There’s a bit of a stigma following games inspired by famous franchises, and in some cases, it’s well deserved. Whether it’s a case of bad writing, clunky voice acting, or simply not living up to nostalgia, there’s plenty of franchise-inspired games that miss the mark.
That’s not the case for all of them, though. If you’re a fan of the Wizarding World and want to find more games featuring Harry Potter and pals, you’ll be happy to know there’s a good selection to pick from.
There are mystical RPGs and action-adventure titles, augmented reality experiences, and even sports games featuring Quidditch to pick from if you’re a Potterhead who wants to feel the magic of Hogwarts in game format.
To help you pick a magical title to add to your library, here are the 9 best Harry Potter games to check out today.
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4
Available on Steam, PlayStation 3, PSP, Wii, and Xbox 360.
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 is an immersive RPG that takes you through the first 4 films of the Harry Potter franchise. It’s a family-friendly game, but that doesn’t mean that it’s lacking in quests, combat, or iconic characters.
The story mode in this title is vast, allowing players to explore the entirety of Hogwarts and the grounds while swapping between fan favorite characters from the Wizarding World.
The main story is compelling and features legendary moments from the Harry Potter franchise, and there are plenty of side quests and puzzles, too.
With over 160 characters to unlock and play as, there’s a lot to keep you busy in this game.
As noted, this is a family-friendly title. That being said, there are some puzzles and fights that can be genuinely challenging, so this game is worth playing no matter your experience.
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 is a delight to play, and it’s one of the best family-friendly games you can get. It’s a little rough around the edges in places, but it’s perfect for fans of the Harry Potter books or films.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Available on Xbox, PlayStation 2, PC, Game Boy Advance, and GameCube.
If you’ve been looking for more Harry Potter games to add to your collection, you may have noticed that quite a few of them are older and only available on past consoles. This is true for many of the titles in this list, but that doesn’t mean that they’re bad.
In fact, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban remains one of the most popular Harry Potter video games to this day. It’s an action-adventure game that follows the events of the Harry Potter book with the same title.
Following the main trio of Harry, Ron, and Hermione, this game takes place in Hogwarts and has Sirius Black as the main antagonist.
There’s a good mix of exploration, combat, and story-driven gameplay, although it is worth noting that this game is quite simplistic.
Despite the graphics looking a little dated by today’s standards, this game manages to capture the magic of the Prisoner of Azkaban movie nicely.
The game feels dark and intriguing, and Hogwarts is as enchanting as ever.
You will get a slightly different experience depending on what platform you choose to play on. The different versions are best described as follows:
- Xbox and GameCube version. A typical over-the-shoulder, action-adventure game with a 3D style and a mix of exploration, detective gameplay, and combat.
- PC version. A version that plays very similarly to the console versions, but with more of a focus on puzzle solving.
- Game Boy Advance version. An iteration that feels more like an old-school RPG than an action-adventure game.
- PlayStation 2 version. Similar to the Xbox and GameCube version, but with mini games that you can play with the EyeToy camera accessory for PS2 games.
Regardless of which version you decide to go for, this is a laid back and enjoyable Harry Potter game. It feels dark and whimsical in equal measures, and there’s lots to love about it if you’re a fan of the main series.
Harry Potter Quidditch World Cup
Available on PC, Xbox, PlayStation 2, GameCube, and Game Boy Advance.
If you like sports games, you’ll love this title.
Harry Potter Quidditch World Cup is a charming addition to the world of Harry Potter video games, focusing on the legendary sport of Quidditch.
Quidditch is a team sport played on broomsticks and it originated in the Harry Potter books. This game follows the typical Quidditch game rules and lets you play as a number of iconic characters like Harry, Cho, or Viktor Krum.
One of the best things about this game is that there are multiple game modes to experience.
You can play in Hogwarts mode, where you get to pick a house and play through several challenges.
There’s the World Cup mode, where you can play as a country and battle against the other countries in the cup, and Exhibition mode for one-off matches as either a Hogwarts house team or an international World Cup team.
This game is solid for both single player action and 2 player sessions. The game isn’t as intense as it is in the books and movies, but it still works well for both solo and multiplayer matches.
If you’re a completionist, you’ll be happy to know that there are lots of Quidditch cards to collect in this game. The collectibles are rewards for completing certain challenges.
In general, Harry Potter Quidditch World Cup stands out as one of the best Harry Potter games by a mile. It looks decent and plays well, and there’s plenty of replay value.
Wonderbook: Book of Spells
Available on PlayStation 3.
Are you a fan of augmented reality games? If so, this game will be a hit for you. Wonderbook: Book of Spells is an AR game that pairs with the PlayStation Move and PlayStation Eye accessories.
In this game, players can choose a Hogwarts house and a wand before setting out on their journey to learn and practice spells.
This game feels as if you’re taking a class in Hogwarts, with various chapters focusing on different spells and tests to see how good you are.
There are poems at the end of each chapter with cautionary tales about magic.
One of the best things about this game is that it has a variety of spells from the books and movies. If you’re a Harry Potter trivia nerd, this is a great way to brush up on your spells and the meaning behind them.
While this game may certainly appear a bit gimmicky to some, it’s a lot of fun to play if you have access to the right accessories. It’s a short game and accessible for younger players too, and worth picking up to add some variety to your Harry Potter game library.
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7
Available on Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, PSP, Wii, and Xbox 360.
I’ve already mentioned a LEGO Harry Potter game in this article but I couldn’t leave this one out. The LEGO Harry Potter games stand out as some of the best HP games on the market, and LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 is no exception.
This game follows the final four Harry Potter films and splits them up into 6 stages, full of iconic story moments and battles.
This is an action-adventure game at its core, with plenty of puzzles, zones to explore, and interesting fights to sling spells in.
While the first LEGO Harry Potter game excelled with exploration and puzzle solving content, this game shines when it comes to combat and boss fights. There’s a solid dueling system in this game which makes every fight feel impactful and meaningful.
As with the first game, there are heaps of characters to unlock and plenty of collectibles to pick up as you explore. There aren’t many games with 200 collectible characters to play as, but you can find that many in this title, making it a dream for completionists.
All in all, this is one of the best Harry Potter titles available right now.
The overall aesthetic is great and the game plays well on the whole, and the amount of content that you can play through is honestly staggering.
If you’re interested in playing this game and the aforementioned Years 1-4 game too, it’s worth noting you can get LEGO Harry Potter Collection on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4. It’s a worthwhile investment.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Available on Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation, PC, Mac, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube.
This game is a gem. Following the story of the book with the same name, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is an action-adventure game that’s a must-play for Potterheads.
Featuring the main trio from the book, this game takes place in Hogwarts and offers a good mix of exploration gameplay, puzzles, and boss fights.
It’s a decently tricky game in places, but is accessible on the whole and captures the charm of the book perfectly.
As with most of the other story-inspired Harry Potter titles, there are some slight differences between the different versions. The main differences to know about are:
- Game Boy Color. This version has a classic RPG feel, and lets players pick from fan favorite characters like the original trio and Gilderoy Lockhart.
- Game Boy Advance. Unlike the other versions, this title mostly consists of mini-quests. I’d recommend opting for one of the other versions if possible. There is a secret room to unlock if you connect this version with the GameCube version.
- PlayStation. This version plays like a classic action-adventure game with plenty of RPG and puzzle solving elements. It follows on from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (which is the next game in this list) and offers a cohesive, immersive experience.
- PlayStation 2. This iteration plays very similarly to the PlayStation version, but it has a free-flight broom mode which is a lot of fun. Players can land anywhere they choose when flying on a broom.
- Xbox. This version is almost identical to the PS2 iteration, but it has limited landing zones and areas for the free-flight mode.
- GameCube. Following on from the Xbox version, this version of the game also has limited landing zones for brooms. It can also be linked to the Game Boy Advance version if you want to explore a secret room.
- PC and Mac. Interestingly, the PC and Mac versions of this game came from entirely different developers to the other versions. As a result, it offers completely different gameplay, classes to learn spells, and levels to explore.
No matter which version you choose to play, this game will be a blast for you if you’re a fan of the books. The art style is a little rough around the edges but still retains the whimsy and charm of the Harry Potter universe, the music is phenomenal, and the gameplay holds up.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
Available on Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, PlayStation, and PC.
Following the story of the first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is an adventure game with lots to love.
Taking place in Hogwarts, this game puts you in control of Harry and Hedwig. You’ll need to solve various platforming and puzzle sections of the game, while learning spells, taking part in Quidditch matches, and completing quests.
It’s a laid back and accessible title, so if you want something with a lower level of difficulty, this is the one for you.
There are a few different versions of this game, so it’s important to pick the platform with the version that appeals to you the most. The versions include:
- PC. This iteration of the game follows the story of the book closely, while playing as a classic third-person adventure game with plenty of quests and puzzles. The spell system is rewarding and immersive, and there’s an independent Quidditch mode.
- PlayStation. This version of the game actually comes from different developers, so it has a different setup and structure to the other versions. It’s very story-based, with clear chapters and plenty of collectibles to pick up.
- Game Boy Color. This game feels more like a classic RPG, putting players in the shoes of Harry as he enters Diagon Alley for the first time. You get to experience the majority of the events in the book and use famous spells during fights.
- Game Boy Advance. Unlike the GBC version, this game is more of a puzzle-oriented title. It takes place in Hogwarts, asking players to explore, attend classes, complete challenges, and pick up collectibles.
If that variety of versions wasn’t enough, there’s also a completely different game under the same name that came out for GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox. This game is more similar to the films, but I’d recommend sticking with the versions listed above.
They’re more immersive and offer more replay value.
Despite being a much older title, this game still looks great. It performs well on the whole, with a few clunky camera angles here and there to contend with. The music is enjoyable, the story is compelling, and it feels comforting and cozy to play. What’s not to love?
Hogwarts Legacy
Available on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One.
Arguably one of the most impressive Harry Potter games in existence, Hogwarts Legacy is a beautiful, open-world RPG that places you in the shoes of a Hogwarts student.
Taking place in the 1800s, this game is incredibly immersive and lets you explore Hogwarts, learn magic, complete quests, and take part in challenging battles. It’s a delight to play, making you feel as if you’re really at Hogwarts and studying for your O.W.L.S exams.
One of the best things about this game is the variety in content that it offers. The main storyline is very compelling, but there’s an absolute mountain of side quests to check out and plenty of collectibles and tasks for completionists, too.
There are different difficulty options available in this game, making it accessible for folk who want a chilled experience and captivating for players who like a challenge.
If you’re still waiting for your Hogwarts letter to arrive in the post (surely the owl must have got lost, right?) then this is the game for you.
It’s utterly charming and lets players experience the magic of Hogwarts in a brand new way.
Wonderbook: Book of Potions
Available on PlayStation 3.
Following on from the success of Wonderbook: Book of Spells, this game is an augmented reality title that takes place in the Harry Potter world. It’s a PS3 game that pairs with the PlayStation Eye and PlayStation Move accessories.
In this game, you work through a mystical Book of Potions that has been written by the famous wizarding author, Zygmunt Budge. The spirit of Budge is possessing the book, and he guides you through it so that you can enter a potions competition and win.
It’s a fun premise and it works perfectly with the unique combination of PlayStation accessories. It’s slightly gimmicky in places but it’s perfect if you want something simple and fun to play, or if you want something for a younger audience.
It looks great and plays well on the whole, too. It can glitch out in a few places, but there’s nothing game-breaking to worry about.
The graphics are charming and there’s plenty of familiar symbols and potions that Potter fans will recognize here.
With seven full chapters to work through, there’s plenty of content to enjoy in this game. If you’re a Harry Potter fan and you’ve never tried a Wonderbook game before, why not check it out? It’s very unique, and the augmented reality format works well with the magic themes.
