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How Can You Make a Truly Great ‘Harry Potter’ Game?

Hogwarts Mystery was not a satisfying Hogwarts experience for many Harry Potter fans. What does it take to make a truly immersive Harry Potter game?

Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery released about a month ago now. Reception has been mixed, to say the least. However, it does hold significance. Hogwarts Mystery is the first game released under Warner Bros.’ new Portkey Games Label. It’s a new label dedicated to releasing Harry Potter games.

A lot of fans criticized quite a few aspects of Hogwarts Mystery, from the mechanics to its faithfulness. But we now have the potential for a brand new era of games set in the Harry Potter universe.

Hogwarts Mystery allowed players to live life as a Hogwarts student for the first time. It may not have reached its potential, but it’s still possible to improve on the foundation the game laid out. A Hogwarts-set game that allows you to fully immerse yourself in the Wizarding World can still be made. And here’s some ways to do it.

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Hogwarts has about as many mysteries as it does rooms.

Imagine a fully realized Hogwarts on a (most likely) next-gen console. A Hogwarts you could wander around (even if you weren’t supposed to). But it wouldn’t be tied to a story that’s already been told. This would be your Hogwarts story. And what’s the point of a Hogwarts story if there’s not a Hogwarts to immerse yourself in.

It Should Be Personal

Studying at Hogwarts is as much about your personal growth as it is your growth as a wizard. The big selling point of Hogwarts Mystery was the ability to finally have your own Hogwarts experience. But it felt too hollow, too impersonal. A big motivator in Hogwarts Mystery surrounds the conundrum involving your brother. While that can create for some interesting drama, it does make it feel a little less impersonal. Especially if you don’t even have a brother to begin with (like myself).

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Like Harry Potter himself, your character should grow during your time at Hogwarts.

Just because a game is set in the Harry Potter universe, doesn’t mean there needs to be a big conspiracy that threatens the (wizarding) world. Why can’t it just be about how Hogwarts shapes you? While obviously there can still be some conflicts scattered throughout the years, at the end of the day, the story should focus on you.

What kinds of relationships will you form with your classmates? What kinds of skills will you excel at, and want to pursue more? Do you want to play Quidditch? There are so many other ways your character can grow than having to face decades (or more) of old evil.

Here for the Long Haul

Harry Potter is one of those franchises that will simply never go away. It will endure, years from now. It’s almost surprising to see more original Harry Potter games haven’t been made.

A big part of the fandom involves their connection with the series. ‘What Hogwarts house are you?’ can be a common ice-breaker for a certain generation. And that’s why it’s so important to nail a Hogwarts-set game.

Readers connected with Harry’s growth over the seven books in the series. A video game should present you the opportunity to go even further with those connections because now it’s your story. It’s more than simply picking which house you want to go in. What if you took a personality test before the game starts, and then you find out your house at the sorting hat ceremony?

Making a Harry Potter game is a deceptively simple task. It’s not enough to just be in Hogwarts. You need to actually live the Hogwarts experience. But what do you want to see in a Harry Potter game? You can discuss this, and more, on our Google Plus page below!

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