Hogwarts Legacy Review

A Pinch of Magic for Everybody .

Read Time 12 minutes

Hogwarts Legacy school staircase background

As strange as it may seem, you don't start your Hogwarts Legacy playthrough with a lightning-shaped scar on your forehead or a prophecy to fulfill. Matter of fact, this isn't a retelling of someone else's story; it's a truly magical tale built on your decisions, your own wand waving, and your ability to resist the urge to Avada Kedavra your way straight to Azkaban. Set in the late 1800s, many decades before any familiar faces had had the opportunity to influence the plot, the game leans into its historical setting with the confidence that it has everything it needs to win the hearts of Harry Potter enthusiasts. The school, however, is still very much the grand, imposing castle it's always been, with living portraits, poltergeists roaming the halls, and staircases that defy all manners of logic.

We join the wizarding world as an unusually gifted fifth-year student dropped into a massive predicament after being intercepted by a dragon on our way to Hogwarts. With little context for the attack, we quickly learn of our character's peculiar knack for seeing and wielding a lost form of ancient magic no one else can—a rare talent that's known to awaken every few generations. This, of course, has a tendency to draw unwanted attention, and soon enough, there is a whole cast of ill-intentioned characters on our tail, wanting to control this power for purposes that we can only guess. The plot is thick with mystery and steadily unravels over time, nudging you toward a larger, more ominous truth about magic's origins, its forgotten wielders, and the price of meddling with power not meant to be understood.

In truth, what gives Hogwarts Legacy its pull is how seamlessly it incorporates RPG elements, customization, and light choice-driven storytelling without breaking the illusion of being a student in this world. You get to choose your house, cast your favorite spells, and style your character with gear that frequently leaves you torn between fashion and style. The leveling system, talent trees, and crafting mechanics aren't revolutionary, but they're tightly interwoven with the fantasy in a way that makes progression feel natural rather than tacked on. Every choice feeds into your roleplaying—from how you duel to how you decorate your personal sanctuary.

And beyond the fortified walls of Hogwarts, the surrounding region doesn't let down either. Fact is, there's an expansive, alluring world that has been crafted as a seamless continuation of the schoolgrounds, peppered with hamlets, dungeons, forests, and dangerous little pockets of history buried beneath the moss. It's not just open for the sake of being open—it's wide, dense, and meaningfully filled, inviting you to venture beyond the castle not because a marker told you to, but because the desire to go farther than is allowed is too great to overcome.

But make no mistake, as the rolling hills of the Scottish Highlands may look serene, and yet, between the dark wizards, overgrown creatures, and renegade goblins, danger lurks everywhere. As such, one moment, you're soaking in the postcard scenery, and the next, you're spelunking through a forgotten catacomb, getting stuck in cobwebs, and completing puzzles while being swarmed by spiders. The game strikes a perfect balance between spectacle and tension—never letting you get too comfortable, but also never robbing you of that moment to stand still and appreciate how absurdly pretty the view is before it throws the next threat your way.

This is a magic story in the literal and thematic sense. It's a game less about saving the world and more about deciding what kind of witch or wizard you want to be in it. Whether you're a benevolent mage or a borderline sociopath with a knack for curses, the journey is fully yours to trail. No matter if you're coming from the books, the big screen, or simply craving a solid RPG in a rich setting, the game has surely something to offer. Despite the controversies circling its launch, what's here is no half-baked cash grab—a beloved story that's been thoughtfully adapted, impressive visuals, and a remarkably polished experience that is widely appealing, but not without a few flaws, which we will surely get into in just a moment.

Developer: Avalanche Software

Publisher: Warner Bros. Games

Release Date: February 10, 2023

Platforms: PS5, Xbox One X-S, PC

Genre: Action, Adventure, RPG

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Discovering a World Full of Intrigue: What Lies Beyond the Castle .

Few things matter more than a first impression—thankfully, Hogwarts Legacy is aware enough of this to avoid wasting yours on half-measures. From the moment its cinematic opening sweeps you into the story, you're placed right at the intersection of wonder and danger, framing your arrival as the prelude to something big, with enough unanswered questions to make you lean forward in your seat in anticipation. For those unfamiliar with the world, the setting wastes no time establishing that magic permeates everything—from the grand architecture of the castle to the smallest, seemingly mundane object, which may spring to life with a mind of its own.

Once the initial wave of awe settles, the world begins to reveal its more subtle charms. Attending classes, brewing potions, mastering spells, and wandering the halls between lessons aren't only for immersion, but they serve as training for whatever comes next without overwhelming you. Instead of front-loading every landmark, spell, and mechanic, the game unfolds its systems at a steady pace, letting you settle into the fantasy before turning up the complexity. The onboarding feels methodical but never stiff, and it blends seamlessly into the fiction; you're not staring at intrusive pop-ups, you're learning because that's what a new student would be doing. And just like that, by the time you're catching up with your peers in the common room, you'll have absorbed more systems than you might realize.

As stated before, although Hogwarts is undoubtedly the centerpiece, the game doesn't expect you to admire the castle's architecture forever. Fact is, the world actually opens itself sooner than expected, letting you wander beyond the confines of classrooms almost from the start, with little in the way of invisible barriers. As such, many quests send you well beyond sight of the castle, whether to track down a rare ingredient, practice a new, dangerous spell, or to learn something that can't be taught on school grounds. The shift from the busy Great Hall to windswept moors or dense, whispering forests is striking, and it underscores just how much of this game's scope goes beyond the postcard view of Hogwarts itself.

Crucially, the game resists turning its vastness into an aimless slog. The wilderness and villages feel deliberately placed, with each corner holding a reason to exist—be it a tucked-away chest, an area filled with secrets to uncover, or an NPC with a problem that actually feels worth solving. The beauty of the setting is in how this isn't a place that exists solely for you; it's a living environment that hums with potential. You're encouraged to poke your nose into places not because a checklist tells you to, but because you want to know what's there. It's exploration driven by intrigue rather than obligation, and that difference shows in how often detours turn into full-fledged adventures of their own.

Hogwarts Legacy wallpaper, moonlight view of the castle

Every spire and sconce-lit corridor of Hogwarts glows under the night sky—a handcrafted castle brimming with secrets and mysteries waiting to be uncovered by curious minds.

Everywhere you go, you sense how dynamic and breathing the world is. The neighboring village, Hogsmeade, is more than just a marketplace—it's a bustling town that feels genuinely alive. Aside from that, exploration is usually rewarding, whether in the form of gear, lore, or the satisfaction of scratching a long-standing itch of curiosity. The density of points of interest keeps most detours worthwhile—treasure vaults hidden under waterfalls, puzzles tucked behind crumbling stone arches, and enemy encampments that dare you to push your luck.

Even the most familiar game mechanics are dressed to fit the setting, helping the game's world feel all the more immersive. For instance, fast travel comes via enchanted Floo Flames scattered across the world, quest markers are woven into utility spells, and even tutorials are camouflaged as engaging classroom lessons you have to actively participate in to get your marks. That same attention extends to interactions—dialogue feels natural rather than awkward, with most characters delivering their lines with charm, wit, or just enough eccentricity to feel distinct. Of course, not every NPC is unforgettable, but the ones that matter leave an impression, whether they're eccentric professors or classmates whose interactions can shift how you view them over time.

Still, that's not to say the game is silky smooth across the board—quite the contrary, performance issues crop up often enough to be an issue, as optimization clearly wasn't top of the priority list. Stuttering and framerate dips are a common problem, especially once you venture into the more demanding open-world areas where the engine has more to juggle. Similarly, some side quests eventually start to lose luster, falling into the background with little incentive to see them through, and while puzzles are often creative in presentation, they occasionally hand you the answer before you've had the chance to think, dulling what could have been moments of satisfying problem-solving into little more than busywork. It's in these moments that the game's otherwise strong momentum falters just enough to make you aware of its limitations.

Yet even with these blemishes, Hogwarts Legacy sells the fantasy of being a student in this world with startling sincerity, making it easy to forgive the moments when the magic briefly falters. The pull of its environments, the warmth of its better-written characters, and the sheer density of its hidden surprises work in tandem to keep the experience afloat. If the introduction is about convincing you this is worth stepping into, the hours that follow are about keeping you there—and in that regard, it rarely loses its grip.

Shaping the World One Spell at a Time: Unleashed Magical Mayhem .

After catching our footing and learning the basics, the next step is to master what we've been taught. At the heart of it all is the spellcasting system, the backbone of nearly every action you take. As is to be expected, spells aren't just blunt tools for combat; they're woven into exploration, puzzle-solving, and can even shape environmental interactions, often in ways that encourage you to think about your surroundings as more than static scenery. The ability to mix spell combos creates a sense of rhythm and improvisation, and that feeling of synergy hits especially well when you're caught in a random duel—chaining Levioso to suspend foes mid-air, following with Accio to pull them closer, blasting them with Incendio, and protecting against counterattacks with Protego is the kind of combo that makes you feel like a genius for figuring it out on your own.

And while there's a learning curve to juggling your ever-growing arsenal, the game keeps the process tactile and satisfying, thanks in no small part to how intuitive and distinct each spell feels to use. In this regard, my only gripe is that some spells are so niche that they eventually tend to gather dust unless a specific scenario forces them into the spotlight. But, since there's no such thing as too many tools, this surplus of situational spells doesn't necessarily drag the experience down—it's mostly moments where the game could have gone above and beyond, but instead opted to leave them feeling more like an afterthought than indispensable tricks in your repertoire.

Speaking of which, enemy variety helps keep the loop from going stale, with a bestiary that provides a plethora of creatures for you to test your mettle against, each with its own quirks and weaknesses. That's to say, each encounter demands a slightly different approach, forcing you to adapt rather than lean on a single overpowered tactic. That said, I must say that the AI occasionally feels stiff by telegraphing attacks a little too generously, giving you more breathing room than it probably should. Also, another pitfall in an otherwise solid combat framework is the lock-on targeting: while generally serviceable, it occasionally stumbles when multiple enemies cluster too close, resulting in moments of frustration when you're frantically trying to land a spell on the right target but hit the wrong enemy instead, ending up paying the price for the mistake.

The talents tree adds another layer to the combat and exploration loop, offering a wide array of perks that alter how you play, and the customization is robust enough to let you lean into a preferred playstyle without being pushed into certain roles, which is also majorly positive. The pacing of allocating points every few level-ups feels sufficiently rewarding, and there's rarely a sense of wasted progression, although players who spread themselves too thin may find that their builds lack the punch of a more focused approach. My biggest critique here is how you can quite literally complete the whole game without spending a single point in the skill tree, which means that these choices aren't exactly as important as they might seem at first.

The visual spectacle of every spell cast brings the world to life, with crisp animations and satisfyingly explosive impact that make each duel feel dynamic and charged with power.

Aside from that, the gear systems add another layer to the loop, offering ways to enhance your character's capabilities beyond just leveling. There's a persistent tension between fashion and function: you'll face small but somewhat meaningful choices between outfits that make you look the part and those that actually improve your stats, meaning appearance often takes the backseat to raw efficiency. Honestly, it's a bit lame when you've finally pieced together a great look, only for the game to hand you an objectively superior robe that makes you look completely out of place.

That said, it's worth noting that inventory management, too, can become a considerable nuisance, as space limitations occasionally force you to dismantle gear mid-adventure if you can't reach a vendor to free up some space. In short, it's a small but annoying interruption that chips away at the game's pacing for no good reason, but at least it stops being an issue by mid/late game, after you've completed a few trials that magically grant you more carrying capacity.

Similarly, potion brewing, gear upgrades, and plant cultivation aren't only thematically fitting but add a strategic layer to preparation, rewarding forethought without feeling like unnecessary busywork. The real-world timers to prepare certain concoctions, however, can be a massive drag, especially when you're itching to jump back into the action. Still, the payoff is worth it when you've stocked up for a big fight, and going through the loops of resource collection can be addictive in short bursts. Just don't expect it to be painless, as resource collection and crafting can bog things down if you treat it like a checklist rather than an organic part of exploration.

Taken together, these systems give Hogwarts Legacy a strong gameplay loop that rarely falters. In other words, it kind of does a balancing act between accessibility and depth, and while not every mechanic is equally polished, the core elements are sturdy enough to carry the experience for dozens of hours. Where the game excels is in making these mechanics feel cohesive even when certain systems reveal their limitations, almost always feeling like they're part of a bigger picture, which is more than many open-world games can claim. The end result is a gameplay foundation that understands exactly who it's speaking to and delivers enough variety to keep them engaged from start to finish.

Final Thoughts: Every Promise of Wonder, Likely Another Blunder .

From a relic of the past to what has culminated into one of the most impressive games I've played to date, Hogwarts Legacy does justice to a multi-generational treasure that has been a constant through many of our lives. Needless to say, I liked the game way more than I expected—not because it reinvented the wheel, but because it embraced what mattered most and delivered it with conviction. In an age where many adaptations feel like hollow cash-grabs, such a feat is admirable, showing a willingness to treat the material with the care and respect it deserves rather than simply banking on a nostalgia trip.

On the side of pacing and length, I'd say it mostly hits the sweet spot: there's enough meat to chew on for dozens of hours if you drink from the deep well of side content, and the main story won't overstay its welcome for players who stick to the well-trodden path. However, it's important to reinforce that value here depends on appetite, and if you want a sprawling playground that rewards curiosity, it's easy to get your money's worth, but if you crave razor-tight design and mechanical perfection across the board, you'll notice the rough edges more and wonder what could've been tightened up.

Technically and artistically, it's fair to say we've come a long way from the era when games were made with soul and spirit, but Hogwarts Legacy steps up to the plate to challenge that trend. The worldbuilding, audio design, and attention to detail are truly astonishing, with moments when the game looks, sounds, and feels magnificent. But sometimes, ambition can outpace finish with imperfections such as performance hiccups, repetitive quest scaffolding, and occasional friction, keeping it from being wholly immaculate. These blemishes point to the difficulty in marrying large-scale open worlds with meticulous storytelling, paired with the scarring of a hurried development cycle.

In regards to story, the plot builds steadily, teasing wider mysteries while anchoring much of the action in character-driven moments that feel purposeful. The ending manages to close the main beats with reasonable care, not a fireworks finale that rewrites the mythology, but a conclusion that nods at the journey and the choices you made along the way, which suits the tone the rest of the game cultivates over its length. And while it may not leave players awe-struck, it still offers a reasonably sensible finale that feels logical, and at the very least, that is a good-enough compromise in my eyes.

As an addition to the wizarding universe, Hogwarts Legacy neither revolutionizes nor diminishes the franchise's legacy—a standalone entry that adds a substantial chapter to a universe that's long captured imaginations worldwide. The decision to set the story decades before the well-known events of the books frees it from direct comparisons, allowing it to carve out its own lore without stepping on sacred ground. The result is a delightful interpretation of the wizarding world that's completely worth stepping into, provided you're willing to forgive a few stumbles while you learn to appreciate the things it does well.

Looking back, Hogwarts Legacy succeeds as a sprawling fantasy RPG that captures much of what makes the wizarding world enchanting while delivering an accessible and engaging gameplay loop. It's not without its flaws, but its strengths, which are many, far outweigh its shortcomings, at least in my opinion. The game offers enough depth and charm to earn a place in the library of any player hungry for magic, mystery, and a hefty dose of exploration. If you're someone who has dreamed of roaming the halls of Hogwarts, wielding spells, and shaping your own wizarding destiny, this game is well worth the trip. It's a solid entry point for newcomers and a rich playground for longtime fans who want more than just a walking simulator.

Exploration constantly rewards curiosity, with Hogwarts and its surrounding area being packed full of secrets and charm.

Combat and spell cast feels impactful and layered, mixing offense, defense, and utility into dynamic encounters.

Progression systems actually matter, letting you customize abilities and playstyle in meaningful ways.

Although weak, the plot fits seamlessly into the lore, expanding history without stepping on established canon's toes.

Side quests often recycle the same formula, draining variety from the game's optional activities.

Technical issues like frame drops are a frequent nuisance, and occasional bugs can break the immersion at times.

Interactions with NPCs feel shallow, their personalities fading once their quest markers vanish from the map.

Story pacing swings between dragging its feet and rushing through key narrative moments too quickly.

Hogwarts Legacy

A sprawling fantasy RPG with a stunning world, fun spell combat, and rewarding exploration. Rough edges in pacing, quest variety, and polish hold it back, but its charm and depth outweigh the flaws for those willing to dive in with an open mind.