I am ready for Tales of the Shire to take over my life

Screenshot from Tales of the Shire

From the moment my Dad introduced me to The Lord of the Rings, one of my dreams was to become a hobbit. I adored their cottagecore vibes, their love of the simple things in life, and most of all, their culture - built around the pillars of community and food.

And luckily for me Wētā Workshop - yes, THE Wētā Workshop - and Private Division teamed up to make hobbit dreams come true with Tales of the Shire, a cozy hobbit video game set to come out on July 29th.

Key Art of Tales of the Shire

From the moment they announced the game, I knew I would get it the day it came out. I am a huge fan of cozy games, with Stardew Valley and Disney Dreamlight Valley being two of my all time favorites. And when I read the synopsis, I immediately knew I would not only fall in love with this game, but put over a hundred hours into it. Probably within the first month.

Welcome Home, Hobbit! – From the creative studio, Wētā Workshop, live the cosy life of a Hobbit in the wonderfully serene landscape of the Shire. Discover, decorate, and share in this idyllic corner of Middle-earth. Join friendly Hobbits and familiar faces awaiting your arrival in Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings™ Game.

Create your own Hobbit as you set forth in Bywater. Though not yet established as an official village in Hobbiton, play a part in helping the quaint town flourish. Greet comfort at the door as you decorate your own Hobbit hole, tend to your garden, fish at the clear ponds, forage wild fruits and herbs, or trade with townsfolks. Prepare homemade meals to share with fellow Hobbits and foster relationships.

With much to see and lots more to eat, enjoy days of splendor in the picturesque forests, lakes, and pastures.

Unwind in the place where what matters most are all the little things. Help bring the community together to achieve village status in Bywater. Experience delight in Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings™ Game.

Now one of the things I am most excited for in this game is it doesn't take place in Hobbiton. Not only is Bywater one of the more important locations in the books (The Battle of Bywater anyone?) but it's also a location that allowed the creators much more flexibility. It's not far from Hobbiton, as Bilbo was said to be able to sprint to the Inn in about ten minutes (check the book ash) in The Hobbit, but far enough where it is able to have it's own unique atmosphere. We can expect to see members of the famous families, and maybe even a Sackville-Baggins or two, without the need for Merry and Pippin to come in and cause a commotion to get the plot rolling.

Like the many cozy games before it, there's a focus on foraging, gardening, fishing, and cooking - and I am excited to see how the mechanics are different from other cozy games. I also love how there is such an emphasis on new beginnings and friendship within the trailer. It shows how important the pillar of community is, one that was so prominent in both the books and the movies that I know it will give the immersive Shire feel I have been craving for the majority of my life.

And speaking of immersive, Weta Workshop also dropped their Tales of the Shire merch line this week and while they have adorable stickers and an amazing desk mat, they also have oven mitts and a tea towl that I need for my kitchen ASAP. The idea of being able to cook in the game, and then go take out my themed oven mitts and cook in real life is a dream I didn't realize I had, but one I will definitely be acting on once this game comes out.

Overall, I am fully expecting Tales of the Shire to be my top game this year. It's everything I want, and will I start calling it "my precious" in my best Gollum voice? Only time will tell.