Through the years, because the Harry Potter IP grew in reputation, the franchise has had its run in all types of content material, together with video video games. The latest title Hogwarts Legacy has been a significant success since its launch, however the video games haven’t all the time been such smash hits.
There have been recreation releases for no less than each film launched, with some being extra satisfying than others. The video games have branched into nearly each facet of the wizarding world, so listed below are the entire Harry Potter video games, ranked.
10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Half One
Whereas a special tackle the collection than the opposite video games had been, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Half One was a darker, extra action-based recreation than what gamers have skilled. The issue got here partially as a result of the collection isn’t essentially suited to being a third-person shooter, however the theme of this recreation is nothing however Harry blasting away at all the pieces that strikes.
There are actually some fascinating mechanics launched like utilizing Polyjuice Potion and the Invisibility Cloak for stealth sections, however the recreation’s missions don’t observe what occurred within the film or the guide. It may be attention-grabbing if the sport was used as a approach to fill in a few of the gaps within the film, however as a substitute, the builders simply created some arbitrary missions with characters from the film to assail with spells.
The sport simply doesn’t play like a Harry Potter recreation, aside from the truth that the characters shout phrases like “Horcrux” and Voldemort once in a while. Fortunately the music remains to be simply as nice because it was for the previous couple of video games, however the feeling of exploration and magic was primarily misplaced. It simply makes you wish to return to Hogwarts, however I assume if Harry may discuss to us he can be saying the identical factor.
9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Half Two
Following within the footsteps of its predecessor, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Half 2 is equally as uninspired as Half One had turned out to be. The primary mechanic of the sport is simply aiming and blasting, which even nonetheless doesn’t carry a lot emotion as a result of the sport does a substantial amount of auto-locking for you. You simply goal your cursor the place you need magic to probably go, and blast as quickly as you presumably can.
Whereas the story follows the identical normal story because the film, there isn’t a lot that isn’t wildly distorted and abridged. Cutscenes merely toss info at you, and there’s not a lot creativity in how they ship the plot factors. You do get to play some a part of the sport as different characters than Harry, however lots of it turns into extra filler than precise story content material.
So far as the remainder of the video games go, Deathly Hallows Half 2 appears like one of many much less polished titles, however that’s doubtless obtained so much to do with how the guide was cut up up into two totally different motion pictures. There was loads within the books that might’ve been tapped into, much like how Peeves was by no means within the motion pictures however they included him into the sooner video games. Whether or not it was a time situation or simply questionable writing, watching the film will present a greater expertise than attempting to play by means of it.
8. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
The fifth recreation within the collection appeared to be the purpose at which the video games began to fall off a little bit bit. Whereas there have been some technological enhancements like extra correct facial scans for the characters and a brand new physics system, these new parts should not probably the most well-refined. The story obtained a bit distorted with how they create the participant between plot factors, and general the gameplay expertise was a bit missing. It’s good that a few of the precise movie solid like Rupert Grint voiced their characters within the recreation, making for some nice continuity.
The physics system was somewhat jittery, inflicting objects and other people’s arms to flap wildly relying on how they wound up oriented. The spellcasting was a little bit onerous to deal with, with every spell being certain extra to gestures than to a given button press. Fortunately, the fortress remains to be free to be explored, with loads of secrets and techniques and collectibles hidden round so as to add some further depth to the sport and the way in which the world feels.
What might be thought of a saving grace for the sport was the minigames, which added some enjoyable methods to spend a little bit further time aside from following the story or exploring the fortress. You could possibly play Wizard’s Chess, Gobstones, or exploding snap, which may distract from however not make up for a few of the remainder of the sport’s flaws. Nonetheless, one thing should be mentioned for a recreation attempting to include new parts the place there hadn’t been room for them prior.
7. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fireplace
Relating to which of the primary Harry Potter video games I put probably the most hours into, the reply is with out query Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fireplace. This has much less to do with how a lot I loved the sport however with each the sport’s size and issue in comparison with the prior three. It wasn’t onerous in a approach that’s unbeatable by any means, however there are some odd options like having card slots for every character that made it a bit robust to get totally into the sport.
The fourth entry remained in third-person however pulled the digital camera again a bit to accommodate extra on the display directly. There was extra to discover within the atmosphere, however you might additionally play with two different folks as the primary three, which was a technical step up from the opposite video games. Within the first three video games, to solid spells you solely needed to press a single button and the sport would select the spell for you, however the fourth recreation put the spell alternative within the gamers’ fingers.
Enjoying the sport required extra focus and a spotlight than the opposite titles had beforehand, with the gamers having to make extra difficult choices, clear up bigger puzzles, and discover extra expansive places on the earth. The enemies have been more durable to beat than ever earlier than, however the feeling of doing so wasn’t as rewarding as you’d hope. Sadly, the general gameplay was a bit clunky, the spellcasting wasn’t satisfying and a few factors have been so dry that I simply wished the sport to finish.
6. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Additional persevering with with the evolution of the video games to that time, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was a way more concerned title than the primary two, incorporating a type of quick journey, extra challenges and extra collectibles. The video games usually are inclined to stray from the small print of the particular books and films in some regards, however apparently, they may incorporate characters and particulars from the books that weren’t introduced up within the movies.
An instance of that is Peeves the Poltergeist, who doesn’t make any appearances within the movies however performs a big function within the books and video games. He usually has to do with the collectibles or quick journey methods, so it’s a kind of further options added in to flesh the video games out a little bit bit higher. The third recreation incorporates all three of the primary characters as being playable to a small extent, however multiplayer capabilities nonetheless weren’t in a spot the place you might play with your folks.
The Prisoner of Azkaban recreation included some enjoyable new Hippogriff flying minigames, and it additionally massively improved upon the opposite video games from a technical and graphical perspective. The characters are a bit extra full of life, the voice actors have extra enthusiasm and the music makes the expertise really feel rather more well-rounded and thrilling.
5. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
After the relative disappointment of the Order of the Phoenix recreation, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was a surprisingly good time. After some time of enjoying it, there got here a degree the place it felt a bit repetitive, between the dueling and minigames, however the first few instances you probably did them, they have been satisfying and inventive.
I performed this one on the Wii, and it should’ve been simply the proper time to take action as a result of it did for a second seize that feeling of waving a wand. That feeling didn’t all the time carry by means of for the remainder of the sport, however the potion-making minigames have been a few of the most memorable by far with that management scheme. The Quidditch sections are additionally a blast, making the sport really feel thrilling and fast-paced — greater than a few of the fight.
One other spotlight is the music within the recreation, by no means supplying you with a second to really feel such as you’re enjoying something aside from a Harry Potter recreation. A number of the setpieces are intelligent and fall proper into place with the world, even when they’re not a one-to-one recreation of the movies that they’re primarily based on. As all the time although, it’s good to have a few of the primary actors lend their voice to the venture, however a few of the ones which can be fill-ins do go away one thing to be desired.
4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s/Thinker’s Stone
Launched in 2001, it’s a bit onerous to look again on the first Harry Potter recreation within the franchise and never see its age instantly. The graphics are blocky, the animations are dated and the sound high quality isn’t probably the most satisfying, however if you take a look at the general gameplay, there’s loads to be happy with. You get to be taught many alternative spells, discover a surprisingly in-depth Hogwarts, and even fly on a broomstick.
Trying again on the recreation flooded me with reminiscences of seeing cutscenes, however greater than something I used to be struck by the three or so totally different variations of claiming every spell, and boy do they get grating after some time. I can’t think about how mother and father should’ve felt listening to screams of “Flipendo!” and “Alohamora!” in any respect hours of the day, however no less than they may sleep nicely realizing that they obtained their youngsters a recreation that’ll entertain them for hours.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is straightforward but rewarding, and whereas made for teenagers, it’s an amazing first step into the realm of gaming provided that it got here out instantly alongside the film. There was no assure it will do nicely in any respect, however the recreation was moderately well-received and offered sufficient copies to justify making a recreation for each single different movie launch, and many extra.
3. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and techniques
Serving as a technical improve from the primary recreation, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and techniques smoothed up a few of the textures and refined different quality-of-life issues like sound high quality and voice performing. There are extra collectibles than the primary recreation, and the general gameplay expertise is extra refined than the Sorcerer’s Stone.
Sure features of the sport turned extra developed from the Socerer’s Stone recreation, just like the spellcasting QTEs altering from drawing a logo to urgent arrows alongside the trail of a logo. That is more likely to quell a few of the frustrations the primary recreation instilled, nevertheless it additionally gives the look that the video games are maturing together with the characters.
As a result of it regarded so significantly better than the primary recreation within the collection, Digital Arts wound up remastering the primary recreation in 2003, with extra property and technical options that have been launched within the second recreation. Enjoying by means of Chamber of Secrets and techniques might be the place I developed my compulsion to interrupt and work together with each single merchandise in no matter recreation I’m enjoying as a result of I grew so used to incomes numerous Bertie Botts Each Flavour Beans.
2. Hogwarts Legacy
The latest installment within the Harry Potter collection of video games does what hasn’t been finished earlier than, being that it has nothing to do with Harry or the usual solid of characters. The sport takes place lengthy earlier than the occasions of the books and movies, which means that you simply get to discover the world of Hogwarts with out having the strain of saving the world in your again. Positive, you’ve obtained some massive priorities alongside your classwork, however they pale compared to being the Boy Who Lived.
Attending to discover the grounds and the fortress is all the pieces that I’ve all the time wished to do as a fan, however the earlier video games have been restricted. Clearly, in 2003 it merely wasn’t doable for video games to be what Hogwarts Legacy is immediately, however fortunately I used to be in a position to maintain out till 2023 — or somewhat the yr after — to get the expertise I all the time wished. The map is huge and inclusive, and having the ability to trip mounts or brooms makes getting round a breeze. That and the floo powder.
Having the liberty of being a scholar makes the entire world really feel prefer it’s one thing you may be part of. You aren’t a first-year, which means that you’ve got some thought what you’re doing, however you continue to have a lot to discover and so many individuals to speak to, uncovering a few of the secrets and techniques of the atmosphere. Even for somebody who’s not a Harry Potter fan, there is usually a lot to like simply exploring the world with recent eyes.
1. Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
When it comes all the way down to the entire Harry Potter video games, the one which I’ve sunk probably the most hours into is the one which feels probably the most replayable: Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup. The primary tie to the franchise is that you simply begin in Hogwarts, however when you’ve conquered the college you’ll have the entire world to tackle. Weirdly, it performs like a sports activities recreation whereas managing to grasp the magic of the universe and permit you.
For a recreation launched in 2003, there’s so much to unpack. The PC controls are actually not probably the most intuitive, however a controller may also help to regular your broomstick as you soar by means of the totally different positions on the Quidditch pitch. You’ll play as a Chaser, Seeker, Beater and Keeper, and every has challenges so that you can overcome. Every place is numerous and totally different, and it offers you a superb degree of selection that drives the replayability of the sport.
Though I performed the sport at a time earlier than E-Sports activities rose to reputation, at the same time as a baby I discovered myself drilling the challenges till I obtained them proper. I might play recreation after recreation till I beat each crew within the college and on the world stage, though I wasn’t incomes achievements for doing so. The sport feels dynamic and alive, and after downloading a duplicate in 2024 to see the way it feels, it nonetheless holds up over 20 years later which supplies it the highest spot on the checklist.