Hogwarts Legacy review: Video game set in Harry Potter universe gets positive response  

The Hogwarts Legacy video game met high expectations as it was marketed as a dream game set in the Harry Potter universe. However, development studios had limited experience creating large-scale projects. The first reviews of Hogwarts Legacy have been published to high scores and positive reactions.

Hogwarts Legacy received an average score of 86 on both Opencritic and Metacritic, based on dozens of reviews. This score is considered strong in the game. 

Hogwarts Legacy received an average score of 86, based on dozens of reviews on both Opencritic and Metacritic. The score is considered strong in the gaming industry but not considered a game of games, and 86 represents a solid average.

IGN’s Travis Northup said of the game, “Hogwarts Legacy is the Harry Potter RPG I’ve always wanted to play.” He recalls, “Most of the characters are unforgettable.” He also points out that he was able to go through the storyline after 32 hours in the game. In the Final Judgment, Travis Northup wrote:
“Hogwarts Legacy is, in almost every way, the Harry Potter RPG I’ve always wanted to play.  

With modern pop culture relentlessly tapping into childhood nostalgia, it’s worth noting that so far there has been no credible attempt at a big-budget Harry Potter video game. Hogwarts Legacy has a lot to do:
It is the product of millions of childhood dreams. Putting on the Sorting Hat and entering the Gryffindor common room, effortlessly manipulating the world with a wand, and battling dark wizards are all fantasies that can easily come true.

But among the fair share of millennials who make up Potter’s original and most passionate fan base, J.K. Rowling intervened in the trans rights debate. Crisis Center — Provoking outrage, this game is subject to a boycott.

It’s clear that a lot of effort went into diversifying the magical world of Potter for audiences in 2023, so it’s a shame the game can’t escape its context. The Hogwarts legacy is intentionally all-encompassing, aside from the confusing decision to use one of the most offensive tropes in the book, the goblin, as the central enemy. Hogwarts students and staff come from Uganda, India and South Korea. It is strongly implied that at least one character is trans, if not explicitly stated. The female quest giver will casually introduce her wife within the first 5 hours. It may be set in the 1800’s, but this is a completely modern setting. 

The scope of the open world is impressive. I was always amazed by the outline of Hogwarts’ walls against the mountains. But I longed for a more intimate, character-driven Potter fantasy.
Conversations in the dormitory, conflicts and conflicts between teachers and students, friends of encounters. Instead, you must collect hundreds and battle dark wizards and magical wild animals. Like most open world games, it starts to feel repetitive and pointless after a while.

Hogwarts Legacy draws its magic from its setting, not its game design. Combat with spells is exciting for the first few hours, but becomes progressively more difficult to control as more and more enchantments can be slotted into the swappable skill wheel.
If you arrive at the wrong time for a quest, young witches/wizards will spend their time lying on the ground. I am constantly collecting new coats, scarves, and glasses that are just a little bit better that I need to constantly replace and mock my character in the inventory screen. Whenever you find a new settlement or building, the first thing you do is steal everything there. It has elaborate crafting and upgrade features that I rarely use.

At 15+ hours of play, Hogwarts Legacy feels like countless open-world games from the past decade. However, you can ride the Hippogriff. It’s those magical moments and settings that save it from mediocrity, but only if the magical world still draws you in.