Over the years, as the Harry Potter IP grew in recognition, the franchise has had its run in all types of content material, together with video video games. The most up-to-date title Hogwarts Legacy has been a serious success since its launch, however the video games haven’t all the time been such smash hits.
There have been recreation releases for at the least each film launched, with some being extra pleasant than others. The video games have branched into virtually each facet of the wizarding world, so listed here are all of the Harry Potter video games, ranked.
10. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One
While a special tackle the collection than the different video games had been, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part One was a darker, extra action-based recreation than what gamers have skilled. The drawback got here partially as a result of the collection is just not essentially suited to being a third-person shooter, however the theme of this recreation is nothing however Harry blasting away at all the things 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 in the film or the ebook. It may be fascinating if the recreation was used as a method to fill in a few of the gaps in the film, however as an alternative, the builders simply created some arbitrary missions with characters from the film to assail with spells.
The recreation simply doesn’t play like a Harry Potter recreation, apart from the indisputable fact that the characters shout phrases like “Horcrux” and Voldemort from time to time. Luckily the music continues to be simply as nice because it was for the previous couple of video games, however the feeling of exploration and magic was basically misplaced. It simply makes you need to return to Hogwarts, however I assume if Harry might discuss to us he could be saying the identical factor.
9. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two
Following in the footsteps of its predecessor, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 is equally as uninspired as Part One had turned out to be. The predominant mechanic of the recreation is simply aiming and blasting, which even nonetheless doesn’t carry a lot emotion as a result of the recreation does quite a lot of auto-locking for you. You simply purpose your cursor the place you need magic to doubtlessly go, and blast as quickly as you presumably can.
While the story follows the identical common story as the film, there isn’t a lot that isn’t wildly distorted and abridged. Cutscenes merely toss data 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 recreation as different characters than Harry, however loads of it turns into extra filler than precise story content material.
As far as the remainder of the video games go, Deathly Hallows Part 2 looks like considered one of the much less polished titles, however that’s seemingly received loads to do with how the ebook was cut up up into two completely different films. There was lots in the books that might’ve been tapped into, comparable to how Peeves was by no means in the films however they integrated him into the earlier video games. Whether it was a time concern 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 in the collection appeared to be the level at which the video games began to fall off somewhat bit. While there have been some technological enhancements like extra correct facial scans for the characters and a brand new physics system, these new parts aren’t the most well-refined. The story received a bit distorted with how they create the participant between plot factors, and total the gameplay expertise was a bit missing. It’s good that a few of the precise movie forged like Rupert Grint voiced their characters in the recreation, making for some nice continuity.
The physics system was slightly jittery, inflicting objects and folks’s arms to flap wildly relying on how they wound up oriented. The spellcasting was somewhat onerous to deal with, with every spell being sure extra to gestures than to a given button press. Luckily, the fort continues to be free to be explored, with loads of secrets and techniques and collectibles hidden round to add some additional depth to the recreation and the method the world feels.
What may very well be thought of a saving grace for the recreation was the minigames, which added some enjoyable methods to spend somewhat additional time apart from following the story or exploring the fort. You might play Wizard’s Chess, Gobstones, or exploding snap, which might distract from however not make up for a few of the remainder of the recreation’s flaws. Still, one thing should be stated for a recreation attempting to incorporate new parts the place there hadn’t been room for them prior.
7. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
When it comes to which of the predominant Harry Potter video games I put the most hours into, the reply is with out query Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. This has much less to do with how a lot I loved the recreation however with each the recreation’s size and problem in contrast to the prior three. It wasn’t onerous in a method 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 recreation.
The fourth entry remained in third-person however pulled the digicam again a bit to accommodate extra on the display screen directly. There was extra to discover in the atmosphere, however you may additionally play with two different individuals as the predominant three, which was a technical step up from the different video games. In the first three video games, to forged spells you solely had to press a single button and the recreation would select the spell for you, however the fourth recreation put the spell selection in the gamers’ arms.
Playing the recreation required extra focus and a spotlight than the different titles had beforehand, with the gamers having to make extra difficult choices, resolve bigger puzzles, and discover extra expansive areas in the world. The enemies have been more durable to beat than ever earlier than, however the feeling of doing so wasn’t as rewarding as you’ll hope. Unfortunately, the total gameplay was a bit clunky, the spellcasting wasn’t satisfying and a few factors have been so dry that I simply needed the recreation to finish.
6. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Further 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 first two, incorporating a type of quick journey, extra challenges and extra collectibles. The video games usually have a tendency to stray from the particulars of the precise books and flicks in some regards, however curiously, they may incorporate characters and particulars from the books that weren’t introduced up in the movies.
An instance of that is Peeves the Poltergeist, who doesn’t make any appearances in the movies however performs a big position in the books and video games. He usually has to do with the collectibles or quick journey methods, so it’s a kind of additional options added in to flesh the video games out somewhat bit higher. The third recreation incorporates all three of the predominant characters as being playable to a small extent, however multiplayer capabilities nonetheless weren’t in a spot the place you may play with your folks.
The Prisoner of Azkaban recreation integrated some enjoyable new Hippogriff flying minigames, and it additionally massively improved upon the different video games from a technical and graphical perspective. The characters are a bit extra vigorous, 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 some extent the place it felt a bit repetitive, between the dueling and minigames, however the first few occasions you probably did them, they have been pleasant and artistic.
I performed this one on the Wii, and it should’ve been simply the proper time to accomplish that 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 recreation, 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 recreation really feel thrilling and fast-paced — greater than a few of the fight.
Another spotlight is the music in the recreation, by no means supplying you with a second to really feel such as you’re enjoying something apart from a Harry Potter recreation. Some 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 predominant actors lend their voice to the challenge, however a few of the ones which are fill-ins do go away one thing to be desired.
4. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s/Philosopher’s Stone
Released in 2001, it’s a bit onerous to look again at the first Harry Potter recreation in the franchise and never see its age instantly. The graphics are blocky, the animations are dated and the sound high quality isn’t the most pleasant, however while you take a look at the total gameplay, there’s lots to be happy with. You get to study many alternative spells, discover a surprisingly in-depth Hogwarts, and even fly on a broomstick.
Looking again at the recreation flooded me with recollections of seeing cutscenes, however greater than something I used to be struck by the three or so completely different variations of claiming every spell, and boy do they get grating after some time. I can’t think about how dad and mom should’ve felt listening to screams of “Flipendo!” and “Alohamora!” in any respect hours of the day, however at the least they may sleep effectively realizing that they received their youngsters a recreation that’ll entertain them for hours.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is easy but rewarding, and whereas made for teenagers, it’s an ideal first step into the realm of gaming provided that it got here out immediately alongside the film. There was no assure it could do effectively 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
Serving as a technical improve from the first recreation, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets 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 first recreation, and the total gameplay expertise is extra refined than the Sorcerer’s Stone.
Certain facets of the recreation grew to become extra advanced from the Socerer’s Stone recreation, like the spellcasting QTEs altering from drawing a logo to urgent arrows alongside the path of a logo. This is probably going to quell a few of the frustrations the first recreation instilled, however it additionally provides the impression that the video games are maturing together with the characters.
Because it seemed so a lot better than the first recreation in the collection, Electronic Arts wound up remastering the first recreation in 2003, with extra belongings and technical options that have been launched in the second recreation. Playing by means of Chamber of Secrets might be the place I developed my compulsion to break 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 Every Flavour Beans.
2. Hogwarts Legacy
The latest installment in the Harry Potter collection of video games does what hasn’t been carried out earlier than, being that it has nothing to do with Harry or the normal forged of characters. The recreation takes place lengthy earlier than the occasions of the books and movies, that means that you just get to discover the world of Hogwarts with out having the strain of saving the world in your again. Sure, you’ve received some huge priorities alongside your classwork, however they pale as compared to being the Boy Who Lived.
Getting to discover the grounds and the fort is all the things that I’ve all the time needed to do as a fan, however the earlier video games have been restricted. Obviously, in 2003 it merely wasn’t doable for video games to be what Hogwarts Legacy is right this moment, however fortunately I used to be ready to maintain out till 2023 — or slightly the yr after — to get the expertise I all the time needed. The map is huge and inclusive, and having the ability to journey mounts or brooms makes getting round a breeze. That and the floo powder.
Having the freedom 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, that means that you’ve some concept what you’re doing, however you continue to have a lot to discover and so many individuals to discuss to, uncovering a few of the secrets and techniques of the atmosphere. Even for somebody who’s not a Harry Potter fan, there generally is a lot to love simply exploring the world with recent eyes.
1. Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
When it comes down to all of the Harry Potter video games, the one which I’ve sunk the most hours into is the one which feels the most replayable: Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup. The predominant tie to the franchise is that you just begin in Hogwarts, however when you’ve conquered the faculty 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 loads to unpack. The PC controls are actually not the most intuitive, however a controller may help to regular your broomstick as you soar by means of the completely different positions on the Quidditch pitch. You’ll play as a Chaser, Seeker, Beater and Keeper, and every has challenges for you to overcome. Each place is various and completely different, and it provides you an excellent degree of selection that drives the replayability of the recreation.
Although I performed the recreation at a time earlier than E-Sports rose to recognition, whilst a toddler I discovered myself drilling the challenges till I received them proper. I might play recreation after recreation till I beat each group in the faculty and on the world stage, despite the fact that I wasn’t incomes achievements for doing so. The recreation 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 provides it the prime spot on the record.
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