After more than two decades, the Harry Potter franchise and its fanbase is still huge. Regardless of how people feel about the movies, many fans yearn to be lost in a world of magic, legend, and mystical beasts once again. While there is nothing that can truly replicate the feeling of being able to escape into the Harry Potter books for the first time as a kid, there are some awesome series out there for gamers that want a similar experience.
Many titles feature similar aspects that fans are potentially looking for: Games that have deep lore, magnificent environments, and the dubious fun that many Harry Potter fans are used to. It'll be a while before Hogwarts Legacy is released, but there are plenty of options to feel the magic that Potter-heads crave.
LEGO Harry Potter and Kingdom Hearts
Games like the Lego Harry Potter Collection and the Kingdom Hearts series are great places for Harry Potter fans to start. The former will help scratch that Hogwarts itch while providing a fun and not too serious way to experience the franchise. The Lego games are great for people of all ages, and have adapted several major franchises over the years. With fun puzzles and goofy antics, they help to highlight some of the more lighthearted antics of series like Harry Potter, Jurassic World, and even Star Wars.
The Kingdom Hearts series doesn’t maintain the same relationship with Harry Potter that Lego does, but it does offer players a chance to explore some key locations from franchises under the Disney umbrella. With the whole series available across several platforms, there are a ton of ways to play. More recent years have seen the Kingdom Hearts series expand on to PC as well. The comradery that players build with the NPCs in Kingdom Hearts has been praised for years, and fans have fallen in love with Sora, Donald, and Goofy.
While the story of Kingdom Hearts can sometimes be complex and a little confusing, playing through the games is a rewarding experience. Each of the three main games brings something new while continuing to feel rooted in the fun-natured Sora that fans were introduced to in the first Kingdom Hearts. With cameos from Final Fantasy characters as well as Disney icons, there is a little something for both Disney and Square Enix fans to enjoy.
The Witcher 3 and Skyrim
The Witcher 3 and Skyrim are not quite the lighthearted romps that Kingdom Hearts and Lego games can be, but the deep open-worlds and unique magic systems make them great. Harry Potter fans that have wanted to play with magic or experience what the mythical beast that Newt Scamander encountered would be like could find something in both games. While their magic systems are different, and Skyrim’s is much deeper than the one that Geralt uses in The Witcher 3, they each bring their respective strengths.
Skyrim’s magic allows players to do a myriad of actions from casting lighting to summoning an atronach. All of these can be used at different mastery levels and Skyrim’s extensive skill trees reward those that put effort into leveling up their characters. Put these magical skills up against some of the major encounters of Skyrim and players can defeat anything from dragons to the undead. The game is also chock full of hidden chests, caverns, and locations for players to explore, though the stairways of Whiterun won’t change at random.
The Witcher 3’s magic is a bit more basic than Skyrim’s, but it serves Geralt of Rivia well. While the signs that players use are not nearly as extensive as the magic that Triss and Yennefer can wield, they serve their purposes in a fight. Where The Witcher 3 truly shines is its approach to world-building. There are many quests and adventures that players can partake in throughout the game, each with direct consequences on the story. From beginning to end, decisions and words can matter depending on the quest.
At the same time, there are countless monsters to encounter and other magical beings throughout the world. From Godlings, to different classes of vampires, there are a plethora of mystical beings for players to encounter. Not all of them will be malicious but it is important to remember that not every character that doesn’t wish you harm wants you to succeed. This is all emphasized by the rich stories and unique locations that can be found while playing.
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
Star Wars might have decades on the Harry Potter franchise, but its most recent games are a treasure trove for gamers. In particular, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order has become a beloved game for Star Wars fans. The Metroidvania-style levels are filled with encounters and lore that players can discover. It also boasts a decent skill tree. While it is not as deep as Skyrim, it still allows players to hone Cal Kestis' skills and his fighting style to match what they want as a Jedi.
Set during some of the Empire’s strongest years, it features cameos from major characters while also delving into some of the oldest lore in the Star Wars universe. It is a solid middle ground for the series, and truly shows off what Star Wars can be when it breaks away from the Skywalkers. Right now, a lot of fans are hopeful for a sequel, and there’s some serious thought going around about Jedi: Fallen Order 2 expanding to more alien protagonists.
As great as it is, some people can find the game intimidating, but they shouldn’t worry too much. Even though Jedi: Fallen Order has received comparisons to Soulsborne games, its addition of a difficulty setting can make it feel more like exploring Hyrule in The Legend of Zelda than conquering impossible bosses in Dark Souls. This is great to toggle between how hard someone might want the game to be, and how much they’d like to explore the incredible locations that have been worked in.
Jedi: Fallen Order won’t have players feeling exactly like wizards but it can help them satiate their appetite for the fantastic. It also has an incredibly emotional story to compliment all of this that highlights Cal’s growth from a young Padawan into the Jedi he has become. Similar to the experience of watching Harry grow alongside Ron and Hermione throughout the Harry Potter series, until Harry's final encounter with Voldemort.