Tales of the Shireis a somewhat unexpected cozy game, but one that has a surprising amount of potential. It’s set in theLord of the Ringsuniverse, an IP that is typically associated with grand adventure, epic battles, and existential conflicts between god-like beings. But the rich lore of this enduring book and film series has several distinct corners to explore, withgames likeThe Lord of the Rings: Return to Moriaproving that Tolkein’s fantastical world can fit any number of genres and story premises.
Just like howReturn to Moriahones in on the culture of the hardy Dwarves,Tales of the Shirewill be positioning Hobbits as the star of the show. Hobbits may have helmed the iconic adventures ofThe HobbitandThe Lord of the Rings, but they are generally known as conflict-avoidant, peaceful people. Indeed, Tolkien’s books make it exceedingly clear that the likes of Frodo and Bilbo Baggins are rather unlike the rest of their community, and their wanderlust is even eyed with some suspicion by other Hobbits. All of this is to say that, barring a Baggins, Meriadoc, or Peregrine, the Shire setting makes perfect sense for a cozy game, as it could be fertile soil for a number of genre-appropriate quests and activities.
Tales of the Shire Should Milk Its Hobbit-Folk for All They’re Worth During Quests
Tales of the Shire Seems to Follow a Conventional Cozy Quest Formula
Tales of the Shireisn’t out yet, but early impressions indicate that it won’t deviate too far from the typical cozy formula—beyond its licensed setting, of course. One of the pillars of this formula is the flowering of relationships between the player-character and various NPCs, which will ostensibly revolve aroundTales of the Shire’s cooking system, which seems fitting.
But one could assume that there will be other NPC-related activities to engage with. Basing such assumptions on similar cozy games likeAnimal CrossingorStardew Valleyconjures images of fetching various objectsor supplies at the behest of these characters, or otherwise completing specific objectives. This is basic cozy game fare, but there’s an obvious way thatTales of the Shirecan lean into both its genre roots and its source material to elevate it.
Tales of the Shire NPCs Should Join the Player On Quests
InStardew Valley, a character like Robin may request that the player gather a certain amount of building supplies as a favor, or in exchange for a monetary reward.Animal Crossingfeatures similar NPC requests, as do other cozy games likeDisney Dreamlight Valley. But these can often feel like little more than chores, as the player is simply following “orders” from these characters, who will essentially just wait around for them to complete whatever task they have been assigned.
Tales of the Shirecould evolve this formula by having NPCs accompany the player on these mini-quests. For example, if a character needs a particular herb for a meal or a batch of beer,as Hobbits are wont to do, they could actually journey alongside the player as they pursue these items. This could nurture the bond between not just the player-character and the NPC, but between the NPC and the player themselves, as they would get to know them better in this virtual space. Such an approach would also lean into the themes of community and fellowship that are so prominent in Hobbit culture, since the player would be more like an active participant working toward a goal than a hired hand or pack mule.
