Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery

 iOS
User Score
2.3

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 135 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 135
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 135
  3. Negative: 106 out of 135
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  1. vvmax
    May 30, 2018
    7
    It’s okay. I love the idea. The side characters are well written (other than Snape) and a brilliant story but the reason I rate the game a 7 no 9 or 10 is that the Microtransactions ruined the game for me. You have ‘Energy’ points which gets lower by doing things in the game. And if you run out of Energy you have to wait like 2 hours to get more or you could buy Gems with real money to buyIt’s okay. I love the idea. The side characters are well written (other than Snape) and a brilliant story but the reason I rate the game a 7 no 9 or 10 is that the Microtransactions ruined the game for me. You have ‘Energy’ points which gets lower by doing things in the game. And if you run out of Energy you have to wait like 2 hours to get more or you could buy Gems with real money to buy energy. And this would be fine if you had more of it to start with but you have a very small amount (I think it’s 25)… Expand
  2. Reynald
    May 21, 2019
    8
    This game is actually good but have bad energy system.And the fifth year have a good mystery but it's waaaay too long
  3. VickKiang
    Jan 17, 2022
    3
    Superficially appearing to be a free RPG with a reasonable design, gameplay shallow with straightforward swiping and clicking but the storylines appear exceptional. Some of the game modes are slightly better other than those lessons, with duelling comprising a rock paper scissor system but is satisfactory; choices could be made, unearthing slightly different character arcs during variousSuperficially appearing to be a free RPG with a reasonable design, gameplay shallow with straightforward swiping and clicking but the storylines appear exceptional. Some of the game modes are slightly better other than those lessons, with duelling comprising a rock paper scissor system but is satisfactory; choices could be made, unearthing slightly different character arcs during various chances, particularly during the consolidation with friends (nevertheless, the choices are decidedly simple that anyone would select the correct answer). The storyline has flaws (e.g., Snape loathing you despite you selecting Slytherin), and various aspects are similar to the original Harry Potter, but overall it is a nice RPG storywise with solid development, particularly regarding your brother. It is exceptionally fun to watch the different characters, especially the charming professors, still, some characters, such as the vexatious Rowan, are dull.

    If the gameplay is a decent 7, the microtransaction system is nothing other than ludicrous absurdity. Essentially, the game has an energy system with a bar of a maximum of 25 that recharges one every four minutes! During lessons, you are imposed to tap objects that will reduce your energy, inducing you to wait endlessly or wait for four minutes, tap once and subsequently wait again! Even compounded is that the lessons have a real-time limit- if you do not complete them successfully on time, repeating is required, which manifests a vicious circle into having you purchase money to purchase gems to gain energy. This is a deplorable freemium system, and other side quests, such as caring for your magical creature or duelling, also require time limits or paying gems; which is atrocious! This abominable model incontrovertibly ruins a flawed and shallow yet charming RPG into one insurmountable cash grab. And despite this potentially being a filler and my continued desire to play to observe fascinating moments with Snape, this horrible system deserves panning.    … Expand
  4. Fyrapan
    Jan 30, 2023
    2
    This is a very underwhelming game that is using the usual mobile game practices, and micro-transactions that are a must in order to progress through the game and the story. Sad because the game otherwise looks pretty solid for a mobile game and it had potential.
  5. ProfMcGear
    Jan 7, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This videogame is the perfect union between the book canon and the films cannon. The graphics are better than 'Episode' graphics, even Voldemort appears as is described in the books, as a red-eyed being. The story mode is pretty convincing, and even though it is not completely conected to the "Harry Potter School Era", it's a complete reminiscence of the original books, and it takes and materialize what the films couldn't bring to life because of timing or budget. The posibility of make friends that in "Harry Potter School Era" are adults and even some of them are not even mentioned, it's the best and complete story arc ever made rather than voldemort insecure presence trough all the films and books. Jacob's disappearance, the mystery of the organization of "R" and the fact of the existence of the Cursed Vaults (vital factor in the plot of "The Player's School Stage") make the video game a perfect successor (as for our temporal location) and predecessor (from the point of view of the game) of its origins and also a unique product because it has no relationship (almost) with the original franchise and makes us be part of something of or that we never thought we would be part of.… Expand
  6. dan121212
    Apr 27, 2018
    0
    Avoid this game at all costs. This is nothing but a terrible cash grab with many timers and paywalls. Merely 10minutes into the game you will hit the Devils Snare and your first 20-30minute paywall. 5mins of playing after that you will hit flying school which is a paywall lasting multiple several hour periods. In short advancing in this game would require a HUGE amount of gems. We areAvoid this game at all costs. This is nothing but a terrible cash grab with many timers and paywalls. Merely 10minutes into the game you will hit the Devils Snare and your first 20-30minute paywall. 5mins of playing after that you will hit flying school which is a paywall lasting multiple several hour periods. In short advancing in this game would require a HUGE amount of gems. We are talking $1-2 per MINUTE of gameplay.

    This is a shockingly bad cashgrab in a poorly designed game with BARELY ANY content. This can probably safely join the ranks of the worst mobile games to ever hit market. It's just sad that it uses the Harry Potter license.    … Expand
  7. njja02
    Jun 17, 2018
    0
    Nothing, I repeat nothing about this game is good or even decent. It's boring, ugly, and it forces some of the most egregious micro-transactions ever onto you. The game literally chokes your avatar until you pay up, or you have to wait 20 freaking minutes. And right after that the game makes you wait hours in total to get through the first year alone. Don't give a single bit of attentionNothing, I repeat nothing about this game is good or even decent. It's boring, ugly, and it forces some of the most egregious micro-transactions ever onto you. The game literally chokes your avatar until you pay up, or you have to wait 20 freaking minutes. And right after that the game makes you wait hours in total to get through the first year alone. Don't give a single bit of attention to this game.… Expand
  8. Arma15
    May 3, 2018
    0
    I’m a huge HP fan, and habe to say that it is the worst “””game”” I’ve ever seen. Howcome they approve that thing to go out global knowing it’s such a garbage? Nothing rescues it, nether the plot, nor the terrible animations, nothing to do but to press the screen, stupid actions when lesrning spells such as “eatch rowan” “daydream” really what?! Not even for an indie this could be at leastI’m a huge HP fan, and habe to say that it is the worst “””game”” I’ve ever seen. Howcome they approve that thing to go out global knowing it’s such a garbage? Nothing rescues it, nether the plot, nor the terrible animations, nothing to do but to press the screen, stupid actions when lesrning spells such as “eatch rowan” “daydream” really what?! Not even for an indie this could be at least acceptable.… Expand
  9. SodaNL
    May 2, 2018
    0
    Never have i ever seen such a greedy and outrages game AIMED AT CHILDREN!!

    Now i'm not someone who will say THINK OF THE CHILDREN, but this is just discusting. The amount of money grabbing and just shady bull in this game is just.. wow just wow. I can't wait to hear about the first parent losing thousands of dollars to this piece of shiet because their kid kept buying crystals    Never have i ever seen such a greedy and outrages game AIMED AT CHILDREN!!

    Now i'm not someone who will say THINK OF THE CHILDREN, but this is just discusting.
    The amount of money grabbing and just shady bull in this game is just.. wow just wow.

    I can't wait to hear about the first parent losing thousands of dollars to this piece of shiet because their kid kept buying crystals without knowing wth they are doing.

    Warner Brothers showing their true colors once again!    … Expand
  10. hairypot
    May 15, 2018
    0
    This is the worst "game" I've ever seen come from a big publisher, the entire premise is to click on prompts on the screen and pay money when you run out of time or energy, there is not game here, it's just a poorly crafted money making scheme hoping to get children to buy the micro transactions.
  11. getrwuegyweh
    Apr 27, 2018
    0
    One of the worst mobile games. The game play is awful, the characters move like SIMS. The friend of your character, Rowan, is one annoying person who has a face like a bird. The game makes you think you have multiple choice answers but you will have to repeat answers until you choose what they want, Very 1 dimensional game. Play it for 2 minutes, run out of energy, wait an hour, finishOne of the worst mobile games. The game play is awful, the characters move like SIMS. The friend of your character, Rowan, is one annoying person who has a face like a bird. The game makes you think you have multiple choice answers but you will have to repeat answers until you choose what they want, Very 1 dimensional game. Play it for 2 minutes, run out of energy, wait an hour, finish the quest, then have to wait 3 hours before the next quest is available. It's utter garbage and I would not bother recommending this to anyone. Just begging you to purchase Gems from the start and it's not fun in the slightest.… Expand
  12. ziggysilver
    Apr 29, 2018
    0
    The worst fremium game ever. The game is good but if you don't pay them a lot of money, you just can't play it.
  13. swellfish
    May 14, 2018
    0
    If you like spending money on nothing, this game is for you!
    If you like waiting for hours for your poor little energy meter to fill up, this game is for you!
    If you like watching a shallow, Broad Strokes version of Harry Potter, this game is for you!
    And if you like nothing more than a cash grab this blatant, this game is for you!
  14. Bocio
    May 7, 2018
    2
    - Lack of creativity and of possibilities rule this game;
    - All side characters are pretty annoying;
    - In game coins merely don't serve for any purpose; - The energy bar takes forever to be refilled, which means you stop every time, killing the flow of the game's lore; - Spells and potions exist but they don't really do much. They're not fun. I'd give it a 3, but since there was a    - Lack of creativity and of possibilities rule this game;
    - All side characters are pretty annoying;
    - In game coins merely don't serve for any purpose;
    - The energy bar takes forever to be refilled, which means you stop every time, killing the flow of the game's lore;
    - Spells and potions exist but they don't really do much. They're not fun.

    I'd give it a 3, but since there was a bug or i was hacked and almost all my gems were gone purchasing energy i never bought, I give it a 2. I tried to contact their in-app help chat, but nobody ever answered me back.    … Expand
  15. BigPolish12
    Apr 29, 2018
    0
    very bad and just lives off the harry potter name but it a cash grab. nobody would play if it wasnt for 'harry potter' in the title
  16. EljeroTV
    Apr 26, 2018
    3
    Combining a time limit in which certain events have to be finished with an energy system where you constantly have to wait for it being refilled to fulfill any actions, is the most dreadful thing I have ever come across in a "freemium" game.

    And sadly, the rest of the game - while showing some promising nuances and Harry Potter-flair are far from exceptional enough to make up for this.    Combining a time limit in which certain events have to be finished with an energy system where you constantly have to wait for it being refilled to fulfill any actions, is the most dreadful thing I have ever come across in a "freemium" game.

    And sadly, the rest of the game - while showing some promising nuances and Harry Potter-flair are far from exceptional enough to make up for this.

    Really a wasted opportunity.    … Expand
  17. falangel
    May 3, 2018
    0
    The game is a complete cash grab. I am a complete fan of Harry Potter and think a great game is in the makes if they would simply remove the energy system.
  18. eternity89
    May 9, 2018
    0
    This is not a game, it's a poorly animated movie, which you can watch - either over the course of a couple of months or by paying **** of money every minute.
  19. WendyClarke
    Apr 27, 2018
    0
    Crap game man dont even bother wasting your time its dog all just rubbish and not good
  20. Mpbpl
    May 2, 2018
    1
    One of THE worst mobile games ever made.
    We all know that mobile games that are free need to use some type of monetization to survive and some of them use energy that expires and needs to refill; some of them use waiting queues before the next event; some of them use time limits to achieve the best score so you need to spend energy to get them... HP:HM DOES ALL OF THEM!!!
    After the    One of THE worst mobile games ever made.
    We all know that mobile games that are free need to use some type of monetization to survive and some of them use energy that expires and needs to refill; some of them use waiting queues before the next event; some of them use time limits to achieve the best score so you need to spend energy to get them... HP:HM DOES ALL OF THEM!!!
    After the tutorial and first level ups, the game becomes a chore. If you want to win the house cup you need to select long classes and you need to refill your energy 3 TIMES to actually complete EACH class. What happens if you can't get all stars in the amount of time? The class is over and you lost the points. The energy bar is SO SMALL and every action takes so much and with a time limit makes everything horrible...
    and the gameplay? It is a click on the environment type of game, but there are no points during these, the only thing that stops you is the energy bar... and you don't actually click on the environment but on a bar... tapping on bars.. that sums it.
    The story had potential but there is no way that anyone will try to find out... or how long will that take... and there seems to be no endgame, no multiplayer, nothing... if it is after 7 years of hogwarts..... no thx    … Expand
  21. sgy0003
    May 8, 2018
    0
    Oh look, another mobile game putting paywalls everywhere to monetize on the players
  22. familyguy
    May 16, 2018
    0
    This game will strangle you to dead until you paid them real money. Not even joking it literally strangle you to dead if you dont paid up. seriously if you have children make them stay a way from this sh#t game . Harry Potter or not it not worth your time or your money
  23. hellochan
    May 15, 2018
    0
    Worst game I've ever seen come out of any publisher, it's not a game, it's a pay to go through button prompts experience instead.
  24. xxSxx
    May 6, 2018
    0
    This is the worst mobile app I have ever played.
    Basically, the only gameplay you get is tapping your phone, making signs on your phones and using microtransactions//wait hours long to tap even more.
    I am a massive HP fan, I would instantly buy a worthy RPG. But this game is absolute ****
  25. joao1198pedro
    May 16, 2018
    0
    I was really hyped by this game, but unfortunately the intense microtransation fustrates me a lot and made me get out of the world pretty easy, the story is really interesting but it's impossible to get involved when playng free, because the energy always end before you complete the activity (wich are repetitive but we cant expect more from a mobile game).
  26. amazingtiger
    May 16, 2018
    0
    It's a complete scam. It should be illegal, it's designed to get money from kids buying into micro-transactions.
  27. Gharren
    Jun 10, 2018
    2
    This game could have been a decent dive into the mobile market for the Harry Potter franchise, but is ruined by greedy devs and quite literal paywalls. The initial impression was good for a free mobile game - solid style, good sound, the character creation is limited, but at least it's there, and there is SOME hint of player choice... then it spirals downwards into the abyss of the mobileThis game could have been a decent dive into the mobile market for the Harry Potter franchise, but is ruined by greedy devs and quite literal paywalls. The initial impression was good for a free mobile game - solid style, good sound, the character creation is limited, but at least it's there, and there is SOME hint of player choice... then it spirals downwards into the abyss of the mobile industry. Once you run out of energy (which happens quickly, you cannot even complete a single mission in one go), you have to wait AGES for it to refill, and the game literally doesn't let you do anything other than wait in the meantime. Exploring the castle, or talking with people? Ha, you wish. This game makes you stare at a three-hour countdown going down (unless you want to pay, of course). The part of the actual gameplay is mostly tapping on buttons, observing okay-ish cutscenes and dialogues, and solving minigames that are fun, but get repetitive quickly. You can buy cosmetic items for your character, but the prices are so absurd that you basically have to pay money unless you want to farm for days for a bunch of colored pixels.
    It's a shame, because this game had potential, but in the end it has nothing of what people expected, and everything of what makes "mobile" rightfully a curse word these days.    … Expand
  28. Gyro_the_Gamer
    May 16, 2018
    2
    Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mysteries was one of those few mobile games many people were looking forwards to. Being based on best selling book series, with quite rocky history of video game adaptations, there was a lot of pressure laying on this game’s shoulders. In the most part, it delivers. It is a unique story driven adventure, with your own custom character attending school of witchcraftHarry Potter: Hogwarts Mysteries was one of those few mobile games many people were looking forwards to. Being based on best selling book series, with quite rocky history of video game adaptations, there was a lot of pressure laying on this game’s shoulders. In the most part, it delivers. It is a unique story driven adventure, with your own custom character attending school of witchcraft and wizardry. There is only one big problem. It’s a mobile game.

    Story

    This game takes places few months after the events in Godric’s Hollow which lead to Harry Potter’s orphancy. It’s a new original story with some new and some familiar faces. You are your own custom character, about to attend your first year at Hogwarts. Things don’t go as smoothly as you would like them to though. You have a rocky reputation thanks to your brother Jacob, who was expelled from Hogwarts for trying to open “Cursed Vaults” (whatever it may be) and which has been missing since. Your family past causes quite big hostility from other students towards you (something wizarding world has clearly a problem with), which leads to lots different interesting situations.

    Gameplay

    Overall the gameplay of Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mysteries is little bit similar to that of TellTale games, be it is less dynamic and more streamlined. You have some choices which can affect outcomes of different situations, as well as some point & click style mechanics.

    Typical play session is made up of events. These events vary from lessons, where you learn new spells and potions to action events. Each event is made up of different tasks, completed by tapping certain objects on the screen. It’s neither skill or time based, it’s more similar to idle clicker. From time to time you do have to trace a magical symbol with your finger, or tap a button in time but that's very rare and requires minimal amount of concentration and no real skill. Each tap requires one energy point, which regenerates over time. In this regard it's quite similar to recently released The Sims mobile game.

    Yet when this style of gameplay suits open ended, non-linear and more passive games like The Sims, it just does not fit a story driven experience. Story and characters are interesting, but these idle moments break the immersion, especially that (as you might have guessed) the energy points can be purchased with real money.

    Monetization

    This is what really breaks this game. These days you expect free to play mobile game to have microtransactions as well as a lot of waiting. Yet this game is one of the worst cases we seen by far. When most games try to invest you into the gameplay loop at the start before hitting you with the paywall, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mysteries doesn’t even try. In the very first action scene of the game, where you struggle for your life with an evil plant, you will run out of energy points, there’s no other way. Energy points regenerate a point every 4 minutes, and you can only store maximum of 25 points at one time. It gets only worse from there as all the events are timed. If you don’t complete an event in the set time you will have to redo it. This happens quite often as each event, even the shortest ones, requires way more than 25 points. If you don’t keep the app open and perform actions as soon as the point regenerates, you will run out of time.

    This is unforgivable for a story driven game. Imagine having a timer in TellTale’s Walking Dead that forces you to wait before killing a zombie. This is ridiculous and make this game unbearable.

    Sadly monetisation is not limited to action points, as you also have galleons and diamonds which can be used to buy new clothing and customisation. Prices of customisation items are ridiculous. Especially the glasses. It seems they knew what Harry Potter fans like and wanted to milk it as much as possible.

    Conclusion

    Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mysteries is a missed opportunity. This could have been the next big mobile game, yet all it is, is yet another microtransaction driven, waiting game. It’s charm, awesome style and interesting world of Harry Potter is buried and ruined by its creator’s greed. If your not a big fan of Harry Potter there is no point wasting your phone memory on this travesty. If you are though you will find some joy here though you will need lots of patience, or a big wallet.     … Expand
  29. Sk1ppY
    Jan 21, 2019
    0
    This is THE WORST "game" i have ever seen. Seriously, I haven't seen WORSE GAME ever in my entire life. Jam City f**** up everything that could be f***** up while creating this piece of sh*t. Everything you do there is just clicking on the f**** circles telling you to do something. AND if you don't pay for the damn energy, you have to wait hours, AND HOURS to regenerate all of it. A LOT OFThis is THE WORST "game" i have ever seen. Seriously, I haven't seen WORSE GAME ever in my entire life. Jam City f**** up everything that could be f***** up while creating this piece of sh*t. Everything you do there is just clicking on the f**** circles telling you to do something. AND if you don't pay for the damn energy, you have to wait hours, AND HOURS to regenerate all of it. A LOT OF FUN, right? You are so bad and greedy Jam City, please end this f**** company or do something with it.… Expand
  30. MakethTua1621
    May 30, 2018
    2
    I gotta say I was really happy for a game like this... But I was disappointed with the syste. To continue playing you have to wait for energy or buy it, or buy gems to buy energy, or use real money to buy gems to buy energy, and I was like "Why I am playing this?". Stay away for this game, it uses a tricky monetization system and it will go downhill from here, what a damn shame.
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Awards & Rankings

88
#88 Best iOS Game of 2018
2
#2 Most Discussed iOS Game of 2018
12
#12 Most Shared iOS Game of 2018

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
43

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 14
  3. Negative: 8 out of 14
  1. GRYOnline.pl
    May 17, 2018
    25
    Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery has no magic. It has no fun. It almost has no game. It is a blatant money grab that soils this likable universe. If you want more Harry simply go back to one of the books or movies. There is nothing for you here.
    Read full review
  2. Trusted Reviews
    May 15, 2018
    20
    More slot machine than it is video game. If you have oodles of cash you want to throw away then give it a look; otherwise, steer well clear.
    Read full review
  3. Game Rant
    May 14, 2018
    30
    A complete and utter disappointment, and not a good start for the Portkey Games label. The game fails to take player choice into account in any meaningful way, the gameplay is shallow, and its free-to-play model is designed to frustrate and bore players into buying microtransactions.
    Read full review
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