Even Gandalf himself says it. “Hobbits are truly amazing creatures. You can learn all there is to know about their ways in a month, and yet after a hundred years they can still surprise you.” How could they not have their own video game? This, and of course the incredible rise in the popularity of cozy games, is the reason why fans of The Lord of the Rings will soon be able to enjoy Tales of the Shire, a life simulator in the style of Animal Crossing or Stardew Valley that puts us in the shoes of a hobbit to do just what a hobbit would do, that is, leisurely stroll through The Shire, tend to their garden, and prepare sumptuous meals for any of the six (or seven depending on who you ask) daily meals enjoyed by these adorable creatures with hairy feet. And what I can tell you after playing for just over an hour and a half is that I am delighted with what I have seen, and I can’t wait to discover what happens next in this adventure.
Because yes, it is clear that most of us here are looking to relive the epic action of classics like the memorable The Return of the King by Electronic Arts, but there is also something wonderful in the idea of exploring Middle-earth from The Lord of the Rings in a completely different way than we were used to. And just a couple of minutes with Tales of the Shire are enough to realize that WetaWorkshop feels a deep love for the stories of J.R.R. Tolkien, and that this could easily be one of those games to which you dedicate dozens of hours of your time almost without realizing it; like a sigh. That’s exactly what happened to me after completing the demo just as things were getting more interesting in that not-so-exotic – but rewarding – mission of building yourself a home in Delagua, an idyllic hobbit village in The Shire.
A day in the life of an average hobbit
Cozy games are those kinds of games where it seems like nothing ever happens and yet you are always running around solving problems or running errands. Tales of the Shire is faithful to that idea but with just the right twist so that you truly feel like you are enjoying a Lord of the Rings video game. If you come from Animal Crossing and other similar titles, you know what to expect. You’ve just moved into a run-down house in a village where you don’t know anyone, and between renovations, you have to make friends with everyone. And since they are hobbits, there’s nothing better than inviting them to eat to steal their hearts. This is where the fun begins.
Delagua is a beautiful environment that invites exploration. It’s pure fantasy. There are plants to collect, you can have your own garden, go fishing, or design the most beautiful floral garden in The Shire. Tales of the Shire gradually shows you all these options in a constant and friendly way, so that each passing day you have something new to do. And you do it with a smile on your face because the hobbits in this game, who already speak in Spanish (for now there is only text, no voices), are as endearing and friendly as you would expect from these creatures. But here the life of the party is -so far- the cooking, which is a bit more complex than just choosing a recipe and gathering the ingredients.
It can easily be one of those games to which you dedicate dozens of hours of your time almost without realizing it
The taste and texture of the same dish can vary depending on how you cook it, whether it’s finely chopped or whether you’ve fried it or not; and this will in turn influence how the hobbit you have invited to eat receives it. In this demo, there were only two minigames related to cooking, chopping food and frying it, which are not really anything special. You just press the button until you reach the desired consistency. But as I said, if you do it right you can achieve the perfect flavor that your guest craves, and in this way, you will make the friendship meter increase faster. The quality of the products also influences the final result, so I’m looking forward to seeing how the culinary options expand. Because it also seems that there are lots of recipes and a good handful of ingredients and seasonings to satisfy the hobbits. Not to mention the decorations you can use to adorn the table, I understand, to make your guests even happier.
An Animal Crossing of The Lord of the Rings
The demo of Tales of the Shire covers our first steps in Delagua during the last days of summer, and here I have already seen how the game gradually expands through a system of very simple missions that lay the groundwork for a story that seems like the perfect excuse to get lost in this beautiful fantasy world. With a lot of humor, hobbits will have you running around from one place to another, but the game manages to make you do it with the fascination of a child, enjoying every step you take. WetaWorkshop has taken care of the details so much that if you run, your hobbit will jump with joy as he runs through the lush hills of Delagua.
The life of the party is -so far- the kitchen, which is something more complex than just choosing a recipe
There are plenty of hobbits to talk to, including several traders with seeds, furniture, and raw materials to work with, which is interesting because if you want your house to have a garden, and not a vegetable garden, you can do it without losing the opportunity to get rich foods. Speaking of cultivation, I have only seen the first steps of this adventure, so it remains to be seen how this gameplay mechanic evolves. For now, all I could do was plant seeds in the designated areas and make sure to water them every day. If it rains, by the way, you don’t need to grab the watering can as Mother Nature takes care of everything. I have yet to discover if later on you have more options for cultivation, whether by applying special care to certain plants, fighting pests or bird pecking, or simply removing the weeds.
It has been just over an hour with Tales of the Shire, but I had so much fun that I would have loved to play for 5 or 10 more hours just to find out what comes next. The demo shows nothing more than your first steps in Delagua and therefore leaves many questions in the air; but what is outlined on the horizon is very promising. How much can we customize the house? And what about the seasons of the year? How will it change the way to explore this beautiful village? Not to mention, of course, the relationships between hobbits and other iconic characters from Middle-earth, because Gandalf is present and is sure to visit more than once with great stories to tell.
Regarding the graphic aspect, the game is very colorful and frankly beautiful, especially at the scenery level. The design of the hobbits is caricatured and I understand that it may not be to everyone’s liking, but it fits well with the aesthetic that WetaWorkshop has bet on and has a few details, like the running animation, that are sure to bring a smile to more than one face. I also really liked that instead of marking your destination with an icon, the game guides your steps through birds or butterflies, which depending on their color, indicate the type of resources you will find in the area.
As I was saying, Tales of the Shire may not be the Lord of the Rings game you were longing for, but it undoubtedly has charm, exudes affection for the fantasy world created by Tolkien, and has the necessary ingredients to become a success in such a competitive market as that of cozy games. The hard part will be waiting, because after a last-minute delay, Weta’s game has been pushed back to early 2025.
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