Even though we only get to witness a snapshot of the laidback goings-on and rustic culture of the loveable halflings at the heart of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, it’s impossible to not be a touch enamoured by the Little People’s simple way of life. With burning passions centered around delicious food, great company, and a pocketful of Old Toby pipe-weed, there’s a magnetic allure to the life of a Hobbit that’s rarely captured in media based on J.R.R. Tokien’s beloved novels. Enter: Wētā Workshop’s very own Tales of the Shire, the first proper video game that allows you to step into the leathery boots of everyone’s favorite pint-sized heroes and eke out an existence farming, fishing, foraging, cooking, and — of course — eating lots of yummy food. And, yes, before you ask: there is indeed second breakfast. Phew!
Before getting into the nitty-gritty deets, it’s important to note up top that Tales of the Shire is, at its core, a cozy life sim that takes more inspiration from the Animal Crossing series than, say, 2014’s action-centric Shadow of Mordor. Instead of laying waste to hordes of Uruk-hai in grisly limb-lopping combat, you’ll be presented with a more relaxing journey through the calm and tranquil village of Bywater, a small hamlet found in the Westfarthing of the Shire. Here, you’ll be greeted with the gentle ebb and flow of what life would be like if you were to be whisked away to a peaceful and serene existence lifted straight out of Tolkien’s influential fantasy literature.
Upon first starting your cutesy adventure, you’ll be tasked with creating your very own pocket-sized halfling. From customising the dimensions of your nose, mouth, and eyes to even personalising the color of your hair and the hairiness of your feet, there’s a satisfying selection of options to make your Hobbit feel like your own. Once you’re happy, you’re given the opportunity to choose a name for your new avatar. Instead of giving players free rein, though, you’ll be offered a handful of choices that fit in with the theme of Middle-earth. Personally, I opted for Goldilocks Lightfoot, a happy-go-lucky lass with feet as hairy as Bigfoot.
Straight off the bat, Tales of the Shire boasts an absolutely beautiful art-style that evokes the painterly visuals of John Howe’s wonderful handicraft on The One Ring board game, with touches of Ralph Bakshi’s 1978 animated pic, too. In essence, it’s an incredibly distinctive and eye-catching aesthetic that wouldn’t look amiss within a modern reprint of Tolkien’s novels. And I mean that as the greatest of compliments.
As you venture into the lush and verdant rolling hills of Bywater, trickling brooks snake their way through fields of blooming petunias, swans amble their way down to ponds drenched in moonlight, and kaleidoscopes of lavender blue butterflies zig and zag to and fro. These fluttering friends can actually lead would-be adventurers to nature’s gifts of nuts, mushrooms, and herbs, which you can actually pick up and store in your backpack to help cook up a hearty meal later in the day.
Complementing the terrific illustrative visuals hand-in-glove is a whimsical score that undulates with enchanting melodies, orchestral arpeggios, and warm dulcet tones. It really does feel like you’re stepping foot into another world brimming with otherworldly splendour and charm. Furthermore, there are plenty of quaint and playful audio cues as you navigate menus and perform simple tasks, and these really fit the mood perfectly. It’s hard to not be drawn in by the meticulously arranged audio design.
From a narrative perspective, Tales of the Shire kicks things off with a visit from an old friend and a familiar face (I don’t want to spoil it for you, though), before segueing into the main thrust of your character’s story: you’re a fresh-faced citizen from The Prancing Pony inn who is looking to make a new home for yourself in Bywater. Of course, thematically and tonally, there’s not really any genuine threat to speak of. In fact, the worst thing you can potentially do in Tales of the Shire is stay out too late at night as this may threaten the worst of the worst: you’ll risk… sleeping in in the morning. Holy moly!
In addition to keeping an eye on the clock, you’ll also be assigned Tales, which are ostensibly the game’s quests. These range from cooking specific meals for your friends in the village to doing a spot of fishing in the local pond to carrying out chores to build up your friendship with the nature-loving locals. On the whole, these Tales serve to emphasise how wholesome the overall theme of the game is, as they largely focus upon building a community spirit within Bywater. Sure, while the stakes aren’t exactly sky-high, there’s still something surprisingly appealing about learning the ins and outs of the neighbourhood drama. While it mostly amounts to so-and-so getting a flu or what-d’you-call-her losing an important book, getting from A to B and ticking off your to-do list is a joyful experience.
Nevertheless, I’d be remiss if I didn’t express my one concern: Tales of the Shire‘s zen and hypnotic gameplay loop will likely not be for everyone. I imagine that some unsuspecting players will dive into Wētā Workshop’s title by virtue of its Lord of the Rings brand recognition alone, and suffice it to say, some may be surprised by its lack of traditional combat, which has undoubtedly become synonymous with the fantasy IP.
Still, for those who’ve always dreamt of living in their very own Hobbit-hole, then Tales of the Shire is absolutely for you. You’ll be throwing dinner parties for your neighbours, fishing in the local brook for skittish brown trout, cultivating your allotment for plenty of tasty po-tay-toes, and you’ll be up to your beard in busywork errands to help placate the local bumpkins. On top of all that, it’s just a pleasure simply existing in its fantastical world as the overall presentation and magical atmosphere is utterly enchanting.
Sure, it may not be as exciting and high stakes as Frodo and Sam’s epic adventures in you-know-what. But what it lacks in shortsword-wielding action, it more than makes up for with a peaceful and serene gameplay experience that genuinely captures the simple pleasures of what it would be like living in the Shire. Now, where’d I put that flippin’ watering can? I’ve got an allotment bursting with veggies to attend to…
Tales of the Shire is scheduled to launch on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5,
