Highlights

• Tales of the Shire offers a unique cozy life sim experience set in the Lord of the Rings universe, with customization and decorating features.
• Players can enjoy core gameplay features like cooking, exploring the village of Bywater, and encountering iconic Hobbit characters.
• Inspired by games like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing, Tales of the Shire aims to capture the charm of cozy life sims for fans to enjoy.

Tales of the Shire is an upcoming cozy life sim by indie developer Weta Workshop, based on the Lord of the Rings series of novels by J. R. R. Tolkien. As a Hobbit in the village of Bywater, players will be able to complete a variety of activities associated with the genre, many of which have been made popular by other cozy life sim games such as ConcernedApe's Stardew Valley and Nintendo's Animal Crossing series.

Despite any similarities it may end up sharing with games like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing, Tales of the Shire will undoubtedly be a unique experience, simply based on the fact that it takes place in the Lord of the Rings universe. Still, ahead of Tales of the Shire's release, Weta has revealed several features for the game that seem to line up with its cozy counterparts.

Every Feature Confirmed for Tales of the Shire So Far

Tales of the Shire Will Include Character Customization

As character customization becomes an increasingly popular feature in gaming, it only makes sense that Tales of the Shire would include it as well. In Tales of the Shire, players will not only be able to customize the physical appearance of their Hobbit but also their attire. At some point in the game, players will be allowed to trade for new clothes for their character, though it's currently unclear whether they will be locked into their character's physical appearance after creating them.

Players Can Decorate Their Own Hobbit Home in Tales of the Shire

Just as they can in the Animal Crossing series Tales of the Shire was inspired by, players can decorate their very own Hobbit home in Weta Workshop's upcoming cozy life sim. Tales of the Shire includes a grid-free placement system, so players can fully bring their imaginations to life in the most accurate way possible. Players will also be able to eventually either craft new furniture or purchase it from stores within the Hobbit village of Bywater the game is set in.

Cooking Is a Core Gameplay Feature of Tales of the Shire

One of the many well-known facts about Hobbits is that they love food and Tales of the Shire honors that lore by making cooking one of its core gameplay features. As players explore the village of Bywater, they will be able to fish and forage for ingredients that they can then cook in the warmth of their kitchen at home. Furthermore, players will be able to plant vegetables in their garden, much like they can in Tales of the Shire's other inspiration, Stardew Valley.

Players Can Explore the Village of Bywater in Tales of the Shire

Tales of the Shire takes place in the village of Bywater, which is featured several times in the Lord of the Rings films and is mentioned often in the books. Tales of the Shire's depiction of Bywater includes plenty of explorable terrain filled with secrets and treasures for players to find, and by the looks of it ahead of the game's release, it is thoroughly visually captivating.

During their time exploring, players will encounter a dynamic weather system, and it also seems that different items will become available as the seasons change, similar to Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing. Finally, Bywater is filled with iconic Hobbit characters from the books, so fans should be on the lookout as they explore.

Tales of the Shire is already set to be a unique experience, and one that cozy life sim and Lord of the Rings fans should keep an eye on. Weta Workshop has yet to announce a release date for Tales of the Shire, but it has already been given a broad release window of the second half of 2024.