The Harry Potter universe can be experienced in a variety of different ways like reading the books, taking a trip to Warner Bros. Studio Tour, or exploring the interactive world of Harry Potter video games. With over fifteen video games to choose from, players really have been spoilt for choice, some even giving players the option to play from Hermione's unique narrative.
The first Harry Potter game was developed by Superscape in 2001, the same year as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone was released in cinemas. This would mark the beginning of a succession of Harry Potter games to be published over the following years, correlating with the release of each new film. However, after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 stirred the emotions of every fan around the world, the succession of video games on console/PC trickled to a stop.
Creator: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
In the beginning, most of these games followed the narrative of film protagonist Harry Potter. However, as the gameplay became more complex, players also had the option to play as other main characters. Stepping into the shoes of knowledge-loving bookworm Hermione Granger was first introduced in Creator: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, published by EA and Lego Interactive in 2002. Sequel to Lego Creator: Harry Potter, this game allows players to control Lego Hermione, among other Lego characters such as Ron and Hagrid. Players even have the option to build their own custom Lego characters, although their style is now rather outdated.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
The Harry Potter video game series, following the storylines of each book/film, came after Lego Creator and introduced RPG-style gameplay to the world of magic. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban released in 2004 and was the first of the series to allow players to control Hermione and Ron along with Harry. Using these three characters, players can roam about the grounds of Hogwarts, collecting items and partaking in missions that move the storyline forward.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Coinciding with the fourth Harry Potter film release, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire video game showed vast improvements from the previous three titles of the series, even though it was criticized for removing the free-roam features. Although it was only released a year after the Prisoner of Azkaban, the graphics in Goblet of Fire are noticeably better, with characters bearing more of a resemblance to their on-screen counterparts. Once again, players have the option to play as Hermione, who now wears jeans and a recognizable cardigan. Multiplayer was also introduced in this title, allowing friends to play together as the famous trio, exploring a vast new variety of content.
Lego Harry Potter
Much more advanced than the earlier Lego games, Lego Harry Potter Years 1-4 is an action-adventure game that covers the first four years of Harry’s life at Hogwarts school, published by Warner Bros. in 2010. Similar to Lego Creator: Harry Potter, players can choose between a plethora of different Lego characters to control, including Hermione Granger. Along with story mode, players also have access to an online mode, only available on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. Released a year later, Lego Harry Potter Years 5-7 has similar gameplay to the first title and also allows players to control the Lego Hermione figure.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
The final installment of the Harry Potter video game series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 opened an expansive new environment for players to explore. Starting off in Gringotts Wizarding Bank, the game progresses through a series of missions, where the player mostly has control over Harry. However, there are opportunities to play from Hermione and Ron’s narrative, such as when they venture into the Chamber of Secrets to retrieve a basilisk fang.
Although the world of Harry Potter has experienced a dry spell of video games on console over the last eight years, Hogwarts Legacy is on the horizon, due for release in 2022. It has been confirmed that players will follow the narrative of their own character rather than one from the books. However, the experience of being able to play from the perspectives of Hermione, Ron, and other main characters is a unique one that should be explored in future Harry Potter games.