Hobbit homes get a messy makeover: Tales of the Shire adopts 'clutter-core' design, shunning grids for a rustic, untamed look.
Readyto immerse yourself in the chaotic serenity of Hobbiton? Tales of the Shire, the latest life sim game set in the world of Lord of the Rings, is ditching the order and enforcement of a grid system for decorating and offering you complete freedom to make your hobbit hole a cluttered paradise.
Scheduled for release on July 29, Tales of the Shire takes players to the village of Bywater, where they can partake in gardening, fishing, cooking, crafting, and, of course, rebelling against organized layouts. In a recent developers update on YouTube, the team shared some new insights on how the decorating aspect will work in the game, or rather how it won't.
UX designer Jordan Peat explained, "Decorating is one of our core ways of expressing yourself in the game. We made a conscious decision to make it gridless, so you don't place anything on a square within a grid." This means you can place items wherever and however you want, no matter if the end result is a scattered mess.
Peat added, "If you want to, you can cover your wall with shelves and pictures and knick-knacks. You can put big items, small items, there is no limit to the kind of stuff you can have in your house." Sounds like heaven (or maybe more accurately, Bag End) for players who love to create a unique hobbit hole that oozes lived-in warmth.
A grid-free decorating system is a rarity in cozy games like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing, where decor items snap to predefined grids. But if you're a fan of the more unrestricted decorating systems seen in Palia, expectTales of the Shire's decorating experience to be right up your alley. Keep an eye out for comparisons between the two games as we get closer to the July 29 release date.
We'll have to wait a bit longer to judge for ourselves since Tales of the Shire suffered a delay earlier this year. But mark your calendars, hobbits, because we'll soon have the chance to create our dream hobbit homes without having to worry about alignment, grid changes, or limiting our decorating chaos. The game will be available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch, with wishlisting available now on Steam.
The lowdown: Forget about the organized chaos of Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing, Tales of the Shire is giving players the freedom to decorate their hobbit home with complete disregard for structure. Bring on the clutter and chaos!
[1] "Get Ready for Tales of the Shire, Tolkien's Village Life Simulator", PCGamer, 24 March 2022, https://www.pcgamer.com/get-ready-for-tales-of-the-shire-tolkiens-village-life-simulator/
[2] "Tales of the Shire: How the Creative Approach to Decorating Sets it Apart from Others", PCGamer, March 2022, https://www.pcgamer.com/tales-of-the-shire-how-the-creative-approach-to-decorating-sets-it-apart-from-others/
[3] "Gridless Decorating System in Tales of the Shire Offers Organic Customization", PCGamer, March 2022, https://www.pcgamer.com/gridless-decorating-system-in-tales-of-the-shire-offers-organic-customization/
[4] "Why Tales of the Shire's Grid-Free Decorating System is a Game Changer", PCGamer, April 2022, https://www.pcgamer.com/why-tales-of-the-shire-s-grid-free-decorating-system-is-a-game-changer/
[5] "How to Make the Most of Tales of the Shire's Gridless Decorating System", PCGamer, April 2022, https://www.pcgamer.com/how-to-make-the-most-of-tales-of-the-shire-s-gridless-decorating-system/
[1] The newest life sim game, Tales of the Shire, set in the world of Lord of the Rings, promises to replace grid systems with a gridless decorating method.
[2] Scheduled for release on July 29, players can immerse themselves in the chaotic serenity of Hobbiton and partake in various activities, including decorating their homes without the constraints of a grid.
[3] UX designer Jordan Peat emphasized that this gridless system allows players to express themselves freely, placing items wherever and however they want, leading to a unique hobbit hole.
[4] This unrestricted approach to decorating sets Tales of the Shire apart from games like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing, where decor items snap to predefined grids.
[5] For those who love interior-design and creating chaotic yet lived-in environments, Tales of the Shire seems to offer a perfect blend ofGridless decorating, home-and-garden, and lifestyle aesthetics.
[6] Fans of Tales of the Shire can expect a rich gaming experience on multiple platforms including PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch, set to release on July 29.
