Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery is a mobile RPG that lets players create their own characters and fully immerse themselves in the life of a Hogwarts student. With Hogwarts Mystery, players can embark on their own unique adventure, learn spells, fly on broomsticks, brew potions, and enjoy a variety of other exciting activities that the magical school has to offer.
Game ZXC recently spoke with studio GM Bryan Shaw about the highly successful mobile game, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, as it approaches its five-year anniversary, discussing the game's immense popularity and the secret to its success. He also shared his insights on how the Harry Potter fanbase has received Hogwarts Mystery and how the game has expanded the Wizarding World, providing fans with even more opportunities for exciting adventures.
Hogwarts Mystery's Relationship with the Wizarding World
One major focus of Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery is its storyline, which is set several years prior to the events of the books and seamlessly integrates with the source material. Throughout the game, players will have the opportunity to interact with beloved characters from the books, gaining a new perspective on their personalities and motivations. Additionally, players are able to visit numerous iconic locations from the series and explore them from a fresh, exciting perspective.
When the team behind the Harry Potter mobile game set out to create a new experience for fans, they wanted to go beyond the typical 2D storytelling format. As they explored different ways to connect players to the magical world of Hogwarts, they realized that the possibilities were endless. For many fans, Harry Potter is more than just a series of books and movies; it's a deeply personal part of their formative interests. That's why the team knew that they had to create an experience that would allow players to fully immerse themselves in the world of Harry Potter.
Hogwarts Mystery has made a significant impact on the Harry Potter fandom since its release. Fans of the franchise have been taken on an exciting journey filled with unexpected twists and turns, and the game has added a new dimension to the beloved Wizarding World. One of the game's developers has confirmed that the title has kept fans eagerly anticipating the next surprise, with a constant sense of excitement and intrigue. But creating an immersive game experience was only half the battle. The team knew that they also had to stay true to the spirit of Harry Potter, while also making the game accessible to a wide range of players. Part of this was the inclusion of characters such as Bill Weasley and Charlie Weasley, as well as teachers such as Snape, McGonagall, and Dumbledore. Access to all of this was super important, according to Shaw.
“The game itself has unlocked a must-have experience for Potter fans. Working closely with our partners, we’ve created more access to the Wizarding World where players can explore nostalgic locations, learn more about their favorite teachers, and even experience great loss at the hands of dark wizards.”
Expanding the Wizarding World with Hogwarts Mystery
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery has also provided fans with a unique perspective on the Wizarding World. By putting players into the shoes of a Hogwarts student, the game allows fans to experience the core fantasy in a way that few games have achieved, aside from the more recent Hogwarts Legacy. This has opened up new viewpoints, perspectives, and experiences that have allowed fans to really consider the world through their own lens.
According to Shaw, Hogwarts Mystery’s success among fans is due largely to representation, which the gameplay exemplifies with its customization options. Shaw explained that the ability to customize and personalize a character that represents the core of the player is extremely important. This feature allows players to feel connected and represented, which ultimately leads to gameplay that feels more immersive and real. As Shaw said,
“Representation matters and is a big part of what we feel is important in this Hogwarts experience. Personalization is a part of that as well. Players can create the witch or wizard they see as themselves and make meaningful story choices that culminate in the game being more accessible, no matter who you are.”
The game hosts not only a variety of peer interactions and friendships, but romantic relationships are hinted at throughout the main plot as well as incorporated into several quests and achievements. During certain quests, the player is given the opportunity to accompany one of their character's friends to a school event as a romantic partner. All potential partners are available to characters of any gender, allowing for both heterosexual and homosexual relationships. This feature even further diversifies the game, allowing for representation of the LGBTQIA+ community.
For Hogwarts Mystery's five-year anniversary, Shaw expressed his gratitude toward fans of the game. He revealed that there are some "big things in the works," and he is excited for fans to experience the future of what Hogwarts Mystery has to offer.
"We’re working hard to make every day at Hogwarts meaningful and this 5-year Anniversary, we want to celebrate your time at Hogwarts by celebrating its history."
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery is available on Android and iOS.