Harry Potter video games

Generally, the video game adaptations of the Harry Potter series were designed to be released to coincide with the release schedule of the film series. The first game in the series, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (known as "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone", for North American release) was developed by five different teams, creating five different versions, for different consoles. The games were developed by Argonaut Games[1] (PlayStation), Aspyr[2] (Mac OS), Griptonite Games[3] (Game Boy Color and Game Boy Advance), and KnowWonder[4] (personal computer). Two years later, Warthog Games released versions for sixth generation consoles (GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox).[5] The game was released after the Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and used many of the same assets.[6] The game featured puzzles aimed at "eight- to fourteen-year-olds" and aimed to capture the mood of the novel of the same name.[7]

During the release of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, developer Eurocom was brought on board to create the sixth generation console releases (GameCube, PlayStation 2 and Xbox) as well as the Game Boy Advance release. This version included new assets specifically for the Chamber of Secrets and free-roam flying on a broomstick on the PlayStation 2 release, which was not possible on any other release. This version removed many of the puzzle sections found in the first game and replaced them with action sections and boss fights. The PC version, however, many of the same assets as those in Philosopher's Stone, and retained a more puzzle-oriented gameplay.[8]

The release of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban switched genre to a role-playing video game (RPG). GameSpot likened the game to Chrono Trigger and Pokémon.[9] The third installment featured separate games for the PC version and a console release, this time made by EA Bright Light (EA's United Kingdom subsidiary). Both of these versions made Harry, Hermione and Ron playable characters. In the PC release, Buckbeak and Hedwig were made playable as well.[10]

In the Goblet of Fire, players can play multiplayer, as all three protagonists.

In 2005, World of Harry Potter was released for PC, containing all of the first three novel games, and the Quiddich World Cup game.[11] Following Prisoner of Azkaban, EA took charge of creating all versions of the game. The PC and Mac releases were developed as ports of the console release. In Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, the style from previous titles was reduced to a more linear, level based system, as the character followed certain scenes from the film. Multiplayer components were factored into the game's release: up to three players from the same console.[12]

During the development of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the development team from EA Bright Light had more interaction with author J.K. Rowling when attempting to create playable card games for the series. The rules that were created were later revealed to be the official rules in canon.[13] This release was the first in the series to include motion capture from actors in the film series, including Rupert Grint and Evanna Lynch.[13] The game made a return to the free-roaming style of earlier games.

In 2009, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince was released after originally being planned for 2008. It was pushed back six months to be released with the film of the same name.[14] The release removed the multiplayer component of the previous two games; Ron and Ginny Weasley were still playable, but only in certain locations.[15] The final two games in the main series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 and Part 2, take place away from Hogwarts, and features locations such as The Ministry of Magic. These games use a stealth and combat mechanic similar to those found in modern first person shooters. Jonathan Bunney, head of Production at EA Bright Light, stated that the final two installments would be "darker and more action-oriented game(s)."[16]

In 2002, following the release of Chamber of Secrets, EA Games engaged game developer Magic Pockets, who created the GBA version, to produce a video game based on Quidditch.[17]

Due to the release schedule of the Prisoner of Azkaban film, there was no main series release in 2003. Instead, Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup was released in its place. Previous games had featured Quidditch but only focused on Potter as the seeker; Quidditch World Cup put players in control of the team's "chasers" and the rest of the team's players via mini-games.[18] The game featured both matches played at Hogwarts, and matches played internationally.

In 2010, following a release of a special Potter-themed Lego set, Lego Harry Potter, Traveller's Tales announced that a Lego Harry Potter video game would be released, similar to releases for Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures and Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga.[19] The series was split into two: Lego Harry Potter: Years 1–4 was released in 2010 and Lego Harry Potter: Years 5–7 was released in 2011.

In 2012 and 2013 two augmented reality games were created, titled Book of Spells and Book of Potions respectively. These were both released for PlayStation 3.[20] These games used the PlayStation Move controller, as well as the Wonderbook accessory for the PlayStation Eye. The Wonderbook accessory was brought out in conjuncture with Book of Spells, allowing players to see an augmented reality version of real life books.[21]

In 2017, two new themed character packs for a Toys-to-life console video game Lego Dimensions were released. One contained Lego figurines of Harry, Voldemort, mini Ford Anglia and mini Hogwarts Express, while the other one contained figurines of Hermione and Buckbeak. At the same time, Portkey Games partnered with Jam City to release Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery in March 2018 for iOS and Android.[22] The game featured a new spin on the Potter universe by setting the game before the book series, but still at Hogwarts. The game featured similar components to those of other freemium games, such as wait timers, and microtransactions.[23]

Following the release of Pokémon Go, Niantic announced Harry Potter: Wizards Unite, a similar augmented reality game. The game allowed players to see the game world through a smartphone.[24]

The Harry Potter video game series received mixed reviews from critics. Nintendo consoles (specifically the Wii) scored higher marks than other console releases. According to media review site Metacritic, the series received its best response for the Chamber of Secrets game. Despite the game being created differently for different systems, the game was rated higher consoles across the board against every other entry in the series.

The series generally received acclaim for its representation of the media it is based on. Detroit Free Press gave the Goblet of Fire GameCube version four out of four stars and said, "This is a masterful video game because it can be enjoyed on many levels. Younger players can simply explore this graphically rich Harry Potter world and succeed. Older players will enjoy manipulating the magic by choosing spells and skills and casting magic together with friends."[77] However, The Sydney Morning Herald gave the game three out of five stars and stated that its highlight "is a brief but thrilling broomstick chase against a fire-breathing dragon. An underwater interlude is less successful, although it provides variety."[78]

Frank Provo of GameSpot was very positive about the Prisoner of Azkaban GBA game's recreation of the novel; saying "The main thing to keep in mind is that Prisoner of Azkaban on the GBA offers a fun way for Harry Potter fans to step into the shoes of their favorite wizard-in-training and experience firsthand everything that happened in the third installment of the series."[9] Gerald Villoria of GameSpot praised the developers efforts, for the PlayStation version, in re-creating the Hogwarts castle and different looking characters, but said the despite the graphics being like "extremely jagged polygons."[79]

Later entries the series received severely lower scores on Metacritic, as critics rated Deathly Hallows – Part 1 being the poorest reviewed. The Official Xbox Magazine stated the game had "so much wrong with this game that we don't have space to list it all"[80] and Kristine Steimer from IGN calling that game not "worthy of the Harry Potter branding." before giving the gameplay for the game 2 out of 10, stating "Between the camera breaking frequently, boring shoot-out sequences and uninspired stealth missions, the game gets worse and worse as you play."[27]

Other games in based around Harry Potter have been generally praised, especially the Lego Harry Potter games. Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 specifically scored well: Metacritic scored the game at 79%, for its PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox release.[86] Greg Miller of IGN praised the game for its "gorgeous environments, clever use of the famed spells, legitimate humor and adorable references"[100] and called it a "love letter to fans of the Boy Who Lived."[100] The Official Nintendo Magazine gave the Wii and DS version 80%, saying that it was "one of the best Harry Potter games ever", however it lacked originality compared to previous Lego video games.[101]

Besides the Lego Harry Potter titles, two titles were released for the PlayStation 3, using augmented reality. Book of Potions and Book of Spells both built for the Wonderbook, received mixed reviews from critics. They criticized the game's short length, but commended use of the augmented reality within the games. Alex Simmons of IGN commented that Book of Spells was "shallow and rarely compelling", but called the technology behind it "fantastic".[102] Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, also released in 2018, received media backlash for its use of microtransactions, despite the game being free to play. David Jagnaeux from IGN Africa reviewed the game, but called it "awful", that the "gratuitous microtransactions" that "actively prevented" him from enjoying the game.[103]

In 2002, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone was nominated for three D.I.C.E. Awards in the "Console Family", "Original Musical Composition" and "PC Family" categories.[104] Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 won the Kotaku "best adapted game" award in 2010, with Brian Crecente proclaiming it to be the "Best Lego Game to Date."[105] The game was nominated for two awards in the 7th British Academy Games Awards, in the "family" and "handheld" sections.[106] In addition, it was nominated for "Best Adapted Video Game" for the Spike video game awards in 2010.[107] The musical score of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by Jeremy Soule received a BAFTA Award for Original Music in 2004.[108]

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince received a BAFTA nomination in 2010 for James Hannigan's music score,[109] and won an International Film Music Critics Association (IFMCA) Award for best video game score in 2009.[110] Book of Spells received a nomination for "game innovation" at the BAFTA Awards in 2013.[111] As of 2014, The Harry Potter video game series was stated to have sold $1.5 billion in sales.[112]