The Best Harry Potter Games Of All Time - The first knowledge sharing application in Vietnam

Harry Potter games can be extremely hit-or-miss, but which ones are the best?

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.

With Hogwarts Legacy making waves with its official announcement, it is the perfect time to reflect on the best Harry Potter games released thus far.

Updated February 9, 2023 by Mark Sammut: Except for mobile, Harry Potter games have been rare since the main movies ended their run. However, that changed on February 7, 2023, with the release of Hogwarts Legacy, almost undoubtedly the franchise’s most ambitious video game project to date. The title lets players leave out their ultimate Wizarding World fantasy, but how does it compare with earlier adventures?

Harry Potter And The Goblet of Fire

Release Date

November 8, 2005

Developer/s

EA UK

Platform/s

Nintendo GameCube
PC
PS2
Xbox

Amazon Listing Page

PS2

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.

Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix

Release Date

June 25, 2007

Developer/s

EA UK

Platform/s

Nintendo Wii
PC
PS2
PS3
PSP
Xbox 360

Amazon Listing Page

Nintendo Wii

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.

Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince

Release Date

June 30, 2009

Developer/s

EA Bright Light

Platform/s

Nintendo Wii
PC
PS2
PS3
PSP
Xbox 360

Amazon Listing Page

PS3

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.

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite

Release Date

June 20, 2019

Developer/s

Niantic, WB Games San Francisco

Platform/s

Android
iOS

Following the huge success of Pokemon Go, many developers tried their hands at making their own augmented reality games. Some were good, some were bad, and others were just downright terrible. Thankfully, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite falls into the first of these brackets.

It was developed by Niantic, the same developer responsible for Pokemon Go. It may not be quite as popular, but it features many of the same mechanics and features and is arguably just as enjoyable as a result. Especially when compared to some of the other Harry Potter games that are out there, it’s a fine addition to J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding World.

Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup

Release Date

October 28, 2003

Developer/s

EA UK

Platform/s

Nintendo GameCube
PC
PS2
Xbox

Amazon Listing Page

PS2

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.

The Sorcerer’s Stone (PC Version)

Release Date

November 16, 2001

Developer/s

KnowWonder, Westlake Interactive

Platform/s

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.

Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery

Release Date

April 25, 2018

Developer/s

Jam City

Platform/s

Android
iOS
iPadOS

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.

Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets

Release Date

November 15, 2002

Developer/s

EA UK, Eurocom Entertainment Software, Argonaut Games, KnowWonder, Westlake Interactive

Platform/s

Nintendo GameCube
PC
PS1
PS2
Xbox

Amazon Listing Page

GameCube

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.

Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban

Release Date

May 25, 2004

Developer/s

EA UK, KnowWonder

Platform/s

Nintendo GameCube
PC
PS2
Xbox

Amazon Listing Page

GameCube

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.

LEGO Harry Potter: The Collection

Release Date

October 18, 2016

Developer/s

Traveller’s Tales

Platform/s

Nintendo Switch
PS4
Xbox One

Amazon Listing Page

PS4

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 per usual, the jokes are hilarious. Plus, it goes through all seven years of Harry Potter in one game without feeling rushed.

Hogwarts Legacy

Release Date

February 7, 2023

Developer/s

Avalanche Software

Platform/s

PS5
Xbox Series X/S
PC
PS4 (April 4, 2023)
Xbox One (April 4, 2023)
Nintendo Switch (July 25, 2023)

Amazon Listing Page

PS5

There have been a number of great Harry Potter games, but Hogwarts Legacy is the first title to take proper advantage of the universe’s role-playing potential. Technically, Avalanche’s project is not directly related to the Harry Potter character since the story takes place roughly a century prior to the events of the books and movies; however, Harry Potter amounts to far more than just Harry, Hermione, and Ron.

After creating a wizard or witch, players arrive at Hogwarts and are sorted into one of the four houses. This begins their immersive adventure in one of fiction’s most iconic environments, and they are allowed to explore Hogwarts’ halls and grounds like never before. The action RPG utilizes a magic-based combat system that evolves as players learn more spells and talents, and the gameplay offers a fair amount of variety. The characters that populate the school are also fantastic and fit into the larger universe.

Hogwarts Legacy is, naturally, not perfect, but the game gets a lot of things right. It is ambitious, fun, charming, and expansive. Ultimately, this is the best Harry Potter game as it is the most likely to keep non-fans engaged.

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