Hogwarts Legacy has been a mammoth success for Warner Bros. And Avalanche Software, and will inevitably inform how both of these entities conduct business moving forward. Indeed, as 2023's best-selling game, Hogwarts Legacy is sure to define the gaming sector of Warner Bros. For the foreseeable future, as it's arguably the media conglomerate's greatest success in the interactive space.
At least, it's the greatest financial success that Warner Bros. Has seen in gaming; whether it's the biggest creative success is far more debatable. Hogwarts Legacy, for all its strengths (of which there are many, make no mistake), is somewhat bland and uninspired in many areas, from its narrative to its progression systems and world design. Stripping back the ever-iconic Harry Potter facade reveals Hogwarts Legacy to be disappointingly formulaic and risk-averse, shying away from anything that could resemble a creative leap. This conservative design philosophy extends to the game's enemy variety: there are precious few unique enemies to fight in Hogwarts Legacy, leaving many to hope that the sequel will take steps to broaden its enemy roster, even if that means simply building upon the foundations of its predecessor.
Hogwarts Legacy Professor Tier List
Several professors make an appearance on Hogwarts Legacy's screen, but they have varying degrees of impact on the protagonist's experience.
Hogwarts Legacy 2 Could Address the Spider in the Room
Spiders Are Over-Represented in Hogwarts Legacy
Wading through Hogwarts Legacy's enemy-infested zones, particularly caverns and other dense, dark outdoor areas, players will inevitably be faced with an abundance of oversized spiders, also known as acromantulas. Some will be larger than others, some will spew webs, and some will leap through the air viciously, but they are all arachnids with only a minor injection of fantasy elements. Aside from humans and goblins, these are the creatures that Hogwarts Legacy players will battle the most.
This is rather disappointing. After all, Hogwarts Legacy is based upon the Harry Potter IP, a property that features a wide variety of distinct and intimidating fantasy creatures, from vampires to basilisks to werewolves, but acromantulas are what take up hours of players' time in combat. It doesn't help that spiders are already something of a cliché in fantasy games, often included as fodder or filler enemies that players need to cut their teeth on before moving on to grander, more complex threats. Only in Hogwarts Legacy, these creatures never give way to something greater, nor do they develop into more significant, interesting opponents themselves.
Hogwarts Legacy 2 Should Hone in Spider Intelligence
One of the most frustrating aspects of Hogwarts Legacy's treatment of acromantulas is the squandering of their most unique trait: intelligence. According to the source material, acromantulas are far more advanced than most would assume at first, as they are known to have complex social structures and traditions, including marriage and human-like child-parent relationships. Aragog, the most prominent acromantula in the Harry Potter series, can even speak English, and has a friendship with Hagrid.
It's a shame that Hogwarts Legacy would include such complex creatures without even gesturing toward their high-level reasoning and emotional intelligence. The combination of ruthless, bloodthirsty violence (which includes a hunger for human flesh) and more sophisticated logic and cognitive skills is fascinating, and could make acromantulas far more menacing and complex in Hogwarts Legacy 2. Perhaps the sequel could include an acromantula antagonist, one that attempts to thwart the player-character through intelligent schemes and tricks in addition to raw power. Or maybe these enemies could exhibit their intelligence by being stealthy during combat encounters, disappearing into cracks in caves or scurrying away into the shadows, striking when the player is disoriented. It's the capacity for this sort of critical thinking that sets acromantulas apart from the giant spiders of World of Warcraft, Skyrim, and the like, so Hogwarts Legacy 2 should capitalize on it.
Hogwarts Legacy
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 84 /100 Critics Rec: 88%
- Released
- February 10, 2023
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Use of Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Avalanche Software
- Publisher(s)
- Warner Bros. Games
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Cross-Platform Play
- Hogwarts Legacy doesn't have crossplay or crossplatform support
- 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
WHERE TO PLAY
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 be Experience 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.
- Franchise
- Harry Potter
- Number of Players
- Single-player
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- PC Release Date
- February 10, 2023
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- February 10, 2023
- PS5 Release Date
- February 10, 2023
- Nintendo Switch Release Date
- November 14, 2023
- Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date
- June 5, 2025
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
- How Long To Beat
- 26 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- yes
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
