Harry Potter needs absolutely no introduction. From novels to blockbuster movies, it has become a global phenomenon. As the movies became a huge success earning millions of dollars – it was pretty obvious that game developers would want to earn their share from the game.
Over the years, they have been served with many Harry Potter video game titles, and we are always excited for the new ones to come. This article will go through some of the best video games established in Harry Potter's magical world.
Some of these games stay true to the story of the movie, while some have taken a big spin from the original version.
- Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone
- Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
- Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
- Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
- Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix
Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone
Launched in 2001, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is the first-ever Harry Potter video game. The game is published by Electronic Arts and is based on J.K.Rowling's first book in the series.
While the game does not have incredible features compared to the games that we have now, the game is entertaining and enjoyable. In the game, players can actually experience what it's like to be a student of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy.
You can take lessons, cast spells, fly around on the magical broomstick, and play quidditch. Want more? You can even go up against the evil wizard, Lord Voldemort.
Where Can You Play The Game?
The first version of the game, released in 2001, was launched for PC, Mac, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, and the PlayStation. The platforms were stacked up in the later version, with GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox users getting their respective versions of the game.
Based on the platform you are playing on, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone has several forms. For instance, the PC and Mac versions are third-person action-adventure games featuring combat and puzzle elements.
On the other hand, the GBC game is more of an RPG game, while the GBA version of the game is a top-down puzzle game.
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery is a role-playing smartphone title launched in 2018, with plenty of Harry Potter fans diving into the game. The story of the game takes place between Harry Potter's birth and his first year at Hogwarts.
While playing the game, you might not see Harry and his friends, but you will encounter several familiar faces from Hogwarts' faculty. The story revolves around the protagonist's older brother, who was expelled from the wizard school for trying to open the Cursed Vaults.
The potential of the game was considered to be pretty high; however, the sad reality was that it was not well-liked by the audience. This was due to the game's incredibly restrictive mechanics that hindered users from fully exploring the game.
Moreover, the price for refilling the energy bar is incredibly high compared to how fast you can deplete your energy.
Where Can You Play The Game?
Despite its downsides, if you are someone who loves to solve mysteries, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery is the game for you. The best part is that it is available for smartphones so that you can enjoy the game on the go.
The game is available to download for Android via Google Play Store and via the App Store on iOS platforms. The file size of the Android version of the game is 89MB, and it is compatible on devices running Android 4.4 or higher, while the game on the iOS platform is 161.6MB and requires iOS 10 or later.
Harry Potter: Wizards Unite
Despite having its share of negative reviews, the game was a hit among the Harry Potter fans. Therefore, unsurprisingly, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, developed by Niantic, was released shortly after.
Niantic, known for its best-known work, Pokémon Go, created a similar augmented reality version of Harry Potter. Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is a smartphone game that brings together witches and wizards from all around the world.
Your only job is to battle the muggles and prevent them from finding out about the magic. For that, players must enable their GPS function on their phones and stroll out in their surroundings. While Pokémon Go allowed players to catch Pokémons in the real world, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite focuses on casting different spells to get rid of the magical beasts.
Similarly, the game features magical wands to cast the spell and fight evil. Additionally, there are also several raid-like events in which multiple players can join and compete.
Where Can You Play The Game?
Harry Potter: Wizards Unite was released in 2019 and is available for Android and iOS devices. The size of the game varies based on your gaming device.
You can easily download the game via Google Play Store if you are running on Android 5.0 or higher. Similarly, on iOS devices, if the device runs the iOS 10.0.0 operating system, the game can be easily downloaded from the Apple App Store and can be enjoyed.
Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
How many of you love both football and Potter's magical world? If this describes you, then the Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup is for you – everyone's favorite sports featured in the wizardry world. The Quidditch World Cup is an underrated gem, as it is an extremely fun game to play.
The Quidditch World Cup is about the actual game of Quidditch, played by Harry Potter and fellow Hogwarts students in the movie. Players fly around on their broomsticks, work with their team to rack up points, and stand in the first place.
You have to pass the ball around to your team, dodge the opponents, and make a goal for the team. You can play either in the Hogwarts Inter-house Quidditch World Cup (choose between Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw) or compete in a World Cup.
While playing the World Cup, the international teams come from Germany, Japan, France, and Bulgaria. Alternatively, if you prefer to play a quicker game, take part in a one-off exhibition match.
Where Can You Play The Game?
Launched in 2003, the action-sports game is developed and published by the EA Games. Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup is available for a number of platforms, including PlayStation 2, Xbox, Game Boy Advance, GameCube, and PC.
Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince
Based on the 2009 film with the same name, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was developed by Electronic Arts in the same year. The third-person action-adventure game features story-based missions, the best-looking Hogwarts to explore, casting spells, and much more.
In the game, Harry is being prepared by Dumbledore for the final battle against Lord Voldemort. Harry and Dumbledore work closely to find the key to unlock Voldemort's defense system.
You will also meet Professor Horace Slughorn, Dumbledore's old friend who holds crucial information about Lord Voldemort's powers.
The open-world style game gives you a lot of time to explore the magical world of Hogwarts without needing to follow quests and missions. Players can also attend classes with Professor Slughorn and learn to create some amazing potions.
Where Can You Play The Game?
The best part about Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is that it is available on multiple platforms, including Wii, Nintendo DS, PSP, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation2, and PC.
Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was released in 2007 and is based on the movie and book with the same name. The game allows you to explore the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy, like never before, and at the same time, it undertakes the same missions from the book and movie.
The game's basic storyline is that Harry Potter returns to the school and finds that his wizard community no longer believes his encounter with Lord Voldemort.
Moreover, Dolores Umbridge, an official from the Ministry of Magic, teaches the students about defensive magic, which leaves the young students absolutely unprepared against the dark forces.
That is when Harry decides to step in and teach students how to defend themselves in secret. Besides, the game also features some mini-games like Wizard Chess, Gobstones, and Exploding Snap. Sadly, the game was heavily criticized for its confusing gameplay and the wrong execution of the storyline.
Where Can You Play The Game?
The game is available on multiple platforms, including PSP, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. The catch of the story depends on the device you are using to play Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
The story of the game and the whole gameplay might change. For instance, PSP players can play a darker character such as Bellatrix, Draco Malfoy, Crabbe, or even the evil Lord Voldemort. This is one feature that you cannot find on other devices.
The Bottom Line
To sum up, these are some of the best Harry Potter games that are there on the market. These games are loaded with solid storytelling and amazing graphics. Apart from everything, the games are highly successful, thanks to the rabid fan base who love Harry Potter and his magical world.
