Though its quests may be a little mundane and its gameplay mechanics may not be the most in-depth,Tales of the Shiredoesn’t disappoint when it comes to Easter eggs and references pertaining to the wider world of Middle-earth. Set in Bywater, an up-and-coming village that neighbors Hobbiton,Tales of the Shirehas both clear and subtle references toThe Lord of the Ringstrilogy, many of which revolve around the series' iconic cast of heroes.
Though it may seem sprawling to a Hobbit, the Shire isn’t all that large, and its inhabitants know one another quite intimately. As such, much ofTales of the Shire’s cast of colorful characters have direct connections toThe Lord of the Rings' roster, with some being just one family member removed from the Fellowship of the Ring itself.
Every Lord of the Rings Character Cameo and Reference in Tales of the Shire
Gandalf
Tales of the Shirebegins with Gandalf the Grey waking the game’s player-character. The ancient Istari guides the player toward their new home of Bywater and promises they’ll be back to check up on them, probably when they least expect it. Without spoiling the exact details, Gandalf stays true to his word, and appears several more times duringTales of the Shire’s main questline.
Rosie Cotton
Another one ofTales of the Shire’s more direct connections toThe Lord of the Rings, Rosie Cotton appears as one of the game’s 15 villagers. Rosie becomes a pivotal figure inTales of the Shire’s gameplay loop, with her heading up the gardening social club. Of course, Rosie goes on to marry Samwise Gamgee after he returns from his quest to destroy the One Ring. While her parents, Tom and Lily, both appear inTales of the Shire, her brother Young Tom is the only one of her four siblings to appear in-game.
Samwise Gamgee
Though he doesn’t appear in person, Samwise Gamgee is mentioned overtly a few times inTales of the Shire. One of the most prominent references is when Rosie says she’s been exchanging letters with a Gamgee boy from Hobbiton named Sam.
Bilbo Baggins
Set in the Third Age, sometime betweenThe HobbitandThe Lord of the Rings,Tales of the Shiremakes a few references to Bilbo Baggins, who’s settled back down in Hobbiton following his daring adventure to the Lonely Mountain. Gandalf mentions a Hobbit from Hobbiton who makes maps, and the shopkeepers Nora and Fosco Burrows mention that Bilbo occasionally lends them books.
The Tooks
As mentioned up top, the Shire is not a huge place, and that means one doesn’t need to go far before they stumble into some kind of relative.Tales of the Shire’s Bywater is home to a few Hobbits who are related toThe Lord of the Rings' castin one way or another. Willow and Daisy Took, for instance, are related to Peregrin “Pippin” Took.
The Brandybucks
Tales of the Shire’s resident forager, Delphinium, is also related to the Fellowship of the Ring, with her being a Brandybuck likeLord of the Rings' Meriadoc. Delphinium even mentions Merimac Brandybuck by name, who’s Merry’s uncle and a fellow Buckland dweller.
Smaug
On top ofLord of the Ringscharacters,Tales of the Shiremakes a few references to some of the franchise’s most important locations. Nefi, a dwarf who runs Bywater’s forge, makes a comment about their homeland, Khazad-dum, which is located in the heart of the Misty Mountains. Nefi also mentions the Lonely Mountain, which is the focal point of Bilbo and the dwarves' quest inThe Hobbit, and the resting place of the dragon Smaug.
