Summary
Tales of the Shireis the next big game to take inspiration from theLord of the Ringsfranchise, except this time it’s all about being cozy. When it comes to games based on theLord of the Ringsfranchise, it usually revolves around the dark and serious themes that the series has become known for, butTales of the Shireis taking a different approach by focusing on the peaceful life of the Hobbits.
Following in the footsteps ofAnimal CrossingandStardew Valley,Tales of the Shireallows players to experience the wonderfully relaxed life of a Hobbit, and it looks to be a great change of pace. There arehigh hopes forTales of the Shire, especially afterGollumandReturn to Morialeft much to be desired for many players. When it comes to cozy life simulation games, there are staple features that many have grown to expect from the genre, but it seems thatTales of the Shiremay be bypassing a popular feature: multiplayer.
Tales of the Shire Not Having Multiplayer is Confusing
As of now,Tales of the Shire’s Steam page lists the game as single-player, and this could be one of the game’s biggest missed opportunities. If the Steam page’s single-player label is completely accurate, then it’s quite a surprising choice for developer Weta Workshop to make. There are a few features many fans of cozy life simsexpect to see inTales of the Shire, and multiplayer is definitely a feature that some may have expected when the game was first announced.
Multiplayer is a Cornerstone Feature of Many Cozy Games
It may have not always been this way, but multiplayer in cozy games has become a major feature in these types of titles.Animal Crossinghas become well known for its multiplayer, and imagining a world where future entries in the Nintendo series didn’t include the feature just feels wrong. It’s highly possible that Weta Workshop took a lot ofinspiration fromAnimal CrossingandStardew Valley,as those are the most popular titles in the genre, so it’s confusing that multiplayer would seemingly be bypassed.
Based on the footage fromTales of the Shire’s announcement trailer, it seems like there’s a great amount of fun activities to take part in, and they would be perfect for co-op. Fishing, baking, or foraging is a great recipe for a multiplayer experience, and not including this mode in the game could be a risky move that makes the game feel empty for players who prefer experiencing this genre with friends.
There is currently no official release date forTales of the Shire, but it’s expected to launch later this year.
Possible Post-Launch Plans for Tales of the Shire
However, there is also the possibility thatTales of the Shirecould have multiplayer on its list of post-launch plans. There are already an exciting number offeatures promised forTales of the Shireat launch. Although it seems like multiplayer won’t be one of those features to look forward to on release, there’s still the possibility that it could be added later on in the game’s life, especially if there’s a big demand for it. The only issue is that this is a really complex mode to add later on in a game’s life, especially online multiplayer.
So far,Tales of the Shirelooks promising, but there are some valid concerns regarding the game. It’s incredibly exciting that Weta Workshop, the special effects studio partially responsible for bringing Peter Jackson’sLord of the Ringstrilogy to life, is developing the game, but it’s also the company’s first attempt at game development.Tales of the Shirehas a lot of potential, but the apparent lack of multiplayer is disappointing, because this is the perfect game to spend hours playing with friends.
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is one of the most iconic names in entertainment. The franchise started with novels from J. R. R. Tolkien before being adapted onto the big screen by Peter Jackson in one of the most critically-acclaimed film trilogies of all time. There have also been numerous The Lord of the Rings video games of varying quality.
