Hogwarts Legacy has been an incredibly hyped game by both Harry Potter fans and open world RPG aficionados alike since its announcement multiple years ago, and well, it's finally almost time for launch. Hogwarts Legacy drops this week for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S (the Xbox One version will follow in early April), and early reviews are starting to hit the web - including ours here at Pure Xbox!
Without further ado, here's what the critics are saying about this open world Harry Potter RPG:
Pure Xbox (9/10)
"It felt like Hogwarts Legacy was always going to struggle to live up to the hype, but somehow Avalanche Software has managed to deliver an absolutely fantastic open world adventure that will go down (in our opinion) as comfortably the best game based on the Harry Potter franchise so far. If you've been following its progress for a while and were keeping your fingers crossed for good reviews, we're pleased to report that it's definitely been worth the wait."
IGN (9/10)
"In nearly every way, Hogwarts Legacy is the Harry Potter RPG I’ve always wanted to play. Its open-world adventure captures all the excitement and wonder of the Wizarding World with its memorable new characters, challenging and nuanced combat, and a wonderfully executed Hogwarts student fantasy that kept me glued to my controller for dozens of hours. It’s certainly weighed down by technical issues, a lackluster main story, and some poor enemy variety, but even those couldn’t come close to breaking its enchanting spell over me."
Attack of the Fanboy (9/10)
"Avalanche Software has done it — the comfort, the nostalgia, the freshness, the thrill — everything in Hogwarts Legacy emulsifies together to create a celebration of what the Wizarding World is and what the fans have always dreamed of. This is by far the best Wizarding World video game to ever come out and stands with a select few games that prove more is more."
Press Start (9/10)
"Hogwarts Legacy is the Wizarding World game that fans have dreamt of for years. It offers a dense and rich open-world to explore complemented perfectly by a surprisingly robust and engaging combat system unlike anything else. While the story does live in the shadow of its predecessors, and managing gear can be repetitive, Hogwarts Legacy is a truly magical experience and utterly bewitching from beginning to end."
God Is A Geek (9/10)
"Hogwarts Legacy does what so few games do these days, leaving me to think about it every second I wasn’t playing. Even now as I write this, I want to be back at Hogwarts solving puzzles and exploring, wondering if there’s still somewhere I might have missed. Exploration is so satisfying, as is the combat, and the way it captured my imagination with its inventiveness, freedom, and characters has been nothing short of remarkable. Avalanche has nailed everything about this game, and I think it’ll be some time before I can get it out of my mind."
Push Square (8/10)
"Hogwarts Legacy has turned the hopes and dreams of Harry Potter fans into reality. Finally there is a proper simulator of the school of witchcraft and wizardry, allowing you to create your own student, attend classes, and explore the vast landscape outside. It's not without its issues — side quests prove far too basic, the menus are poor, and annoying timers hurt the player experience — but they don’t get in the way of something that so blatantly comes from a place of extensive love for the source text. Almost 26 years after Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone hit bookshelves, video game fans finally have a magical title to be proud of. It's everything we’ve dreamt of."
VGC (4/5)
"Hogwarts Legacy brilliantly captures the magic of the world of Harry Potter with its beautiful open world, engaging characters and exciting combat. While the open-world elements of the game make it feel more dated than we'd have liked, it's otherwise the best the Wizarding World has been in a video game."
GamesRadar (7/10)
"Hogwarts Legacy is a solid first attempt. If Avalanche can be accused of anything, it's that the studio has tried to do too much all at once. Something was always going to give – between the massive open world, the messy RPG economy, exciting action combat, and adventure story that wants to cast you as a hero with homework due on Monday."
Broadly speaking, then, reviewers are largely in agreement that Hogwarts Legacy is the best Harry Potter game ever made, so fans are in for a real treat with this open world RPG on Xbox! So far the game sits at 87 on Metacritic and 88 on OpenCritic at the time of writing - very, very good scores overall.
Will you be jumping into this Harry Potter adventure this week? Let us know in the comments!
Comments 21
Hogwarts Legacy does not exist in a vacuum. There are important discussions being had about the views and opinions held by the creator of the Harry Potter universe – views and opinions which we do not agree with.
Our goal is to create and foster a positive environment for people – all people – to discuss and celebrate video games, not to amplify ignorance or provide a forum for unconstructive arguments. As per our community rules, we do not accept any form of hate speech on our platform.
The "views and opinions held by the creator of the Harry Potter Universe" has nothing to do with this game. It doesn't seem to matter when it comes to fans watching the movies or going to Universal Studios. So, why mention it here? Good Lord, stop already! Play the game, or don't.
It is a shame that the creator of this IP profits from sales of this game. In one hand, the IP is so important for so many, even those directly attacked by the creator. On the other, every bit of money the creator gets, can and will be used to amplify hateful messaging, and give them an even larger platform.
I don’t judge anyone that refuses to give up on the IP regardless how much they disagree with its creator. But I also understand anyone that refuse to funnel money that way either. I think a key that has been missed by many during these last few months is that hate is being fought with more hate. We can talk about these things without delving into more hate, without telling others to shut up, or insulting them.
Just to give a few ideas to anyone that disagree with the creator, but want to enjoy the IP, there are always options. Can always buy used, borrow a copy from someone, or even actually buy the game and try to offset that by donating to charities that help those hurt by the hateful messaging.
The most ineffective way to deal with any of this is to fight one another, regardless of opinions.
Can't wait to buy my copy, such a great reception for what promises to be an excellent RPG game. I was just reading about it yesterday. Apparently pre order numbers were very very high.
@Savage_Joe I’m done with that site. If you’re going to add your ideology into reviews then you have to be willing to let others express their opposing views. I’ve added them to the list along with Kotaku and Polygon and I’ll never bother with them going forward.
I’ve played an hour of the game so far and it’s wonderful. It really does feel magical, and I can’t wait to see how this journey plays out.
I’d love to see a lotr game like this
Removed - unconstructive feedback
Lol the game is fantastic. Everyone should play it!
But the woke needs to stop.
There. Constructive.
Moving to New Zealand RIGHT NOW.
@Fenbops Honestly this site is just about there too. Agenda driven ideals over gaming is complete fail in my eyes.
Stop. Just stop. There should be zero mention of agendas or politics in a game review or a game site. Fully lookinh and waiting see this post deleted next. Call it unconstructive criticism all you want but IT IS. All because it's something the site doesn't want to hear DOES NOT discount it as unconstructive. No where have I stated hate or hate speech.
Great reviews for what will be a great game made by genuine hard working devs.
The politicisation of viewpoints being discussed around this game are quite frankly rediculously out of context, this game is not the place to be having such a conversation.
As a well crafted piece of creative fiction in its own right, Hogwarts legacy deserves to earn a place on a gamers playlist based purely on its merit as a game. Im looking forwards to Friday, when I'll find out for myself😁
I can see the love poured into the game, and very happy that the hard working dev team will be rewarded with good review scores and huge sales.
@GuyinPA75 I hope this site isn’t on the same path although I wouldn’t be surprised anymore, it is the same group as Push after all.
@Mauzuri same I'm thinking of buying it across Xbox, Playstation and PC. I've waited for this for years. Developers deserve the support for all the hardwork. Hope it sells in the millions.
@Tharsman Seems like a lot of nonsense in your first part (though spot on in the rest). No amount of royalties from this game is going to change anything in her messaging and how it gets out in the world and amplified or the size of her platform... at all.
First, she's already rich. She doesn't need money to "get her message out" beyond what she has.
Second, she "gets her message out" on a completely free platform that is as big as it gets as a singular place, and then that gets amplified for free from news articles and online trans "activists." There's nothing money can do that free services and free outrage isn't already accomplishing.
There is nothing that buying this game and her getting royalties is going to contribute to the ongoing saga between bigots arguing with bigots on the internet. You are spot on that hate being fought with hate is not the way forward.
And your first statement is what I disagree with the most. It doesn't matter what she says, she deserves to be compensated for what she created if it's still being worked with and turned into amazing experiences for people. Suggesting someone shouldn't profit from the world they created seems indefensible, and worse than people yelling at each other on the internet.
@Savage_Joe I didn't catch that cause I only scrolled Down to the bottom to see the score lol but after seeing your comment I went back to see & he did indeed decide to condemn a successful female author for having opinions that he didn't agree so yeah it is very hypocritical of them to tell users not to express their own opinions lol
Art =/= the artist. Buying this game day one on PC. Can't wait.
I’m glad to see reviewers have stayed professional. Although most seem at best ill informed at best, and seemingly want to alienate a huge group of their readership by opting to take sides. Which is a real shame. I did expect better of both pure Xbox and push square.
It’s good see at least the game was reviewed fairly.
@Baler ditto and Star Wars.
Got the notification mine shipped yesterday. Can't wait!
@Chaudy Good on you to support this developer. I wasn't going to buy this game, but I'm buying it now. Too many positive comments and reviews for me to look past it.
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