Although the wait forTales of the Shiremay be a bit longer than anticipated, the life sim is still an intriguing dive into the cozier parts ofThe Lord of the Rings.Tales of the Shireputs 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 Shirestill has the chance of being one of the next big life sim titles. There are bound to be some excitingcameos inTales 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 withTales 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
ThroughoutThe Lord of the Ringssaga, 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 inTales of the Shire.
When it comes toThe 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 waysTales of the Shirepays tribute to the franchise.
Tales of the Shirelaunches on May 09, 2025.
There is no telling how many callbacks toThe Lord of the Ringswill be featured inTales of the Shire. It seems clear thatGandalf 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?
Gettinga fresh look at Middle-earthby exploring the Shire is an intriguing change of pace that setsTales of the Shireapart 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 inTales of the Shire.
IfTales of the Shireplans on showcasing a lot ofwhatThe Lord of the Ringshas 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.
