Hogwarts Legacy (Ages 12+)

This is the big one. Released in 2023, Hogwarts Legacy is an open-world RPG set in the 1800s—long before Harry was born. Your kid creates their own witch or wizard, attends classes, explores Hogwarts, and gets tangled up in a dark wizarding conspiracy.

The good: It's genuinely excellent. The castle is breathtaking, the spell combat is satisfying, and the character customization is inclusive (you can make your character trans if you want, which feels important given J.K. Rowling's... well, you know).

The concerns: This is a real action game with combat violence—you're fighting dark wizards, trolls, and spiders. There's an "Unforgivable Curses" questline where your character can learn and use killing spells. The game doesn't force you down a dark path, but the option is there. Also, it's a 40+ hour game that can become genuinely consuming.

Platform: PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PC
Price: $60-70 (though often on sale)

LEGO Harry Potter Collection (Ages 7+)

The LEGO Harry Potter games cover all seven books/eight movies in that charming LEGO style where everything breaks into colorful bricks. These games are legitimately funny, great for co-op play with a parent or sibling, and have that perfect LEGO game formula of exploration, light puzzle-solving, and gentle humor.

The violence is cartoonish—characters fall apart into LEGO pieces. The magic is simplified but still feels magical. And honestly? These games are a blast for adults too. If your kid is Potter-obsessed and you want something you can play together, this is it.

Platform: Pretty much everything (PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, PC)
Price: $20-30 for the collection

Harry Potter: Wizards Unite (RIP)

This was Pokémon GO but for Harry Potter fans. It shut down in 2022, so I'm only mentioning it because your kid might ask about it after seeing old YouTube videos. Tell them it's gone to the same place as their Tamagotchi—dead and not coming back.

Hogwarts Mystery (Ages 10+, with caveats)

This mobile game lets kids experience Hogwarts as a student during the 1980s. It's free-to-play, which means it's actually pay-to-not-wait. The energy system is aggressively designed to frustrate kids into spending money or watching ads.

That said, the story is decent, the character customization is fun, and if your kid has patience (or you set firm boundaries about spending), it can provide weeks of entertainment. Just be ready for "Can I buy gems?" conversations.

Platform: iOS, Android
Price: Free (with aggressive monetization)

The Early Console Games (Ages 8+)

The Harry Potter games from the PlayStation 1 and 2 era (Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, etc.) were... fine for their time. Now they're clunky, frustrating, and honestly kind of boring. If your kid stumbles across them on an old console or emulator, they're not harmful—just not particularly fun by modern standards.

Harry Potter: Magic Awakened (Ages 10+)

A card-battling mobile game that's popular in some regions but feels very "mobile game-y" with its monetization. It's not terrible, but there are better ways to spend gaming time.

The Rowling Question

Let's address the elephant in the Room of Requirement: J.K. Rowling's views on trans issues have made many families uncomfortable with supporting new Harry Potter content. Hogwarts Legacy was particularly controversial on this front.

Here's what you need to know: Rowling wasn't directly involved in developing Hogwarts Legacy, but she does earn royalties from it. The game itself includes trans-inclusive character creation options. Whether you purchase these games is a values decision for your family. No judgment either way—just know that this conversation might come up, especially with tweens and teens who are more aware of these issues.

Time Sink Alert

Hogwarts Legacy is a massive game. We're talking 40-60 hours for a basic playthrough, potentially 100+ for completionists. If your kid has a tendency to hyperfocus on games, this one will absolutely consume them. The LEGO games are also lengthy but more naturally broken into levels, making them easier to pause.

Combat and Violence

The LEGO games keep everything cartoonish and light. Hogwarts Legacy has real combat—you're stunning, burning, and yes, potentially killing enemies. It's not graphic (no blood, bodies disappear), but it's more intense than many parents expect from a "Harry Potter game."

Social Features

Most of these games are single-player or local co-op. Hogwarts Mystery has some light social features but nothing that requires voice chat or exposes kids to strangers. This is actually refreshing compared to most modern games.

Ages 6-9: Stick with the LEGO Harry Potter Collection. It's age-appropriate, fun, and you can play together.

Ages 10-11: LEGO games are still great. Hogwarts Mystery is okay if you're comfortable with mobile game monetization and can set firm boundaries about spending.

Ages 12+: Hogwarts Legacy becomes an option, but know your kid. The action combat and time commitment are real factors. Some 12-year-olds are ready; others should wait until 14+.

If your kid is Potter-obsessed, the LEGO Harry Potter Collection is the safest bet across the widest age range. It's genuinely good, reasonably priced, and something you can enjoy together.

For older kids (12+) who can handle action games and longer time commitments, Hogwarts Legacy is legitimately one of the best games of recent years—just be prepared for it to dominate their free time for weeks.

The mobile games? They're fine as free entertainment if you set firm boundaries about spending, but they're designed to nickel-and-dime you. Tread carefully.

Want to dig deeper into specific games? Check out our full guides on Hogwarts Legacy and LEGO Harry Potter for age-specific recommendations, content warnings, and tips for setting healthy boundaries around these games.

And if you're dealing with a kid who's asking for Hogwarts Legacy but you're not sure they're ready, let's talk about how to evaluate if your kid is ready for action RPGs.