Off the Shelf Media

In September 2020, Warner Bros. Games officially announced the release of Hogwarts Legacy, an open-world, role-playing game (RPG) set in the wonderful Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Most fans, also known as “Potterheads,” went feral over the news. At the time, I had already been contemplating getting a gaming PC. The game announcement was the final push I needed to commit. 

When it was announced, the game was initially set to release in 2021; however, citing development issues, the game was delayed to February 2023. It felt like another casualty of what has since become a disappointing trend in the gaming industry, as seen by the multiple delays of Rockstar Game’s GTA VI and Bethesda’s The Elder Scrolls VI, which was announced all the way back in 2018. 

Development delays weren’t the only headlines surrounding the game. There was controversy pre-launch as well, with fans advocating for a boycott of the game due to prior statements and sentiments shared by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling. 

In response to questions about Rowling’s involvement, the official FAQ webpage for the game says “J.K. Rowling was not involved in the creation of the game, but as creator of the wizarding world and one of the world’s greatest storytellers, her extraordinary body of writing is the foundation of all projects in the Wizarding World. This is not a new story from J.K. Rowling; however, we have collaborated closely with her team on all aspects of the game to ensure it remains in line with the magical experiences fans expect.”

Despite this public backlash, the game still went on to sell 12 million units in its first two weeks, and as of this review, has sold roughly 40 million copies to date. 

The Rowling controversy aside, the game is undoubtedly a financial success. But could it pave its own path away from the hype and controversy? Or would fans get a facelifted version of classics like Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone on PlayStation 2?

Gameplay: 2

Hogwarts Legacy is a true open-world game. On PC, the travel between Hogwarts and Hogsmeade, the Highlands, and more is seamless. Travel by foot, by broom, or even by Hippogriff as you traverse through a world that is both familiar and new for fans.  

At the start of the game, players are able to design their character and make choices that determine which Hogwarts House, and therefore which common rooms, the player will represent. 

The progression plays perfectly into the setting as well: you’re a fifth-year Hogwarts student. To unlock new spells and build experience, you have to attend class, of course! These spells, including Stupefy or the much-memed Revelio, contribute to both the combat and exploration pieces of the game. For instance, if you need to move a large boulder, players can choose to delicately remove it with Levioso. If gentle and quiet isn’t your style, you could try to blast it away with Bombarda. How you approach challenges or engage in battle is entirely based on your play style. 

It’s not simply about combat or exploration either; players can also grow and collect plant samples and materials to draft positions necessary for battle or for traveling around the map with ease. 

This game features a bit of everything: combat, exploration, puzzles, crafting, farming, mini-games, and more. Depending on the difficulty level you choose, you can play casually or with a greater challenge, allowing any type of player to make the game match their style and preference.  

My one true complaint is that this game does feature a bit too many fetch quests, and the items you collect naturally throughout exploring the world or by doing quests reach a plateau of helpfulness. That being said, the game does allow players to equip items with certain benefits, such as improved defense, while also visually equipping the visuals of other unlocked clothing items. You can have all the benefits of your items without looking like a mismatched lunatic. Groundbreaking! 

If I could add a wishlist item for the upcoming sequel, I think a companion system similar to many Bethesda titles like Fallout 4 or The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim would be a great addition. While you travel occasionally with a companion for certain quests, there are so many engaging characters to meet, but few ways to engage with them outside of the direct story. It isn’t enough of a want to detract from the overall play, but I think it would be a strong addition for any future additions to this series. 

Story: 2

The setting is in 1800s Hogwarts. The player is joining Hogwarts as a fifth-year student and is going to be mentored by Professor Eleazar Fig; however, it’s soon discovered that the player can wield Ancient Magic. To discover the reason behind this unique ability, the player embarks on a quest set by four former Hogwarts professors: Percival Rackham, Charles Rookwood, Niamh Fitzgerald, and San Bakar. Along the way, you’ll discover a dark plot to harness this ancient power for evil. 

Because of the franchise’s magical nature, the setting doesn’t change much, aside from the casual attire players can unlock and choose to equip. If anything, I would surmise that the date was chosen more so as a way to limit restrictions to the story and gameplay that could potentially create plot holes for the original books and movies. 

Players will see familiar surnames and places, of course, but don’t expect a cameo from Harry, Ron, or Hermione. 

Instead, Hogwarts Legacy introduces the player to a number of characters across the different Hogwarts houses with names that fans are sure to recognize, such as the ancestry of the houses Black and Diggery, and there’s even an appearance by Nearly Headless Nick. Red hair, hand-me-down robe. You already know there’s a Weasley or two in the mix. 

Nostalgia and familiarity aside, I think the developers truly created characters that emotionally engage the player. Sebastian Sallow, Anne Sallow, and Professor Fig all shine as original characters of the game. 

While the game is open-world, most of the decisions or choices do not impact the story directly until the conclusion. Since there is a sequel game in the works, it will be interesting to see how this is addressed in future games, if at all. 

When the game was first announced, jumping into this world in a new setting with new characters didn’t feel intriguing. However, after playing the game and seeing the title the developers envisioned, I think it was the right decision to make, only because the story worked. It could have easily backfired if the stakes felt too low, too high, or if we had met new characters that felt lifeless and dull. 

Many of the supporting characters, namely Sebastian, Ominous Gaunt, Poppy Sweeting, and Natsai Onai. I wish, however, that a friendship system could have been in place as a means to unlock more about their stories, but still, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment while playing, so I won’t be deducting any points.  

For me, truly, what secures the score for the story is the ending, but you’ll find no spoilers here. 

Atmosphere: 2

Hogwarts Legacy is everything you’d want from an immersive Harry Potter videogame. I really can’t complain about the atmosphere, and the graphics are top-notch in my view. 

Exploring the castle alone is fun. It’s also a large map, and you can easily find yourself getting turned around while traversing the castle, which is exactly what I’d expect to happen in that scenario. 

The music doesn’t get much more original than the films or even from walking around the Universal Parks for anyone who’s had the pleasure of going. Even if you aren’t a fan of Harry Potter, I don’t think you’d be disappointed by the world you’re given to explore. 

Value: 2

Priced at $59.99, this title with no discounts is not a steal by any means; however, with similar games now rising in price to $69.99 or even $79.99, it unfortunately makes this price tag seem even more worth it. 

If you feel that the value of a game should come from $1 per hour of gameplay, this one certainly meets that criteria. 

For a dedicated Potterhead, this game is a fair value at full price. If you can grab it even with a slight discount, it’s definitely worth it, though I wouldn’t say the same can be said for the Dark Arts Pack DLC, which is priced at $19.99 and primarily features cosmetic features (and only a few at that). 

Duration: 2

I have nearly 100 hours of gameplay on this title. However, I am on a mission to complete the achievements 100% and will be playing as each Hogwarts house to do so. If you’re looking to breeze through the main story, it only takes about 30 hours to complete. If you want to beat the story and complete all of the side quests without platinum running the game, you’re still going to get about 70 solid hours of playtime in. If, like me, you want to finish all of the achievements, expect to dedicate 100-120 hours. 

Another feature I really appreciate is that you can continue to engage with and play in the world even after beating the story, so you don’t have to worry about finishing all of the missions or securing all collectibles before jumping into the final battle. 

Though the story won’t change dramatically, certain choices made in the game will allow players to see different endings, so you may want to create different characters to unlock new areas or approach the game in different styles. For me, I played my first run-through as a Gryffindor and opted for the moral high ground. On my second playthrough, however, I’m playing as a Slytherin with absolutely zero regard for anyone else, so it’s a bit of a different experience. Both options have been enjoyable. 

Total Score: 10

For me, Hogwarts Legacy is a 10/10 title. Though I certainly have suggestions for a sequel, I genuinely enjoyed all of my time playing this game. 

It gave me everything I wanted and has really taken into consideration years of feedback from players on what they wanted out of similar games, such as the ability to further customize your player without sacrificing style or stats, and when following characters for missions, they even match your speed so you don’t need to move at a snail’s pace. These are small, inconsequential additions in the grand scheme of the game, but they really go a long way in creating a world that is enjoyable to be in. 

Though the lack of playable DLC is a tad disappointing, I hope it will mean that the developers are focusing on creating a top-notch sequel, though this first title will be hard to beat. 

What’s your wishlist for the upcoming Hogwarts Legacy sequel? Did the first game deserve a perfect score? Let us know in the comments and be sure to subscribe here and on our social channels for more.