A good cozy game ideally provides a low-stress gaming experience where players do not feel pressured by limiting factors like time or strict rules. Cozy hobbit life simulatorTales of the Shireis no exception, as the team at Weta Workshop wanted to make the game a relaxing experience for its players.
As a result,Tales of the Shire’shome decoration mode operates using a philosophy of complete freedom; players decorate their hobbit holes using a grid-free system and can put (almost) any item in any room or even outside. In an interview with Game Rant, game designer Catherine Boothshared some of the challenges and triumphs of creating a grid-free design system and giving players as much freedom as possible when it comes to decorating their hobbit holes. She also expressed that she and the rest of the Weta Workshop team are excited to see players' decorative creations shared with them once the game comes out.
How Tales of the Shire’s Hobbit Holes Provided Artistic Challenges
Hobbit holes are famously round. This proved a bit of a challenge for the team, Booth revealed, as they wantedTales of the Shire’shobbit holes to be lore-accurate.
With awide variety of paintings and other wall decorationsfor players to unlock,Tales of the Shireboasts a ton of customization, even in spaces that are oddly shaped. When asked about challenges faced when creating a grid-free system, Booth wanted to ensure that “paintings or things that go on the wall snap nicely onto the wall without clipping through it” given that hobbit holes are circular.
Tales of the Shire Players Can Truly Make Hobbit Holes Their Own
Players have total freedom about what goes where in their hobbit holes. Booth described seeing other team members' decoration choices and comparing them to her own: “It’s like a different game.” Without the confinement of a grid, players can put items nearly anywhere, including stacking them on top of one another, in order forTales of the Shirehobbit holesto achieve a cluttered, homey aesthetic without devolving into total chaos.
Very few items are exclusive to indoor or outdoor furnishings and the few that are, such as flowerbeds, are limited solely for practical reasons. Booth outlined just how much freedom players will have inTales of the Shire’shome decoration mode:
“you’re able to bring most of your items outside. There’s obviously indoor furniture sets, but there’s outdoor furniture as well. You can have your deck chair and stuff. It’s really fun to see people in that “Wow!” moment where they’re decorating indoors, and then you just go, “Okay, I’ll pick up that rug and just walk outside.”
“Anything can go in any room. you’re able to have your bed in the kitchen if you want … You can put your table outside. You can even put your bed outside!”
The result is a low-pressure, extremely expansive decoration mode thatTales of the Shire’splayers will certainly enjoy exploring fully when the game launches. Booth describes Weta Workshop’s approach to home decoration as different from what has been seen in previouscozy games such asAnimal CrossingorStardew Valleyand is excited to see players make unique, fully customized hobbit holes to populate one of fantasy fiction’s most iconic locations—the comfortable and welcoming Shire.
