Tales of the Shire Would Be Wise to Take One Page From Hello Kitty Island Adventure’s Playbook

Tales of the Shire has been compared to every farming game and cozy life simulator out there, from Animal Crossing to Stardew Valley. But it would be wise for the game to draw inspiration from one title in particular: Hello Kitty Island Adventure. This Sanrio-based life simulator integrates its characters deeply into the game’s story, by tying abilities and customization options to raising the characters’ friendship levels, and Tales of the Shire could use a similar approach to encourage players to engage with its large cast of friendly hobbits.

Tales of the Shire’s Gardening Could Be Its Secret Weapon

Tales of the Shire’s gardening system forms the heart of it and may stand apart as it draws inspiration from Tolkien’s love of nature.

Hello Kitty Island Adventure Encourages Building Friendship Via Companion Abilities

Each of the Sanrio characters present in Hello Kitty Island Adventure, from Hello Kitty herself to Big Challenges, the Little Twin Stars, and the recently added Usahana, has multiple abilities that players can unlock by raising their friendship level. As examples, Pochacco can help the player character run faster, Chococat makes crafting easier, and Badtz-Maru helps out with mini-games. As these abilities can only be unlocked through friendship, players are encouraged to give characters gifts and complete their quests every day in order to gain access to them.

In addition, many types of character and item customization are also unlocked through leveling up friendship. Tuxedosam, who runs the clothing shop, gives players the ability to dye their clothing, while My Sweet Piano lets them dye furniture. Characters also gift the player with outfits and furniture items related to them, such as a red bow from Hello Kitty, workout clothes from Pochacco, or a detective outfit from the mystery-loving Badtz-Maru. Players can wear these outfits and add the furniture items that they receive to Visitor Cabins to encourage even more Sanrio characters to move to Friendship Island.

Tales Of The Shire Would Benefit From a Similar Character Focus

Tales of the Shire will likely feature a large cast of hobbits for players to befriend. Hobbit society is extremely communal and friendly, and the player will have several neighbors that they can get to know, assist by completing quests, and invite to dinner parties at their very own customizable hobbit hole. Developer Weta Workshop has hinted that completing quests will unlock a variety of rewards, including clothing and furniture items themed around each of the hobbit characters.

The game would do well to also allow players to unlock mechanics and customization options by befriending other hobbits. Just like in Hello Kitty Island Adventure, getting to know a particular hobbit neighbor could unlock a clothing set based on the one they themselves wear. Or perhaps it could lead to the ability to dye said clothing, or new recipes for the kitchen, or a new fishing technique. Ideally, characters will also offer quests for the player to complete once they get to know them better. This could work should Tales of the Shire feature returning characters as well: players could, for example, get to know Gandalf and then learn how to set off fireworks at a party they throw for their hobbit friends.

Ultimately, Tales of the Shire would benefit by not drawing just from its Lord of the Rings inspiration, but from other titles within the cozy genre. Looking to the likes of Hello Kitty Island Adventure, Animal Crossing, Stardew Valley, and more would help create a game that will appeal to cozy gamers and encourage hundreds of hours of play time farming, fishing, cooking, customizing hobbit holes, and more. Unlocking items and mechanics by befriending various hobbits dwelling in the Shire is just one way that Tales of the Shire could draw from the cozy games that came before it while also creating something new.