Tales Of The Shire Hands-On Preview: The Cozy LotR Life Sim Fans Didn't Know They Needed

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takes a wholly different approach to Tolkien's universe, centering around hobbit dinner parties rather than grand adventures. The upcoming life sim comes from Wētā Workshop, a developer with intimate knowledge of Middle-Earth, having worked on the special effects for the original film series. Recent hands-on time during Summer Game Fest showed off a title that seems to offer a completely unique experience that will be satisfying for both fans and cozy game fans alike.

Life as a hobbit is an incredibly peaceful one — has no combat whatsoever, and every goal in the game can be done at one's own pace. One of the main activities in the title is cooking, but even that has no potential for failure, eschewing the minigame mechanics of games like in favor of an overall dish rating system. Players can decorate their hobbit hole, throw dinner parties, fish, grow ingredients, and much more as they build their cooking prowess and improve friendships through food.

The new LOTR game from Wētā Workshop and Private Division, Tales of the Shire, has finally been announced with a release window and gameplay details.

takes place in the rarely-seen village of Bywater, which is having trouble reaching official recognition as a proper town. Raising Bywater's status is one of the main goals of the game, which seems similar to the town-rating mechanics of games like . The world itself is filled with colorful, cartoonish charm, from the design of its hobbit inhabitants to the sprawling hillsides and quaint buildings. Forageables are easier to find with the help of butterflies that gather near them, and players can be led to quest points and villagers by flocks of birds.

Though raising the status of Bywater is a big focus, it's certainly not the only way for a hobbit to spend their time. Instead of an outright skill system, players will complete quests for various clubs around town, and there are also specific heart quests that will raise relationships with residents. These quests can