Summary
Tales of the Shireis one of the biggest mysteries in the cozy genre at the moment. Announced by first-time developer Weta Workshop in April,Tales of the Shirepromises a relaxing Hobbit lifestyle simulator. With an original release window of 2024, there hasn’t been much more announced aboutTales of the Shire, which is just one of the many mysteries about the title.
Some of the biggest questions potential players have been concerning how connectedTales of the Shirewill be to the greaterLord of the Ringscanon. There has been plenty of speculation abouta possible Gandalf cameo, and other fan-favorite characters, like Frodo and Sam, will hopefully be making an appearance. Despite the seemingly inevitable cameos from variousLord of the Ringscharacters, one underrated fixture in the series would be perfect forTales of the Shire; Shadowfax.
Tales of the Shire Including Shadowfax Would Be a Game Changer
Bringing Exciting Traversal to the Cozy Genre
Originally the horse of Theoden, the wild steed was eventually gifted to Gandalf.Shadowfax plays an important rolein the story ofThe Lord of the Ringsas Gandalf’s trusted companion, and including him inTales of the Shirecould be an exciting nod to the franchise. The cozy genre is usually known for its relaxed and low-effort gameplay, but including Shadowfax as an unlockable mount could bring a great change of pace to the calm life of Hobbits.
For players who level up their Hobbit to a high enough standing, gaining Shadowfax as a reward would not only be a great callback to an important character, but it would also make traversal in the game far more efficient. InThe Lord of the Ringslore, Shadowfax is known for his incredible speed. SinceTales of the Shireis supposed to be on the more tame side, the horse doesn’t exactly have to be as fast as a bullet, but it can at least serve as a way toget around the town of Bywatermuch easier.
InThe Lord of the Rings, Shadowfax is the only horse able to face the Lord of the Nazgûl during the Siege of Gondor.
When it comes toThe Lord of the Rings, there aren’t many creatures that could be acozy inclusion toTales of the Shire, but Shadowfax is the exception. Despite being a mighty and quick horse, Shadowfax is also a great help to Gandalf, which could easily make the steed a great companion for players in the game.
Tales of the Shire Featuring Deep Cut Characters
Shadowfax may not be the biggest deep cut character in allThe Lord of the Ringslore, but his name isn’t as commonly known as Frodo or Aragorn. However, including Shadowfax would be enough of a surprise to please many longtime fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s work while also introducing a great in-game companion to more casual fans. Run-ins with the likes of Merry and Pippin could be highly possible, but characters that aren’t expected could be even more fun. There are so many characters within the world ofThe Lord of the Ringsthat Weta Workshop could have a lot of fun mixing well-known faces with more underrated characters.
There are somehigh hopes forTales of the Shire, and hopefully, Weta Workshop can pull off its first foray into the gaming world. As the studio that helped Peter Jackson bringThe Lord of the Ringsto life on the big screen, Weta Workshop has definitely proven itself in the past. The prospect of stepping into the role of a Hobbit is a fantastic idea for a cozy life simulator, and plenty of surprise cameos are hopefully on the horizon, whether they be man or creature.
