Best Harry Potter Games

Ever since the original novels and the films rose to popularity, everyone has imagined wielding a wand just like Harry Potter. Well, with the movies being mega-blockbusters, video game tie-ins were inevitable. As a result, there have been seemingly endless amounts of Harry Potter games.

Hogwarts Legacy attracted a lot of attention as it seemed to be the Harry Potter game that everyone had been waiting for, and Avalanche’s RPG debuted to largely positive reviews. However, is it the best Harry Potter game released thus far?

Updated September 18, 2023 by Mark Sammut:Harry Potter games are almost a yearly occurrence, even if most of the license’s releases are for mobile devices. Hogwarts Legacy has been out for more than 6 months, and the ambitious game is set to launch on the Nintendo Switch in November 2023.

11 Harry Potter And The Goblet of Fire

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was developed by EA and released in November 2005. The game made the divisive decision of not letting players freely explore Hogwarts, a beloved feature of the previous games that had been key to their success. Instead, Goblet of Fire offered a series of action-oriented levels.

Although many people were against this change at first, people grew to appreciate Goblet of Fire for what it did offer. Its seamless couch co-op was considered one of its best features.

10 Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery

Want to experience being a student at Hogwarts but don’t want to wait for Hogwarts Legacy? Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery is a mobile game that should do the job until, then. Obviously, since it is a mobile game, it won’t have the greatest gameplay in the world, but it is fun to experience the Wizarding World this way.

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It does have one major drawback, and that is the energy system. It is too easy to run out of energy, thus forcing the player to stop playing for a day or two or pay to keep playing. So, that might turn off some gamers, but Hogwarts Mystery is still a solid mobile game to play that’s undeserving of all the negative feedback it garnered at launch.

9 Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix

Although many people grew to enjoy the change of direction in Goblet of Fire, EA decided to return to the gameplay formula from the previous tie-in games where players could freely explore the wizarding castle of Hogwarts. The game expands on the game’s exploration elements by implementing side quests and “discovery points” to reward those who tried to fully explore the school grounds.

Along with a return to free-roaming, Order of the Phoenix also introduces a new dueling system that adds welcome depth to the series’ combat.

8 Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was initially released in June 2009 and built upon the Order of the Phoenix‘s free-roaming and dueling features. The game is also fondly remembered for including an excellent interpretation of the Marauder’s Map and for letting players cast numerous spells around the school.

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The game is one of the most popular Harry Potter releases to revisit, given that it was the last movie tie-in game to let players freely explore Hogwarts.

7 Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup

Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup is not just a great Harry Potter game, but also a very enjoyable sports game in its own right. The game of Quidditch is an exciting one and translates surprisingly well into video game form. Some may prefer the hyperrealism of FIFA or Madden, but those looking for something a bit more magical can definitely find it here.

The game controls well and still looks pretty decent despite being nearly two decades old. It even has commentary for certain matches and a story mode to link everything together in a fairly cohesive fashion. The computer AI doesn’t provide the greatest challenge though, so it’s better when played with a friend. Also, the GBA version is terrible.

6 The Sorcerer’s Stone (PC Version)

What better way to start the best of the game than with that first? For any Harry Potter fan wanting to get into the games, it is best to start here. However, only play the PC version; the console version is a sluggish downgrade in every aspect.

From learning new spells, collecting Every Flavor Beans, and solving puzzles, The Sorcerer’s Stone is an addictive Legend OfZelda-esque game. Just be ready for some awkward voice acting and character models.

5 Harry Potter: Magic Awakened

A few years after debuting in China and Taiwan, Harry Potter: Magic Awakened finally made its way to the rest of the world, and the 2023 release is a more-than-decent mobile game that comes packed with neat Easter eggs and references that die-hard fans are likely to appreciate. Set after the events of the books (and movies), players step into the shoes of a new student who finds themselves attending Hogwarts. The still-developing story gradually goes through the protagonist’s years at school, and while not extremely focused or engaging, it successfully moves things along.

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Magic Awakened blends a few different genres and ideas together. The game prioritizes multiplayer goodness, both in the form of co-op and PvP. The latter comes in the form of duels built upon a card-based combat system that works quite well, and these fights are generally strategic and exciting. Players construct decks featuring all sorts of Harry Potter spells and lore. Outside of battles, players can explore Hogwarts and its surrounding areas while taking on quests, many of which are fairly run-of-the-mill. As a free-to-play gacha game, Magic Awakened is obviously monetized, but non-paying players can still have fun.

4 Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets

Chamber Of Secrets does what any sequel game should do: it takes everything that was great about the first, expands upon it, and does everything better. From fighting Aragog the spider to solving puzzles in the castle, Chamber Of Secrets is simply better in every way.

There’s not much else to say other than those gamers who loved the first game will enjoy Chamber Of Secrets. So, in a way, it follows the same pattern as the movie: more of what fans already enjoy.

3 Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban

The original trilogy of EA games reached the absolute peak of perfection. It couldn’t possibly get better than Chamber Of Secrets, but, surprisingly, The Prisoner Of Azkaban is pure gold. Rather than just playing as Harry, the player could control all three main heroes, including Ron and Hermione.

This allowed for more puzzle-solving as some characters had specific spells and abilities. Prisoner Of Azkaban also features the most live and expansive open map of Hogwarts; Buckbeak is ridable, there’s more to collect, and the main missions are a blast. The entire original trilogy of games deserve remakes.

2 Hogwarts Legacy

Hogwarts Legacy is certainly a contender for the best Harry Potter game, although the game’s shine has dulled a bit since its debut. Just to be clear, Avalanche’s project offers by far the most breathtaking and enchanting depiction of Hogwarts, and it is arguably the first game to really capture the setting’s magic. Set roughly a century prior to the events of the books, the story does a decent job of fleshing out the universe’s lore, all the while stepping back and allowing fans to role-play as wizards and witches without too much interference. The game’s opening few hours are not only its strongest but arguably the most memorable in the Harry Potter video game franchise.

However, the rest of the experience is not flawless. While flashy and stylish, the combat gets repetitive after a few hours. Except for Hogwarts and a handful of other areas, the open-world leaves something to be desired and lacks personality. Considering it sold extremely well, a sequel is likely only a matter of time, and Avalanche has created a great base to build upon. If the side content, combat, and larger world are diversified, Hogwarts Legacy 2 will easily be the greatest Harry Potter game of all time.

1 LEGO Harry Potter: The Collection

Why settle for one of the LEGO games when there’s an option for both combined? LEGO Harry Potter: The Collection is like most LEGO games; tons of stud collecting, puzzles, and fun missions. In many ways, they are very similar to the early EA Harry Potter games.

So, for every LEGO games fan or Harry Potter fan, The Collection is obviously the perfect addition to the library of games. The Harry Potter-specific mechanics are well done, the LEGO depiction of the Wizarding World is beautiful, and, as usual, the jokes are hilarious. Plus, it goes through all seven years of Harry Potter in one game without feeling rushed.

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