For fans of the Harry Potter license, Hogwarts Legacy is the stuff of dreams. An open-world experience where players can enjoy the magical grounds of the hallowed castle and beyond is something that has been desired for years. However, the AAA gaming landscape is seeing more open world games than ever before, and the Avalanche Software-made project has fierce competition from countless more established studios. Tapping into what made other titles so special would be a suitable course of action for the developer, and one trend that seems to be a mainstay of open-ended games is an optional board or card game that can provide hours of gameplay.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is one of the most revered games of the last decade, and it achieves such adoration because of its stunning visuals, impressive world-building, and fluid gameplay. It's an experience that provides players with a multitude of ways to have fun, but one of its elements that perhaps caught even the developer by surprise was Gwent, a card-based game that is easy to understand but hard to master. Hogwarts Legacy already has the perfect game that could capture the same level of interest, as Wizard's Chess has been a staple of Harry Potter lore since the beginning.
Wizard's Chess in Hogwarts Legacy
For all intents and purposes, Wizard's Chess is the same as regular chess in ruling, but the added layer of magic gives it a tone all its own. Wizard's Chess is played by two people, the pieces are enchanted to move on their own, and removed in a way that is often barbaric. It featured in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone during a critical scene in the film's closing stages. The battle of wits required between wizards could make it essential for character development, especially when weaved into Hogwarts Legacy.
Hogwarts Legacy would do well to incorporate Wizards's Chess into the game to add further familiarity to the experience. Including Harry Potter staples like the four distinct houses or ensuring the castle is accurately recreated are each vital to making the project feel faithful. Wizard's Chess is one of many pieces of lore that Hogwarts Legacy could take advantage of, and providing players with a mini-game that most are accustomed to would be a simple way to maintain the atmosphere required for Hogwarts Legacy to satisfy all audiences.
Gwent Changed AAA Games Forever
Not since Triple Triad in Final Fantasy 8 has a card-based distraction had as much of an impact as Gwent, as the latter has gone on to be at the center of its own standalone game, as well as Thronebreaker, which also utilizes the format. For some gamers, the best part of The Witcher 3 experience wasn't traversing the high-fantasy landscape and taking on terrifying monsters, but instead finding a comfortable corner of a nearby tavern to engage in a game of Gwent. It gave the title much more depth and was an excellent excuse to take a break from the action and enjoy the game's more atmospheric elements.
Gwent had a huge impact on the industry itself, too, as plenty of developers have looked to capture the same success. Machine Strike in Horizon Forbidden West and Orlog in Assassin's Creed Valhalla likely wouldn't exist without the overwhelming success of The Witcher 3's game within a game. Being entirely optional (unlike Final Fantasy 9's Tetra Master), players can get as immersed in Gwent as they want at any given time, and it provides a stark difference to what most of the experience entails. Hogwarts Legacy has the luxury of being able to pull from Harry Potter lore to give players a mini-game that could be worthy of just as much attention. The inclusion of Wizard's Chess would ensure that Hogwarts Legacy satisfies the increasing demand for a tabletop side activity that Gwent has provoked.
Hogwarts Legacy releases holiday 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.