Summary
Harry Potterhas skyrocketed in popularity since the film adaptations of the beloved books, but in the gaming space it hasn’t enjoyed as much success. A handful of tie-in experiences couldn’t save it from being largely unremarkable, butHogwarts Legacychanged that with a wonderful recreation of the titular school and its magical surroundings. The setting was both faithful and fresh, and the gameplay and combat was fluid, making battles andexploration around Hogwartsequally exciting.
Hogwarts Legacymade the decision to put players into a late 19th century version of the castle, meaning that a lot of the area looks different to what fans know. However, it does a good job of building on the norms ofHarry Potterto carve out a niche of its own, and the same could be replicated if it takes the time period in the opposite direction. A modern day-set project has its benefits, and could juxtapose the 2023 game to show how historic Hogwarts truly is.
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A Modern Hogwarts Legacy Game Would Show the Setting’s Scale
SettingHogwarts Legacyin the late 1800swas a stroke of genius, as it got out of the way of the films and books' timeline, giving it the freedom to take its narrative and characters in a number of different directions. It didn’t have to adhere to any pre-existing story beats outside a few lore tidbits along the way. Because of this, the personalities and goings-on in the school struck a good balance between familiar and new, something that will ensure the game stands alongside otherHarry Potterproducts rather than replaces them.
To bring gamers in the opposite direction time-wise and set a title in modern day would compliment the people and locations inHogwarts Legacy, as it would give the world a sense of scope and history. Crafting characters who descend fromProfessor Fig or Professor Sharpwould be fun to see, and knowing that the castle is largely unchanged in those years would make it all the more impressive knowing that generations of people have passed through its halls. The 1800s-set game and a modern counterpart would be contrasting in timeframe, but work together to give the world much more life.
A Modern Game Could Explore Harry Potter’s Legacy
Though Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry has a lot of history prior to Harry Potter’s arrival, a modern-set game could place Harry and his friends in that history, and look at them from an entirely new perspective. It could be interesting to roam around a setting afterHarry, Hermione, and Ron’s heroic deeds, and see their impact on the school, its students, and wizarding culture at large. Viewing Harry in the same light as people like Godric Gryffindor or Albus Dumbledore who massively shaped the wizarding world would be fascinating.
Grand Theft Autogoes from the time-pieces ofVice CityandSan Andreasto the modern day ofGrand Theft Auto 5seamlessly; this feat could be replicated byHogwarts Legacy, delving into two periods to give the space a sense of history and immense scope. The change could serve to elevate the characters that inhabit the setting, and give fans of theHarry Potterlicense a peek into post-Potter life at Hogwarts without affecting or leaning on the story told in the 1800s inHogwarts Legacy. The series has more to give, and the IP’s world-building means the timeline is vast, and compelling.
Hogwarts Legacyis out now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, with a Switch version releasing on November 14.
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