TheHarry Potteruniverse can be experienced in a variety of different ways like reading the books, taking a trip to Warner Bros. Studio Tour, or exploring the interactive world ofHarry Pottervideo games. With over fifteen video games to choose from, players really have been spoilt for choice, some even giving players the option to play from Hermione’s unique narrative.
The firstHarry Pottergame was developed by Superscape in 2001, the same year asHarry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stonewas released in cinemas. This would mark the beginning of a succession ofHarry Pottergames to be published over the following years, correlating with the release of each new film. However, afterHarry Potter and the Deathly HallowsPart 2stirred the emotions of every fan around the world, the succession of video games on console/PC trickled to a stop.
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Creator: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
In the beginning, most of these games followed the narrative of film protagonist Harry Potter. However, as the gameplay became more complex, players also had the option to play as other main characters. Stepping into the shoes of knowledge-loving bookwormHermione Grangerwas first introduced inCreator: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, published by EA and Lego Interactive in 2002. Sequel toLego Creator: Harry Potter, this game allows players to control Lego Hermione, among other Lego characters such as Ron and Hagrid. Players even have the option to build their own custom Lego characters, although their style is now rather outdated.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
TheHarry Pottervideo game series, following the storylines of each book/film, came afterLego Creatorand introduced RPG-style gameplay to the world of magic.Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkabanreleased in 2004 and was the first of the series to allow players to control Hermione and Ron along with Harry. Using these three characters, players can roam about the grounds of Hogwarts, collecting items and partaking in missions that move the storyline forward.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Coinciding with the fourthHarry Potterfilmrelease,Harry Potter and the Goblet of Firevideo game showed vast improvements from the previous three titles of the series, even though it was criticized for removing the free-roam features. Although it was only released a year after thePrisoner of Azkaban, the graphics inGoblet of Fireare noticeably better, with characters bearing more of a resemblance to their on-screen counterparts. Once again, players have the option to play as Hermione, who now wears jeans and a recognizable cardigan. Multiplayer was also introduced in this title, allowing friends to play together as the famous trio, exploring a vast new variety of content.
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Lego Harry Potter
Much more advanced than the earlier Lego games,Lego Harry Potter Years 1-4is an action-adventure game that covers the first four years of Harry’s life at Hogwarts school, published by Warner Bros. in 2010. Similar toLego Creator: Harry Potter, players can choose between a plethora of different Lego characters to control, including Hermione Granger. Along with story mode, players also have access to an online mode, only available on the Xbox 360 and Playstation 3. Released a year later,Lego Harry Potter Years 5-7has similar gameplay to the first title and also allows players to control the Lego Hermione figure.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2
The final installment of theHarry Pottervideo gameseries,Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2opened an expansive new environment for players to explore. Starting off in Gringotts Wizarding Bank, the game progresses through a series of missions, where the player mostly has control over Harry. However, there are opportunities to play from Hermione and Ron’s narrative, such as when they venture into the Chamber of Secrets to retrieve a basilisk fang.
Although the world ofHarry Potterhas experienced a dry spell of video games on console over the last eight years,Hogwarts Legacyis on the horizon, due for release in 2022. It has been confirmed that players will follow the narrative of their own character rather than one from the books. However, the experience of being able to play from the perspectives of Hermione, Ron, and other main characters is a unique one that should be explored in futureHarry Pottergames.
