Tales of the Shireis looking to inviteLord of the Ringsfans, new and old, to the cozier side of Tolkien’s fantasy world. In doing so,Tales of the Shireshould embrace the comical side of that lighthearted atmosphere, one cultivated by the franchise’s major presence in online memes.
Weta Workshop Game Studio’sTales of the Shire, set to hit shelves on July 09, 2025, is going in a different direction when compared to other franchise projects. Compared to high-stakes, prequel works likeRings of Power, the upcomingWar of the Rohirrim, or thecritically-pannedLord of the Rings: Gollum,Tales of the Shirewill be firmly set within the pastoral fantasy of Hobbiton.
Tales of the Shire’s Achievements Should Pay Homage To Community Memes
With a game that, though grounded in Tolkien’s world, has more than a little room for levity, theupcomingTales of the Shireshouldn’t be afraid to reference the fandom’s meme culture, especially in achievements. Taking advantage of memes and in-jokes is typical practice for video game adaptations, includingLord of the Ringsgames. Examples of this can be taken from another lighthearted take on the franchise, that beingLEGO Lord of the Rings; achievements like ‘They’re taking the hobbits to Isengard’ (a reference to the famous fanmade mashup song) not only reference fandom memes, but the achievement itself involves an out-of-the-way task to relate to the name. Fan service like this is a fun way to bring together veteran fans and completionists, all while making new fans feel included.
The Big Memes Tales Of The Shire Should Reference With Achievements
The biggestLord of the Ringsmemesderive from the trilogy’s film adaptations, and there’s plenty of material here. In particular, a reference to ‘One does not simply walk into Mordor’, one of the internet’s most enduring memes, is practically a must. The latter half of the phrase would probably be cut, but accomplishing a great task in-game (perhaps walking a certain distance) could net a ‘One does not simply’ achievement.
Undertaking something painful, though, could package in some reference to Aragorn actor Viggo Mortensen breaking his toe on set. If there is to be any sense of danger within the title, it’d be fun to have a simple achievement like ‘Broken Toe’ pop up. The achievement could even reference the overuse of this piece of trivia as a fun fact in some way, something that has become a meme in itself. Other greatLord of the Ringsmeme candidatesinclude hobbit-specific references, such as achievements related to ‘What about second breakfast?’ or ‘But I can carry you!’ ought to be shoo-ins.
There are also some great opportunities with book-specific references. While there’s been no official word on Tom Bombadil, theFellowshipcharacter conspicuously absent from the films, appearing inTales of the Shire, he’d be a great inclusion—and meeting him could be accompanied by an achievement referencing his oft-removed status. Another meme originating from the books is the debate about whether the Balrog has wings, a mainstay in meme culture and Tolkien scholar discourse. Though it’s incredibly unlikely for a Balrog to show up in the flesh,Tales of the Shire’s firework celebrationscould prove a great avenue for a reference.
Tales Of The Shire Could Go Even More Obscure
Tolkien’s world, as well as the media spun from it, is beyond summary in its depth. One example of this would be the animatedLord of the Ringsfilms by Ralph Bakshi and subsequently Rankin Bass, which pre-date the live-action version of the trilogy. The Rankin Bass adaptation ofReturn of the Kingis home to the songWhere There’s a Whip, There’s a Way, which is big in Tolkien meme circles. Discrepancies between the live-action films and the books, and the obscurecontents ofThe SilmarillionorUnfinished Talesalso number among the grounds for deep-cut references.
