The Indie Informer

Tales of the Shire: A The Lord of the Rings Game is a joy to exist in. Its narrative is a shallow stream moving swiftly enough that I never had time to grow weary of it. Luckily, it empties out into a much deeper pool of systems, each flowing like thoughtful currents into and around each other under the water’s calm surface.

Having just moved to Bywater, there’s a lot to do. The previous owner of my new dwelling boarded up most of the rooms to make maintenance easier in her old age. However, it leaves me with little space and easy-to-recognize goals for the future. Likewise, the empty garden just out my front door is in obvious need of greenery. Then, of course, the pride and joy of any hobbit hole, the kitchen, has only rudimentary tools for making meals. And beyond the confines of my cozy grounds is a landscape beckoning me to explore it and a troop of endearing neighbors to befriend. The game hits all the notes I hoped a Shire-inspired life sim would off the bat.

Though relatively hobbit-sized, Bywater is a wonderful place to get lost in. The path from my door unfolds past a fishing hole nestled into the hillside, through a town square populated with vendors peddling anything I could want for my new life, up to the wonderfully realized arches of the Green Dragon Inn, and swings around to an incredibly important mill. Following my feet down another branch, I discover farms filled with animals, a gushing river spanned by an ancient bridge, and towering trees of a dense forest. Another twist in my journey leads to beehive-filled fields flanking the Great East Road.

I can’t but admire that each new sight is designed impeccably, not only aesthetically but functionally. A web of convenient lanes branch out to unexpected but really useful locations. Mysterious stairs connect an important character’s home to Bywater’s commercial hub. An abandoned hobbit hole proves a guide through the forest to the farmlands. And a cave-like tunnel gives me access from the mill to the fields abutting my home. And every landscape offers opportunities to discover new ingredients.

The heart of Tales of the Shire is cooking. It is the vehicle by which I grow friendships, unlock tools, and progress the story. The way that the game’s other elements keep me coming back to the kitchen is extremely clever. Foraging undiscovered ingredients — which change with the seasons — makes me want to go back and throw them into a pie or stew. Friends made through sharing meals will, in turn, grant me their own special reciepes which I then need to try out. Gardening lets me produce foods for some recipes I would otherwise not be able to make. Merchants give me access to other needed stock, like meat, flour, spices, or even seeds.

The cooking mechanic also grows throughout the story as growing friendships reward me with new cooking equipment, which helps me go from one-star meals to five-star extravaganzas. I also learn there are special flavor combinations that increase a dish’s ranking when properly combined. On top of all this, the game pushes me to cook for guests I have explicitly invited to my feasts, and individual guests let me know what flavor of food they are craving that day. Marrying their preferences with my available recipes and ingredients keeps the process fresh. Not to mention it creates a system where you consistently feel like your culinary skills are growing along with your menu and encyclopedia of local food.

As the story glides along, I also unveil new structures that give me a reason to engage with the hobbit’s social and literal world. In an effort to have Bywater officially declared a town, the community starts up a series of clubs. These offer voluntary missions around activities like foraging, fishing, cooking, and gardening. Completing these quaint quests — like picking ten specific mushrooms or cooking a meal with a particular fish — level up my membership in the club. The rewards for leveling up are significant. For example, one early prize I received from foraging is an increased backpack size — a much-needed improvement.

I was never overly invested in the narrative and the golden path is rarely groundbreaking. However, the community is endearing even if they can’t seem to figure out any problem without me. They give me a reason to jump back into an enticing environment which I relish just existing in. Purpose-driven players may not find what they’re looking for in the cozy folds of Bywater. If you’re searching for a game where you can stop, smell the roses, wander through the fields, and dive into a pleasingly simple life, Tales of the Shire is for you.