The long-rumored but as-of-yet-unconfirmedHarry PotterRPGsounds like the most promising video game iteration ofHarry Potteryet, at least as far as leaked details of the game go. So far, fans have only had a slow trickle of information, coupled with a brief segment of leakedHarry PotterRPGgameplayfrom a few years ago. However, if blended with a game likeThe Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim,fans could receive aHarry Pottergame worth playing for the next decade.
At launch,Skyrimwas hailed by fans and critics as a genre-defining RPG. While it’s initial scope has been met, and in some cases surpassed, by games likeThe Witcher 3,aHarry Pottergame with the same sense of scale, discovery, andlore asSkyrimwould manage to captivate an audience that has had, at best, a tumultuous experience with games.
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For the most part,Harry Pottergames have been disappointing. There was a string of lacklusterHarry Pottertitles following the release of the movies, with theLEGO Harry Pottergames having the best claim to fame, besidesHarry Potterand the Chamber of Secrets,which was released all the way back in 2002 and is considered a hidden gem by many.
Skyrimfans, to a degree, have gotten new content in the form ofElder Scrolls Online,but many have struggled to adapt to the blend of MMO gameplay elements, leaving a sizable gap betweenSkyrimandElder Scrolls 6for some.Skyrimremains one of the most popular RPGs of all time, which makes the gap between the two entries — which will likely be greater than a decade — seem all the more ridiculous.
Besides the inclusion of fantasy elements like magic, the two franchises share very little in common beyond a surface level. That being said,Skyrim’sformat could fit a variety of different franchises,Harry Potteris just a surprisingly natural one. Iconic locations like Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade could easily take the place ofSkyrim’smajor cities, offering a hub for players to shop, pick up quests, and possibly purchase a home.
To-scale representations of these locations, all within the context of, ideally, an open-world, would be a dream for manyHarry Potterfans, and could be the most well-realized iteration of the Wizarding World fans have ever seen.Harry Potterfans have seen a ton ofHogwarts, which should absolutely be a central part of theHarry Potter RPG,but allowing the game to, at least in part, focus on the wider Wizarding World seems like an important step for the franchise.
Again, that doesn’t mean that Hogwarts can’t be included. In many ways, aHarry Potter RPGwithSkyrimelements would likely parallel theCollege of Winterhold inSkyrim,juston a much bigger level. Whether that’s the mystery of the Midden and the Atronach Forge, or the cast of student mages each designing their own experiments, the general sense of mystery, exploration, and camaraderie with other students should translate to theHarry Potter RPG.
EvenSkyrim’sprogression system could be used to draw inspiration from. One of the key factors ofSkyrim –and most modern Bethesda RPGs – is “you are who you play,” a key mantra Bethesda used when designingSkyrim,and a used in marketing materials heading into the game’s launch.Harry Potterfeatures a variety of magic, from potions to defense against the dark arts. That system would translate surprising well to aHarry PotterRPG, with specializations unlocking new perks within different perk trees.
This isn’t to say that theHarry PotterRPGshould be a copy-pasted take onSkyrimwith a different finish. There are plenty of ways that the game could separate itself, and tons of different aspects from the Wizarding World that fans want to see translated into theHarry Pottergame, whatever it ends up being. Things likeQuidditchare a must-have, as well as the wide range of creatures seen inHarry Pottermedia likeFantastic Beasts.
It isn’t clear when fans will get to see theHarry PotterRPG.Warner Bros. has a few different announcementsthat are rumored to debut, like the nextBatmangame, and with E3 canceled, there’s no telling when those announcements will take place. Fans might hear something at one of this month’s gaming events, but it’s difficult to say.
