Summary
Tales of the Shire, Weta Workshop’s upcoming cozy life sim, places players in the bare-footed shoes of a Hobbit to live out their contented lives in the Shire’s growing village of Bywater. Set in theLord of the Ringsuniverse,Tales of the Shiresees players participating in several different relaxing activities, much like those found in other cozy games likeStardew ValleyandAnimal Crossing. Based on what has been revealed so far, players will encounter various iconic characters fromThe Lord of the Rings, though the context of these encounters is not yet confirmed. Still, it’s at least bound to be a fulfilling bit of fan service for longtimeLord of the Ringsenthusiasts.
Weta Workshop hasn’t confirmed whichLord of the Ringscharactersplayers will encounter during their time inTales of the Shire, only that they will be “iconic characters and familiar Hobbit families” that players can “trade for upgrades to skills, clothes, homes, and more.” The fact that the developer has noted that players will encounter both “iconic characters” and “familiar Hobbit families” separately suggests there will be more than just Hobbits visiting Bywater. As such, this opens up the possibility for one very famousLord of the Ringscharacter to make an unexpected appearance, even if it is just for a brief cameo.
Gandalf Seems Like a Shoo-In for Tales of the Shire’s Cast of Iconic Characters
Gandalf Is One of The Lord of the Rings' Most Recognizable Characters
Since the premiere of Peter Jackson’s firstLord of the Ringsfilm,The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf has been one of the franchise’s most recognizable characters. WhiletheLord of the Ringsbookspainted a picture of Gandalf that hardcore fans would know, the films effortlessly made Gandalf a familiar face inThe Lord of the Ringsuniverse, although Elijah Wood’s Frodo Baggins might be up there as well. Given Gandalf’s renown and popularity, it would only make sense for the iconic wizard to make an appearance inTales of the Shire.
While a brief cameo from Gandalf might suffice, it may make even more sense from a lore standpoint to see the wizard making frequent visits toTales of the Shire’s Bywater.
Canonically, Gandalf is very fond of Hobbits and has a comfortably casual relationship with them, especially in comparison to his relationships with many other races. Gandalf has been known to regularly visit Hobbits over the centuries, bringing them new stories to tell and magical fireworks displays to show off. Based on the trailer forTales of the Shire, there may be plenty of parties and festivals for players to attend in the game, which simultaneously increases the chances of a visit from Gandalf, as he could supply the fireworks.
Gandalf Seems to Have Appeared in Tales of the Shire’s Trailer
Tales of the Shire’s trailer is very informative about the game, including details about what players' daily lives will look like and what they can expect from its gameplay. However, some of the information provided is rather cryptic — namely, that it seemsGandalf may have appearednear the end of the trailer.
As the trailer begins coming to a close, a wizard bathed in violet light is seen from the back. Though it can’t be confirmed without the developer’s endorsement, it seems only natural that it would be Gandalf himself, especially given that it appears he is standing right in the middle of a festival of some kind, and it’s likely Gandalf’s voice narrating the entire trailer.
As such, it might not be too far-fetched for players to expect visits from Gandalf, and those visits might even be more likely to happen when parties are being held in Bywater. Still, it would probably be best for fans to manage their expectations well, asTales of the Shire’s most iconic appearancesare still up in the air.
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.
