One Undersung Aspect of Cozy Games Could Make or Break…

If Tales of the Shire hopes to be a hit, the new indie simulation game has to fall in line with the tropes of the simulation genre. The upcoming simulation game based on the works of Tolkien has had a slow production history thus far, but seems to be on track to release at its most recent date of July 2025. Tales of the Shire has already had its early access period, receiving mixed reviews from both critics and simulation gamers alike.

Players were quickly able to spot the inspiration behind much of Tales of the Shire’s gameplay even with this early access version. Fishing, cooking, farming, and gathering are staples of plenty of simulation games, all of which Tales of the Shire includes. Players will also get to create their own Hobbit avatar and decorate their Hobbit Hole. Developers at Weta Workshop have confirmed other features not available during Tales of the Shire’s early access, but quite a bit of the indie simulation game remains in the dark despite being based on such a high-profile IP.

Tales of the Shire More Than Shared Meals

Tales of the Shire's Meals Shouldn't Be the Only Thing That's Shared

Tales of the Shire's shared meals represent the game's theme of community, but this theme could be further expanded in other gameplay.

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By Megan Lorich

Tales of the Shire Needs Daily Activities

Seeing as Tales of the Shire is following the standard gameplay of the simulation genre, it would be unsurprising to see daily activities or quests make an appearance upon release. Plenty of simulation games, like Disney Dreamlight Valley and Hello Kitty Island Adventure, feature daily or weekly quests for players to complete for common rewards like crafting items or currency. These quests are a mainstay of simulation games, allowing players to achieve new goals even if long-term ones are completed, such as relationship development with different NPCs or tedious achievements.

No such daily system has been announced for Tales of the Shire. However, it seems probable that the game will follow this path because it will include so many simulation game staples. Tales of the Shire also has its own roster of NPC Hobbits, though the exact names and personalities of these characters have yet to be detailed. Considering that players will likely be expected to form relationships with the Hobbits of Bywater, these background daily activities to help players earn necessary items would be a great addition to Tales of the Shire.

What Tales of the Shire's Version of Daily Activities Could Look Like

Theorizing what gameplay will be used for Tales of the Shire’s daily activities becomes a bit simpler when considering what aspects of gameplay the upcoming title has emphasized so far. Hobbits are known for their love of food, having at least seven different meals a day. As such, activities like farming and cooking will be integral to relationships with Tales of the Shire’s NPCs. Daily activities for the game would likely encourage this behavior and perhaps reward players with specific ingredients needed or recipes.

It’s important that Tales of the Shire’s version of daily activities does not gate keep certain rewards. Certain simulation games, like Hello Kitty Island Adventure, only allow specific quests in daily activities to be accessible during specific periods of time. Some players find these limits tedious, blocking off certain rewards that could literally be game-changing. While incentivizing players to participate in daily activities is certainly a quest Tales of the Shire should push for, making this crucial part of the gameplay inaccessible may lead to players turning away from the new simulation title after a while. Nevertheless, daily activities will almost certainly be a feature that Tales of the Shire puts its own spin on.

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