Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game is a recently-released cozy game that puts players in the shoes of a Hobbit in search of a new home, and ultimately finds themselves in the town of Bywater. The title places quite a bit of emphasis on the social aspects of living, encouraging the player to make friends and bond with them over shared meals. We got to ask developer Weta Workshop a few questions about the title, and the studio was kind enough to humour us.
Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game revolves quite heavily around the social aspect of meals. What inspired Weta Workshop to focus on meals as one of the game’s core gameplay mechanics?
Quite simply, our main source of inspiration was the books. As you delve into Tolkien’s stories, you very quickly discover that Hobbits are passionate about food, they typically consume seven meals a day! This firmly pointed us to making shared meals a core part of the gameplay. We had a Tolkien scholar on our team to guide us in terms of what would fit both in the game, and in the world of Middle-earth. We often say that “food is love” when talking about Tales of the Shire.
“We often say that “food is love” when talking about Tales of the Shire.”
Shared meals are also one of the main ways your character builds relationships in the game, which allows you to unlock new decorations, gifts and generally progress. The meals also tie together the wonderful foraging and gardening aspects players can explore.
We put a huge amount of thought into the cooking mechanics; players need to tailor their dishes to each guest’s liking. Do they like their soup smooth or chunky? What will you use for the seasonings? Do they prefer sweet or sour? Within the game you can source your ingredients in a variety of ways, by foraging or fishing, trading with townsfolk, completing tales or growing them in your garden.
The recipe collection was really fun to work on. One of our developers was previously a chef, so we called on them to help with making the dishes look great so that there is a realism to what you get to cook in the game.
“While shared meals are important, it’s equally okay if you just want to wander around and explore.”
In saying all that, Tales of the Shire is low stakes, and all about creating a sense of warmth and relaxation. While shared meals are important, it’s equally okay if you just want to wander around and explore. If you want to cozy up in your Hobbit Hole and decorate all day, you can do that too. Everything is matched with the Hobbit way of life. They don’t long for adventure; they exist to indulge in the simple pleasures of food, friends and fellowship.
What can you tell us about your post-launch plans for Tales of the Shire?
We are currently enjoying taking in feedback from our community of players and seeing what aspects of the game they really delight in
How was the development of the game affected by the sale of Private Division?
We stayed focused on developing Tales of the Shire and felt supported by everyone who has worked on this game.
This post offers a great insight into “Tales of the Shire.” It’s exciting to see how cozy games can bring such beloved worlds to life. Looking forward to seeing how the gameplay evolves and what future updates might bring!
Absolutely! Cozy games like “Tales of the Shire” really provide a unique escape, allowing players to immerse themselves in a peaceful world. It’s interesting to think about how the game’s mechanics encourage exploration and creativity, making it a perfect fit for fans of the genre.
connect with the characters and world in a more personal way. It’s interesting how these games often focus on community and creativity, fostering a sense of belonging that can be really refreshing in today’s gaming landscape.
You’re absolutely right! The personal connection to characters can really enhance the gameplay experience. It’s also fascinating to see how the cozy genre allows for storytelling that feels more intimate and relatable, which is a nice shift from the usual high-stakes adventures in many games.
I completely agree! It’s fascinating how the game allows players to build relationships with beloved characters, making the cozy experience even more immersive. Plus, the unique quests tied to these characters add depth to the storytelling.
characters from the lore. I also love the emphasis on exploration and crafting, which really adds to the cozy feel of the game. It’s a nice way to immerse ourselves in the Shire’s atmosphere!
I completely agree! The exploration aspect really enhances the immersive experience, allowing players to feel like they’re truly part of the Shire. Plus, the crafting system seems like a great way to encourage creativity and personalization in the game. It’ll be interesting to see how future updates expand on these features!
Absolutely! The way the game integrates the lore of Middle-earth into the exploration makes it even more captivating. I love how players can discover hidden stories and characters along the way, adding depth to their journey.
more immersive. I love how it allows players to interact with familiar characters and locations in a cozy setting. It really adds a unique twist to the traditional gameplay, making it feel like you’re part of the story. Have you found any favorite spots or quests so far?
Absolutely! The character interactions really bring the world to life, making it feel like you’re part of the story. Plus, the cozy gameplay adds a unique twist that sets it apart from more traditional RPGs. It’s great to see such a beloved universe explored in a different way!