10 best Harry Potter games to spend Christmas in Hogwarts

As the festive season is here again it’s the perfect excuse to revisit Hogwarts through the best Harry Potter games that have revolved around iconic locations and its characters since the first entry in 2001.

Whether you want to explore Hogwarts, use classic spells, or get wrapped up in an engrossing story, the top Harry Potter video games have a lot on offer for fans of the franchise. 

Best Harry Potter games

While it may be true that your preferred Harry Potter games coincide with your favorite novel or movie, some titles are better at delivering their stories than others. We’ve compiled a Harry Potter video games list, ranking games coming from the mainline series along with other magical twists.

10. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery (2018)

Become a student at Hogwarts and progress through all seven years in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery. After creating your character and selecting your house, you can attend classes at Hogwarts and learn to cast spells, how to fly, and more. 

Brew potions with Professor Snape, master Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall, and learn Charms with Professor Flitwick. As you complete quests, you can befriend a mix of new and familiar faces, and even compete for the prestigious House Cup. 

Whether you’re designing your dorm, learning the truth behind cursed vaults, or taking down Dementors, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery is among the best Harry Potter games on mobile because of the sheer amount of content and continuous rollout of limited-time events keep players coming back for more.

9. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2009)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was known for having the largest and most immersive Harry Potter game of its time, with extensive exploration. Following suit of the movie, Dumbledore and Harry Potter learn more about Voldemort’s past and his rise to power. 

As they prepare for the final showdown with Voldemort, expect to engage in wizard duels, discover how to mix and brew magical ingredients into potions via interesting mini games, and captain the Gryffindor Quidditch team to victory. 

Although the story takes just a few hours to complete, the focus on exploration in Half-Blood Prince provides extra content to discover, such as the 150 collectable Hogwarts crests hidden throughout the school.

8. Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire (2005)

In contrast, the Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire game took away all that exploration in favor of streamlined levels. The game throws you straight into the action, as Death Eaters attack and the three protagonists, Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, or Ron Weasley, who define your party for the entirety of the game, are left to fight enemies and do some puzzle-solving. 

Despite going for levels instead of free exploration, it still ranks as one of the best Harry Potter-themed games because the levels are varied, as is the spell system. At the start of each level, you select which member of the trio you want to play as, with the opportunity to team up with friends through co-op support.

7. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban (2004)

For the first time in the mainline Harry Potter game series, players could take control of Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, in addition to Harry Potter, switching between characters and utilizing their unique skills to solve puzzles and defeat enemies, thereby adding greater variety to the gameplay formula. Players will discover the mystery around Sirius Black and his escape from Azkaban, with many opportunities to freely roam the map. 

The world itself stands out as one of the best Harry Potter games because the additional challenges, presence of enjoyable side quests, and secrets to discover provide enough content range for you to be able to overlook the outdated graphics. Did we mention you can fly on a Hippogriff?

6. Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets (2002)

The reason why Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone isn’t on this Harry Potter video games list is that The Chamber of Secrets video game is so much better, expanding on its predecessor and ensuring a more polished playthrough. From better challenges, broom flying, and platforming levels, Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets is lighthearted and still a joy to play. There are plenty of puzzles to solve in the castle and spell battles to be had. 

As Dobby’s predictions about disaster striking Hogwarts start to come true, it becomes your job to find out the real identity of the Heir of Slytherin. Beyond the story, however, there’s optional side content and secrets to be discovered, offering a longer playtime than may initially meet the eye.

5. Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix (2007)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix centers on the creation of Dumbledore’s Army and its impact on the Defense Against the Dark Arts, as well as, of course, Voldemort. In this top Harry Potter video game, Harry teaches a group of students who call themselves Dumbledore’s Army how to defend themselves against the Dark Arts, preparing the young wizards for the threatening forces that will come their way, resulting in a familiar yet distinct story. 

In this instalment of the series, you will be able to play as characters outside of the core trio, such as Dumbledore and Sirius Black. This game updated combat with a new duel system, fresh spells and classes, and even adjusted the controls in relation to casting those spells. Hogwarts is fully explorable, and you are rewarded for doing so, especially if you’re somebody who likes to spend time finding all the items and collectibles in a game.

4. LEGO Harry Potter 1-4 (2010)

If you’re familiar with the humor and sense of adventure portrayed in LEGO games, then LEGO Harry Potter is worth playing just for its charm. However, Harry Potter fans will appreciate its story of connecting the bricks from Privet Drive to the Triwizard Tournament, while all the iconic Harry Potter locations can be seen in a new blocky light. 

Learn spells to solve puzzles and brew potions as you traverse the adventures of the first four Harry Potter books, meeting your favorite characters along the way. It is a mystical journey that makes for one of the best Harry Potter games on Xbox and PlayStation in particular, because it supports plug-and-play co-op. 

3. LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 (2012)

Based on the final three Harry Potter books and the last four movies in the series, LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 builds upon Years 1-4 to make the best LEGO Harry Potter game by offering new challenges and fresh takes on magic in a deeply developed world of Hogwarts, again,  transformed by blocks. 

Expect to go on a journey through Harry Potter’s magical adventures in Muggle and wizarding worlds, including Privet Drive in Little Whinging to Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade, and Hogwarts. As you progress through the story, all your actions will prepare you for a final battle against a LEGO version of Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters.

2. Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions (2024)

Not your traditional sports game, but Harry Potter fans will be all too familiar with Quidditch. In Quidditch Champions, adopt the role of the Chaser, Seeker, Keeper, or Beater, each with their unique play styles. In Career Mode, you must climb the ranks with the goal of making it all the way to the Quidditch World Cup, competing to be a champion solo or in online co-op with teams of up to three. 

There are Exhibition Matches that allow you to set your teams, choose your map, and difficulty, where you can play solo or in teams of up to three. Also, the Player vs Player mode is designed to test your abilities in competitive online matches against other Quidditch teams. If you’ve always wanted to strictly play Quidditch to your heart’s content, Quidditch: Champions allows you to do just that. Additionally, it features crossplay, positioning it among the best multiplayer Harry Potter games for competing with friends across all platforms.

1. Hogwarts Legacy (2023)

Hogwarts Legacy is by far the greatest Harry Potter game to play right now, even if it is set 100 years before the Harry Potter novels. You arrive at Hogwarts as your very own customizable student (even choosing your wand and house) who holds the key to an ancient secret that has the potential to destroy the world as you know it. 

Explore an open world Hogwarts, battle enemies and Dark wizards, and ultimately decide the fate of the wizarding world. Live out your witch and wizard dreams by creating your own magical adventure in this RPG that has more action than you can shake a wand at. What’s more, Hogwarts Legacy is the best Harry Potter game on PC as mod support for this platform opens up further gameplay opportunities.