Over the years, there has been no shortage of Lord of the Rings games for us die-hards to enjoy, and if there is one thing that’s been consistent through all of them, other than, you know, the whole ring spiel, it’s that all of the games are centred around conflict of some level and intensity.
What we haven’t been able to do in any of the games yet is sit back and take it easy, enjoying the idyllic life of a hobbit—pre-Gandalf—and that’s precisely what Wētā Workshop’s Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game aims to deliver.
The game was first teased last year by the same special effects company, Wētā Workshop, that was responsible for all the magic that brought the Lord of the Rings trilogy to life—from sets to orcs to the costumes—and now, a year later, a trailer for Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game has arrived, precisely when it meant to.
Putting the cosy in cosy farming sim, Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game will see players take on the role of an adventure-averse hobbit and do what those kinds of hobbitses do:
Build relationships
Sharing meals
Tending to a garden, and more
The game will also feature a passing time mechanic, allowing players to harvest seasonal crops, flowers, and weather, affecting daily routines.
As of writing this, there has yet to be a confirmed release date for the game, although it is promised for 2024.
It will be interesting to see just how Wētā Workshop interprets the daily life of hobbits and how that translates into the game, but for the first time since getting burned by the ill-fated Gollum, we find ourselves actually excited about Lord of the Rings once more.
What are your thoughts on Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game? Let us know in the comments.