‘Tales of the Shire’ brings together the charming world of Animal Crossing with the epic fantasy of Lord of the Rings – Load the Game

Remember that teaser from last year for a cozy life simulation set in Middle Earth? Finally, publisher Private Division and developer Wētā Workshop Game Studio have broken the silence and unveiled the highly anticipated announcement trailer for Tales of the Shire: A Lord of the Rings Game.

This charming living/farm simulation game will release on Nintendo Switch in the second half of 2024, meaning we’ll have to wait a few more months before we start our virtual adventures.

As for the nature of the subject matter, it’s pretty predictable, just as you’d expect. Take a journey in Tales of the Shire as you create your own Hobbit and establish a cozy home in the charming village of Bywater, just south of Hobbiton. As you work to organize a grand village festival, you’ll also experience all the classic elements of a life simulation game: fishing, decorating, building friendships, and enjoying a delicious second breakfast. It’s all part of the immersive experience! Below is the official synopsis of the game:

Create and personalize a Hobbit with a range of customizations to experience the world of JRR Tolkien’s beloved Middle-Earth universe in your own way. Take a seat and decorate a cozy Hobbit house, choosing from a range of furniture and home decor to create your unique, simple abode. Then head outside to Bywater for plenty of cooking, fishing, foraging, gardening and more relaxing activities in the Shire. Cast your lure to catch trout from the sparkling waters of Bywater Pool, collect wild mushrooms and use the collected ingredients to bake a succulent pie to serve for lunch. With a full belly, walk back out to explore the Shire and build relationships with Bywater locals by helping them plant a garden, share one of the many daily Hobbit meals and more.

It has a distinct Animal Crossing vibe. However, in our opinion it seems to be quite generic and similar to other farming/life simulation games that many players may have already experienced.

True, the idea of ​​a cozy Shire game has occurred to us more than once. It seems like a natural fit and is hard to resist. Let’s hope Wētā Workshop can bring some of that movie magic to the gaming world. After last year’s Gollum, the series could really use it.