Why Tales of the Shire Is Taking a Big Risk With Its…

Summary

Tales of the Shire offers a cozy life sim featuring Hobbits, a new take on The Lord of the Rings narrative.
Focusing solely on the peaceful Shire lifestyle may result in a lack of excitement for fans accustomed to Middle-earth turmoil.
Despite potential concerns, Tales of the Shire caters to fans of relaxing games like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing.

The Lord of the Rings is one of the most influential fantasy franchises around, and Tales of the Shire is shining the spotlight on one of its most notable races: Hobbits. Tales of the Shire set out to bring cozy life sim gameplay to life with Hobbits in the leading role, which is a drastically new approach to The Lord of the Rings.

Whether it be in the story of The Lord of the Rings or The Hobbit, the small-statured, easy-going race that J.R.R. Tolkien dreamed up has usually led the narrative. However, the one major difference between these stories and Tales of the Shire is that the Hobbits were always embroiled in some sort of adventure or battle. Bilbo was known for his adventurous spirit, while Frodo was thrust into the middle of a monumental war between good and evil. Hobbits are known for their peaceful lifestyle, but this has rarely ever been the main focus of Tolkien's stories. Such a cozy atmosphere could prove to be a great change of pace, but it could also be too drastic.

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By Josh Cotts

Tales of the Shire Foregoing the Turmoil of Middle-earth

The Peaceful Life of Hobbits Could Make or Break Tales of the Shire

It's one thing to appreciate the uneventful lifestyle that Hobbits tend to enjoy, but it's a completely different thing to center an entire game around this concept. Middle-earth is a vast land that is filled with a lot of excitement, good and bad, so sticking to only the Shire could run the risk of feeling uneventful for many fans of The Lord of the Rings. Farming, fishing, and enjoying a casual stroll are wonderful things, but this could also get boring rather quickly.

The Shrine is a beautiful place, but completely ignoring the horrors of Middle-Earth only diminishes the value of the peace that Hobbits enjoy!

It's unclear what age of Middle-earth Tales of the Shire will focus on. However, there has rarely ever been complete peace in the land. Tales of the Shire ignoring the regions of Middle-earth that lie outside the Shire could diminish the game's intended tone of relaxation. It could be hard to play along with a carefree life sim when there is potential turmoil and horrors just outside of one's neighborhood. For the most part, when The Lord of the Rings showcases a Hobbit character in the past, they are presented as fish out of water. That's what makes them so compelling. Putting a small creature up against the larger-than-life forces of darkness is a powerful contrast.

Missing this aspect in Tales of the Shire may feel odd to those who are particularly passionate about The Lord of the Rings and its lore. Also, there is still the potential for the game to feel stale without the ongoing war of Middle-earth being the focus, but only time will tell.

Tales of the Shire Can Still Find Its Audience

Despite these concerns, the cozy life sim genre is still as prevalent and popular as ever. Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing have really brought relaxing, low-effort games into the spotlight in recent years, and Tales of the Shire is smart to capitalize on this. Weta Workshop's upcoming Hobbit-focused venture may not be for every fan of The Lord of the Rings, but it doesn't necessarily have to be.

Tales of the Shire is looking to appeal to fans of a certain genre, so even if the game seems dull or uneventful to those who are more invested in The Lord of the Rings and its wars, it will still find its audience. Yes, Tales of the Shire is at a much slower pace than the franchise usually goes for, but maybe that's exactly what it needs.

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