5 Best Harry Potter Games Of All Time, Ranked

Ever since the Harry Potter franchise was adapted for the big screen starting in 2001, the fantasy property has seen its own line of tie-in video games. Ranging from straightforward movie tie-in video games to expansions of the franchise's mythos, Harry Potter has graced nearly every major gaming platform since his debut. And while author J.K. Rowling has become a divisive figure because of her personal views in recent years, the Wizarding World that she created still boasts millions of fans worldwide. This appeal carries over to the franchise's growing video game line, though some titles are admittedly better than others.

We're gathering the greatest games based on the Harry Potter franchise, including titles that don't even feature the titular boy wizard at all. The games highlighted here offer fans everything from platforming and puzzle-solving to fantasy action for players of all ages. Each of these games present their own unique take on the long-running franchise and their own distinct sense of fun. These are the five best Harry Potter games of all time, offering the most fun experiences within the Wizarding World.

LEGO has been putting a family-friendly twist on established properties for years, and the Harry Potter games are among the best of the bunch. This sub-series ended in 2011 with "LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7," released four months after the final mainline movie. As the title suggests, players go through the highlights of "The Order of the Phoenix," "The Half-Blood Prince," and "The Deathly Hollows," with scores of fan-favorite characters to choose from. There are new magical lessons for players to complete, along with revamped overworld maps to explore, including London and Hogsmeade.

"LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7" largely brings back more of the same, with subtle refinements to make its gameplay a bit more intuitive. What holds "Years 5-7" back is that it is missing online multiplayer in certain versions and a level creator in contrast to its predecessor. These omissions aside, the game does feel like a natural follow-up and it does the source material justice. Another solid LEGO game based on a hit pop culture property, "LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7" ultimately delivers a satisfying conclusion to the two-part Wizarding World LEGO games, earning itself a place in the top five.

One of the last truly solid games directly adapting a single film in the franchise, 2004's "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" makes for an entertaining tie-in. The game follows Harry Potter as he, Ron Weasley, and Hermoine Granger learn that Sirius Black, a man linked to the death of Harry's parents, has escaped from prison. It allows players to switch between the core trio as opposed to just playing as Harry like prior home console entries. The game balances puzzle-solving with magical combat as Harry and his friends discover the truth about Sirius.

In terms of presentation and gameplay, "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" feels like an organic continuation of the foundation laid by previous games. The ability to alternate between playable characters provides more depth than preceding titles, though the game itself is admittedly short and relatively easy to complete. To its credit, the game does get better and more ambitious as it proceeds, particularly as Harry and his friends battle the soul-sucking dementors. The cons are outweighed by the pros here, with "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" standing as a fun and breezy experience best enjoyed by franchise fans.

The first "LEGO Harry Potter" game is still the best one, with 2010's "LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4" covering the story from "The Sorcerer's Stone" through to "The Goblet of Fire." Like other LEGO titles, this game places a strong emphasis on platforming and puzzle-solving, with light combat reflecting scenes from the movies. The game features hubs in Diagon Alley and Hogwarts, with the latter evolving as the game progresses to yield new rewards and secrets for players. In addition to recreating the events from the first four Harry Potter installments, the game boasts bonus levels that can be unlocked, each with their own rewards.

"LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4" feels more feature-rich than its sequel, largely due to it having brought back the level creator feature from "Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues." But beyond the ability for players to create their own levels with game assets, the entire experience just feels fresher than its follow-up. The game is peppered with the LEGO titles' signature sense of humor and it places fans in the middle of the movies' biggest scenes, making for a fun and immersive experience. A brilliant translation of the franchise's first four main stories, "LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4" captures the core appeal of the series.

The best of the direct movie tie-in games in the franchise, 2002's "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" surpassed fan expectations at the time and remains a fantastic experience today. The game follows Harry Potter as he tries to figure out who is responsible for a string of basilisk attacks around Hogwarts. It offers a more detailed and explorable Hogwarts compared to the preceding game, with the navigation and combat also refined. There are also unique puzzles and minigames as Harry progresses with his investigation into the mystery surrounding the Chamber of Secrets.

"Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" could have been a by-the-numbers tie-in like many titles in the series, but the developers went the extra mile with this game. This exploration of Hogwarts and its surrounding areas are richly rendered and the gameplay feels intuitive for the time. While Harry himself is the only playable character in home console versions of the game, that focus suits the experience well rather than forcing alternate gameplay styles. One of the most underrated PS2 games of all time, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" puts a fun spin on a familiar story.

The most ambitious and impressive Harry Potter game to date isn't based on an existing book or movie — not directly, anyway. 2023's "Hogwarts Legacy" was Warner Bros. Games' biggest launch of all time and it marked a welcome return to the Wizarding World for gamers. The story takes place roughly a century before the events of Harry Potter's attendance at the wizarding school. After a mysterious ancient magic is unleashed, the player character, a new student at Hogwarts, investigates to discover its source. This incident comes as the school is threatened by a goblin rebellion who are working with a contingent of dark wizards.

The greater emphasis on action and exploration was a welcome change, as was the slightly more mature tone (we found some genuinely creepy things playing "Hogwarts Legacy"). The prequel period provides a fresh perspective on Hogwarts and its surrounding areas while leaning into the iconic fictional school's rich design and history. Yes, the choices you make in the game don't really have that much of an impact on the story, but the wand combat (one of the best things in "Hogwarts Legacy" by far), the character creation aspect, and the exploration factors make this the best Harry Potter game to date. A follow-up is currently in development, so hopefully the kinks of the first game are being worked out. Here's what we want to see in the "Hogwarts Legacy" sequel.