Tales of the Shire: The Argument For and Against A Romance Feature

After Return to Moria took Lord of the Rings to the survival crafting genre, Tales of the Shire is set to once again deliver a new type of Middle-earth game. This time, that will come in the form of a Hobbit-focused cozy sim, which sounds extremely promising. The concept will not only let players experience Tolkein’s world through a new lens, but will also let them further explore just what it means to be a Hobbit. On top of that, Tales of the Shire may have another exciting opportunity when it comes to love.

As of now, Lord of the Rings has not really dabbled with romance much. While there have been romantic relationships throughout the series, they have never been the focus. But, Tales of the Shire could change all of that as it will be taking the series to the cozy sim genre, which is often known for having more in-depth relationship mechanics. If done well, that could lead to something wholly unique for this iconic fantasy franchise when it comes to video games, though it may also feel a bit out of place.

Tales of the Shire Could Be Middle-earth’s Chance at Love

Tales of the Shire Feels Tailor-made for Romance Mechanics

One of the core features of any cozy sim game is the relationship-building that players must do as they progress. Animal Crossing: New Horizons sees them grow closer to their animal villagers, Stardew Valley lets them get married and start families, The Sims is all about creating those relationships, and even Disney Dreamlight Valley lets them bond with iconic Disney characters. No matter the game’s theme, some type of relationship mechanic tends to be included. As of now, there is seemingly no reason Tales of the Shire will be different.

There is a strong chance Tales of the Shire features some type of friendship mechanic, but it should not stop there. Players should be able to actually experience what living as a Hobbit is like, so they need to be able to actually forge romantic relationships with other villagers. Additionally, those relationships could be made even stronger if they resulted in actual families. Couple that with the cute nature of Hobbit culture, and it could lead to something truly special for Lord of the Rings fans to enjoy.

Middle-earth Has Never Been Known for Having a Romantic Side

At the same time, romantic relationships in Tales of the Shire may feel a bit out of place. For the most part, the Lord of the Rings series has never focused too much on the romantic side of its world. Obviously, characters have formed romantic relationships and even built families, but none of those stories spend too much time in the spotlight, with the focus often being on the One Ring or the fight against darkness. So, while there is no reason that it has to be the case for every project, romance may also be a step too far for some.

Tales of the Shire is already a major change for Middle-earth, as it has never really had a cozy sim set within its world before. In the past, Lord of the Rings video games have either been action-adventure or RTS titles, with the occasional unique title thrown into the mix. That makes this new game stand out immensely, which means it may already have a bit of a hard time convincing fans to make the jump over. If it made romance a central feature, that may put off some die-hard fans completely.

Still, if given the chance, Tales of the Shire could do a lot of interesting things with romance, and the cozy genre is a much better fit for it than an action game like Middle-Earth: Shadow of War. Ultimately, it is up to Weta Workshop if it wants to take the risk of adding romance, as there are surely fans who will be for and against its inclusion.

Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game

Tales of the Shire is a charming life sim set in the iconic and idyllic location from Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. You’ll take part in gardening, fishing, and cooking, as well as decorating your home and getting to know the local Hobbits.