For all of Hogwarts Legacy’s strengths—beautiful environmental design, varied gameplay opportunities, et cetera—it never quite reaches its full potential. Shortcomings like a lack of RPG mechanics, a one-dimensional narrative, and bizarre world building are among the greatest offenders holding Hogwarts Legacy back, but they aren’t the only weak points.
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True to its name, Hogwarts Legacy aims to provide a gaming experience that emulates the Hogwarts experience seen in Harry Potter. In some ways, the game succeeds (Hogwarts itself is stunningly realized), but in other, more important ways, it falls disappointingly short. For instance, there are no social mechanics to speak of, as the player-character doesn't have truly in-depth relationships with their fellow students. Looking at older RPGs like the original Mass Effect trilogy or the Persona games, it seems clear that Avalanche Software could have gone further in this regard. Speaking more generally, there's a real sense of restriction and a lack of player expression within the sphere of Hogwarts, and this extends to one of the game's most-discussed features: the player's choice of Hogwarts house.
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Hogwarts Legacy 2 Needs To Better Incentivize Alternate House Playthroughs
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The Different Houses of Hogwarts Legacy Aren't Distinct Enough
There are technically differences between each house in Hogwarts Legacy, but they are paltry and superficial. The biggest difference between each house is a single side quest which, while better than nothing, isn't really substantial enough to warrant a second playthrough; it's just a unique few minutes in a several-dozen-hour game.
Even these house-specific quests have drawn some controversy, as some, specifically the Azkaban-centric Hufflepuff quest, are more in-depth than others.
Then, there are the different common rooms. To the game's credit, each common room is well-realized, appealing, and visually distinct: the cool, intellectual halls of Ravenclaw's common room stand in stark contrast to the cozy intimacy of Gryffindor's, for example. The issue is that Hogwarts Legacy doesn't do nearly enough with these common rooms, not giving players any real reason to visit them beyond depositing a specific type of collectible. There aren't any random events, new dialog options, or chances to bond with classmates, so this house-specific perk winds up falling flat.
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Hogwarts Legacy 2 Needs to Make House Choice Matter
Completionists, or even those looking to replay a game once or twice, could greatly benefit from greater house-by-house differences in Hogwarts Legacy 2. As it stands, there's very little variance between each house, and what differences there are wind up being isolated and underwhelming. Perhaps, then, the next Hogwarts Legacy could remedy these shortcomings by making such differences more pervasive and meaningful, resulting in playthroughs that feel powerfully distinct based on a player's chosen house.
Instead of just one house-specific quest, perhaps Hogwarts Legacy 2 could have several, or a single quest chain that stretches throughout the entirety of the main campaign, making it feel more vital to the experience. Alternatively or additionally, the sequel could make certain spells, items, or abilities exclusive to each house. For instance, perhaps Gryfinndor players could have access to a specific offensive power, given the house's propensity toward heroism, while a Slytherin could have a unique trickster ability, since that house prizes cunning and
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Machiavellianism. Even relatively small differences in stats based on class would be better than how Hogwarts Legacy currently handles things, as it would create the sense that the choice of house actually impacts gameplay.
In a sense, houses in Hogwarts Legacy 2 could take the place of classes or backgrounds in traditional RPGs. In other games in the genre, like Baldur's Gate 3 or the Dragon Age series, players are encouraged to replay the game as a different class to experience the full spectrum of gameplay and story differences. Hogwarts Legacy 2 could learn from this approach.
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23 8.4/10
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Legacy
Hogwarts Legacy is an immersive, open-world action RPG set in the world first introduced in the Harry Potter books. For the first time, experience Hogwarts in the 1800s. Your character is a student who holds the key to an ancient secret that threatens to tear the wizarding world apart. Now you can take control of the action and be at the center of your own adventure in the wizarding world. Your legacy is what you make of it.
Explore an Open World
The wizarding world awaits you. Freely roam Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest, and the surrounding Overland area.
Be the Witch or Wizard You Want to be
Learn spells, brew potions, grow plants, and tend to magical beasts along your journey. Get sorted into your house, forge relationships, and master skills to become the witch or wizard you want to beExperience a New Wizarding World Adventure
Experience the wizarding world in an unexplored era to uncover a hidden truth from its past. Battle against trolls, Dark Wizards, goblins, and more as you face a dangerous villain threatening the fate of the wizarding world.
Action
RPG
Systems
- Top Critic Rating:84/100 Critics Recommend:89%
- Franchise
- Harry Potter
- Platform(s)
- PC , Switch , PS4 , PS5 , Xbox One , Xbox Series S , Xbox Series X
- Released
- February 10, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Avalanche Software
- Publisher(s)
- Warner Bros. Interactive
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Use of Alcohol
- How Long To Beat
- 26 Hours
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Yes, Hogwarts Legacy is Verified on Steam Deck
- X|S Optimized
- yes
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- Cross Save
- you can freely use your saved data between each console as long as you are connected to the internet and signed into the same account where the saved data was created
- Cross-Platform Play
- Hogwarts Legacy doesn't have crossplay or crossplatform support
