Middle-earth is finally joining the cozy farm/life-sim genre as revealed in the announcement trailer for Tales of the Shire!
Although it was announced last year, today brings our first actual look at Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game thanks to an announcement trailer that brings plenty of gameplay footage:
It boggles the mind that it’s taken this long for The Lord of the Rings to get a cozy/life-sim (e.g. Stardew Valley, Rune Factory, Fae Farm) game. Everything about the Hobbits, and that world in general, seems perfectly set up for it.
As someone who loves those games—I’m still obsessively playing Fae Farm—and Lord of the Rings, I’m pretty damn excited for Tales of the Shire. While this first trailer doesn’t give us a whole lot to go on, and the character models feel a little…rough (especially considering it’s Wētā Workshop behind it), I’m still eager to see if they can pull this one off.
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!
“We’re excited to provide players with the opportunity to fulfil their fantasy of living their own humble Hobbit life in the Shire,” said Kelly Tyson, Head of Product at Wētā Workshop. “Tales of the Shire brings a cosy new dimension to the way fans can experience Middle-earth, with plenty of wholesome, Hobbit-centric gameplay to win-over newcomers to the genre.”
Create and personalise a Hobbit with an array of customisations 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.
“The team at Wētā Workshop is creating a brilliant representation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s beloved works that gives players the agency to create their own Hobbit experience in Middle-earth,” said Michael Worosz, Chief Strategy Officer, Take-Two Interactive, and Head of Private Division. “Players have been clamoring for a warm and inviting The Lord of the Rings game for years now, and it’s exactly what we’re delivering with Tales of the Shire.”
Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game is set to hit Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam at some point this year.
