Hogwarts Legacy early reviews are in, but is it as "magical" as fans hope?

Early reviews for Hogwarts Legacy have been pouring in, but are gamers finding it as "magical" as they imagined, and is it possible to forget about the controversy surrounding the game long enough to enjoy it?

Hogwarts Legacy lets players create their own character, attend the school of Wizardry, and explore the world outside Hogwarts.
Hogwarts Legacy lets players create their own character, attend the school of Wizardry, and explore the world outside Hogwarts.  © Avalanche Software

There's a good chance you've heard a thing or two about the upcoming Harry Potter video game, which could be a good or bad thing.

On the one hand, fans of the book series have been absolutely excited about the gaming title, as it looks like and promises to be the ultimate wizardry experience.

On the other, there are raging fans and social justice warriors who have vowed to boycott the game to make sure that Harry Potter creator and author J. K. Rowling doesn't get a dime from the project due to her controversial stance on the trans community.

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The game developers even seem aware of the controversy surrounding its release, and recently introduced a trans character in the game. However, the move only led to more backlash.

No matter what side of the fence you are on, everyone's likely asking the same thing: is Hogwarts Legacy worth all the hype and attention?

Hogwarts Legacy will officially be released for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 & 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC on Friday, but a handful of early reviews can help give you a better idea of whether it's worth buying or skipping on day one.

Is Hogwarts Legacy actually worth all the hype?

Players will get their characters sorted, learn spells, and explore everything the magical school has to offer.
Players will get their characters sorted, learn spells, and explore everything the magical school has to offer.  © Avalanche Software

The early release has caused mayhem on Twitch as Hogwarts Legacy became one of the most streamed games on the platform, with 1.2 million viewers tuned in at one point.

Twitter users have also posted clips of gameplay, with most players reporting back with positive first impressions.

As far as gaming outlets go, reviews have been a bit more mixed.

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A review from IGN heavily praised the game, calling it the "Harry Potter RPG I've always wanted to play."

"Its open world map absolutely nails the vibe of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, it has spellcasting combat that's stupefyingly good, the characters that inhabit it are charming and unforgettable, and it is positively brimming with countless diversions to soak up dozens of hours of your time," the review stated.

GameRant shared a similar sentiment, declaring that the game "exceeds expectations."

While GamesRadar gave the title 3.5 out of 5 stars, it did note that the game "tries to do too much all at once," arguing that it "struggles to balance authenticity against the acceleration of its action."

The Guardian was much more critical than previous reviews, giving it a 3 out of 5, deeming the game "unspectacular" and the story as "thin and uninteresting."

"Hogwarts Legacy starts to feel like countless open-world games of the past decade once you have been playing it for more than 15 hours," the review read. "However, you get to ride a Hippogriff. It's those magical moments and the setting that rescue it from mediocrity, but only if the Wizarding World still has you under its spell."

Hogwarts Legacy officially drops on Friday, and if you are a die hard Harry Potter fan, it sounds like this game might be for you.

Cover photo: Avalanche Software

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