Tales of the Shire Shouldn’t Miss Chance to Include One…

Although the wait for Tales of the Shire may be a bit longer than anticipated, the life sim is still an intriguing dive into the cozier parts of The Lord of the Rings. Tales of the Shire puts the spotlight on Hobbits this time around, promising many features that have become synonymous with the cozy life sim genre.

Despite the game being pushed back to next year, Tales of the Shire still has the chance of being one of the next big life sim titles. There are bound to be some exciting cameos in Tales of the Shire, and many of those will hopefully feature some of the great races of Middle-earth. In addition to Hobbits, Dwarves and Elves seem to be likely possibilities for a special appearance, but one of the greatest fantasy races to grace the franchise deserves a moment in the spotlight as well. Ents, the sentient tree-beings from Tolkien's lore, are a fascinating creation that would fit right in with Tales of the Shire's tone.

Tales of the Shire Will Hopefully Make Room For Ents

Paying Homage to an Iconic Lord of the Rings Relationship

Throughout The Lord of the Rings saga, the members of the Fellowship all branch off on different paths. When it comes to Hobbits Merry and Pippin, their journey takes them to Fangorn Forest, the home of the Ents. Although skeptical of Merry and Pippin at first, Ent leader Treebeard eventually warms to the two Hobbits. The Hobbits convince the Ents to join in the fight for Middle-earth, causing them to create a bond with the anthropomorphic tree race. Merry and Pippin's relationship with the Ents, especially Treebeard, is a heartwarming moment in the story, which makes the race a great potential group to be featured in Tales of the Shire.

When it comes to The Lord of the Rings, Middle-earth doesn't boast a lot of loving creatures, but the Ents have a soft spot that would work wonders in a cozy life sim. Potentially getting to befriend an Ent or at least getting to see them in a brief cameo could be just one of the many ways Tales of the Shire pays tribute to the franchise.

Tales of the Shire launches on March 25, 2025.

There is no telling how many callbacks to The Lord of the Rings will be featured in Tales of the Shire. It seems clear that Gandalf will have a role in the story, but to what extent is unknown. With the anticipation to find out what creatures and races of Middle-earth will be represented growing, the speculation likely won't stop until more is revealed.

Tales of the Shire's Secretive Nature Raises Questions

How Much of The Lord of the Rings Will Be Present?

Getting a fresh look at Middle-earth by exploring the Shire is an intriguing change of pace that sets Tales of the Shire apart from other stories in the franchise. Just as the Shire has yet to be explored to its full extent, the Ents could also benefit from more attention. The world that J.R.R. Tolkien crafted is incredibly vast and filled with awe-inspiring lore. Stepping away from the turmoil of Middle-earth's ongoing wars in favor of coziness could be what the franchise needs in order to see the world in a brand-new light.

Ents also present the opportunity for a unique form of traversal in Tales of the Shire.

If Tales of the Shire plans on showcasing a lot of what The Lord of the Rings has to offer, then it would be surprising to leave the Ents out. Even if they only play a minor role in the game, Merry and Pippin's connection to Treebeard proves that the two fantasy races are a charming team-up.

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