top of cooking, you’ll also spend plenty of your time exploring the lush and idyllic hills of Bywater. Between meandering brooks teeming with carp and butterflies to verdant sun-soaked vistas littered with quaint Hobbit-holes, there’s an air of tranquility that permeates the entire experience. Adding to this zen feeling is a very novel way to get from A to B. Instead of simply following a flashing quest marker like most games, Tales of the Shire offers something rather immersive and unique: birds fly down and perch on signposts, and whatever direction they’re facing towards is where your next objective can be found. Clever, no?
Of course, rounding out these activities is a laundry list of fun pursuits to partake in. From fishing in the soothing streams to doing a spot of gardening to building up friendships with the local Hobbits, there really is plenty to keep you busy in Tales of the Shire. And that’s all without mentioning designing and building your very own Hobbit-hole. From my 30 minute demo, it appears like Weta Workshop and Private Division have absolutely gone the extra mile to make the entire experience feel as authentic as humanly possible.
Before wrapping up this preview, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the gorgeous, painterly art-style that Weta Workshop has employed here. Indeed, Tales of the Shire, seems to have blended the best parts of Ralph Bakshi’s hand-drawn animated endeavours with the warmth and charm of Rankin and Bass’s filmic 1977 adaptation. While Weta Workshop’s artistic team have undoubtedly added their own flair, Tales of the Shire feels incredibly reverential to its source material. That being said, everything not only looks the part, but sounds the part to boot, with a wonderfully whimsical score that will warm the cockles of your heart.
Before I departed from the Tales of the Shire booth at SGF, the game’s PR rep teased how “iconic” characters and “familiar faces” will make an appearance in the game. They couldn’t confirm or deny it, but here’s hoping that Gandalf shows up in some shape or form. Because who wouldn’t want to meet everybody’s favorite wizard and re-enact the opening of The Lord of the Rings, eh? (Replete with awesome firework show!)
Tales of the Shire is slated to arrive later in 2024 for PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4,
