Spells, healing potions and protego bubbles respond even at the last possible moment, and my witch’s moves chain together in a way that feels volatile and magical. Players eventually step into battle with 16 spells ready to fire, a wheel full of potions and plants, a meter that generates extra-powerful magic moves, and some basic defenses - and all of these actions culminate in explosive, frictionless duels. Her favorite spell is incendio.Ĭombat in Hogwarts Legacy plays out across a variety of environments and against multiple enemy types, and it’s consistently delicious. Her name is Chenault, she’s a Slytherin, and her wand is 13 inches with a dragon heartstring core. I’m about 22 hours in on PlayStation 5 and I’m one skill away from completing my witch’s ability set. I’m not done with Hogwarts Legacy, but we weren’t given much lead time for the review and I feel I’ve played enough to form lasting opinions about the game. I feel like a witch - and that’s all I’ve ever really wanted. I feel powerful while playing Hogwarts Legacy. Combat involves intricate spellwork and lightning-quick responses, and this combination consistently results in a seamless, satisfying flow. Casting spells quickly becomes second nature in this environment and when it comes to puzzles, my magical instincts are often correct and richly rewarded.

It’s a massive and gorgeous open-world RPG that extends far beyond the walls of the wizarding school, with mysteries, danger and cute creatures packed into every corner. (And now I know what happened to my soul.)

I would’ve traded my little emo soul for a sprawling role-playing game that allowed me to be a student at Hogwarts, and 16 years later, that exact wish has been fulfilled. I grew up alongside the Harry Potter novels and devoured them all, and I spent the time between book releases reading and writing fanfiction set in the Wizarding World.

Hogwarts Legacy is the Harry Potter game I’ve been dreaming of since I was a teenager.

Hogwarts legacy gameplay length