ThoughHogwarts Legacysurpassed expectations in many regards, fulfillingHarry Potterfans' decades-long dream of a fully-fleshed out and immersive wizarding world, aspects of its design could certainly be improved upon. The dormitories for the four houses of Hogwarts added a nice bit of flavor to the game but were woefully underutilized and arguably superfluous toHogwarts Legacy.
Even after all the promising promotional material, few could have guessed Avalanche Software’s first foray into AAA open-world gaming would be such a resounding success.Hogwarts Legacywas critically lauded and broke sales recordsfor Warner Bros, immediately sparking speculation that Avalanche would be tapped by the publisher to develop a sequel. Nothing is currently confirmed, but it would be a shock at this point if they were content to letHogwarts Legacybe a one-off, with the studio most likely already spinning up pre-production on its next title set in theHarry Potteruniverse.
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Hogwarts Legacy’s Gorgeous World Left Something to be Desired
Thecompetent design ofHogwarts Legacybares many likenesses to existing open-world games, with Avalanche taking inspiration from the likes of Ubisoft, Bethesda, and CD Projekt Red for its believably lived-in playable space. Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, and the enveloping Scottish countryside are stuffed to the gills with secrets and collectibles to uncover, and the healthy serving of side quests allows players to stay engaged in its world for dozens of hours. The game did have its faults, but it was a commendable entry for a studio that had previously cut its teeth onDisney Infinityand less ambitious movie tie-in games.
One nitpickedshortcoming ofHogwarts Legacywas the somewhat lifeless nature of certain areas. A cornerstone of high-quality open-world design includes hubs that players can return to for a sense of natural progression and comfort, taking respite from the drama and conflict of the narrative.Hogwarts Legacy’s Room of Requirement filled that role suitably well, but it left a lot on the table. That element of having an area in the game that felt like it existed regardless of whether the player inhabited it was something thatHogwarts Legacylacked.
Hogwarts Legacy’s Sequel Should Feel More Alive
At the game’s onset, as the Sorting Hatplaced players in one of four distinct houses in Hogwarts, there was a sense that would carry over significantly to the game’s story and the access a player had in different parts of the school. The dormitories that are then introduced appeared at first glance to be hubs that would provide dynamic quests, side character interactions, and above all else, a cozy place to relax and unwind. While there are small glimpses of those dormitories' potential, it mostly goes unfulfilled, such as the potential for quests to be received at a dormitory bulletin board.
Forthe practically inevitable sequel toHogwarts Legacy, Avalanche will want to put more emphasis on each house’s dormitories, making them more worthwhile to return to throughout the course of the game. Creating a space that evolves with the player as they advance the story would go a long way toward creating a deeper sense of immersion. An example would be meeting a character in class who, upon completing their side quest, would inhabit the dormitory to chat with over a game of wizard’s chess.
Even smaller touches like dynamic dialog, furnishings that correspond to a player’s point in the game, or even just having the other students possess more believable pathing routines would be terrific. The fact that the NPCs never actually utilized the dormitories' many beds to sleep gave the space an artificial feel. But inHogwarts Legacy’s follow-up, creating a more lived-in Hogwarts will be key, and all of that starts at the dormitory since it plays such an essential role in the students' lives already.
Hogwarts Legacyis available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, with a Nintendo Switch version releasing on November 14.
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