Though its quests may be a little mundane and its gameplay mechanics may not be the most in-depth, Tales of the Shire doesn't disappoint when it comes to Easter eggs and references pertaining to the wider world of Middle-earth. Set in Bywater, an up-and-coming village that neighbors Hobbiton, Tales of the Shire has both clear and subtle references to The Lord of the Rings trilogy, many of which revolve around the series' iconic cast of heroes.
Though it may seem sprawling to a Hobbit, the Shire isn't all that large, and its inhabitants know one another quite intimately. As such, much of Tales of the Shire's cast of colorful characters have direct connections to The Lord of the Rings' roster, with some being just one family member removed from the Fellowship of the Ring itself.
Tales of the Shire Review
A Lord of the Rings life-sim, Tales of the Shire tries to live up to its inherently great premise, but the Hobbit game falls short in a few ways.
Every Lord of the Rings Character Cameo and Reference in Tales of the Shire
Gandalf
Tales of the Shire begins with Gandalf the Grey waking the game's player-character. The ancient Istari guides the player toward their new home of Bywater and promises they'll be back to check up on them, probably when they least expect it. Without spoiling the exact details, Gandalf stays true to his word, and appears several more times during Tales of the Shire's main questline.
Rosie Cotton
Another one of Tales of the Shire's more direct connections to The Lord of the Rings, Rosie Cotton appears as one of the game's 15 villagers. Rosie becomes a pivotal figure in Tales of the Shire's gameplay loop, with her heading up the gardening social club. Of course, Rosie goes on to marry Samwise Gamgee after he returns from his quest to destroy the One Ring. While her parents, Tom and Lily, both appear in Tales of the Shire, her brother Young Tom is the only one of her four siblings to appear in-game.
Samwise Gamgee
Though he doesn't appear in person, Samwise Gamgee is mentioned overtly a few times in Tales of the Shire. One of the most prominent references is when Rosie says she's been exchanging letters with a Gamgee boy from Hobbiton named Sam.
Bilbo Baggins
Set in the Third Age, sometime between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, Tales of the Shire makes a few references to Bilbo Baggins, who's settled back down in Hobbiton following his daring adventure to the Lonely Mountain. Gandalf mentions a Hobbit from Hobbiton who makes maps, and the shopkeepers Nora and Fosco Burrows mention that Bilbo occasionally lends them books.
The Tooks
As mentioned up top, the Shire is not a huge place, and that means one doesn't need to go far before they stumble into some kind of relative. Tales of the Shire's Bywater is home to a few Hobbits who are related to The Lord of the Rings' cast in one way or another. Willow and Daisy Took, for instance, are related to Peregrin "Pippin" Took.
The Brandybucks
Tales of the Shire's resident forager, Delphinium, is also related to the Fellowship of the Ring, with her being a Brandybuck like Lord of the Rings' Meriadoc. Delphinium even mentions Merimac Brandybuck by name, who's Merry's uncle and a fellow Buckland dweller.
Smaug
On top of Lord of the Rings characters, Tales of the Shire makes a few references to some of the franchise's most important locations. Nefi, a dwarf who runs Bywater's forge, makes a comment about their homeland, Khazad-dum, which is located in the heart of the Misty Mountains. Nefi also mentions the Lonely Mountain, which is the focal point of Bilbo and the dwarves' quest in The Hobbit, and the resting place of the dragon Smaug.
- Released
- July 29, 2025
- Developer(s)
- Wētā Workshop
- Publisher(s)
- Private Division
- Franchise
- The Lord of the Rings
- Number of Players
- 1
