Harry Potter is one of the most popular multi-media franchises of all time. As the film series surged to popularity, EA Games released a slew of video games based on the movies, all of which spanned multiple console generations, unfortunately, one major console has missed out on most of these titles. If you’re looking for Harry Potter Nintendo Switch games, you’ve come to the right place.
Harry Potter Nintendo Switch Hints
Just keep on reading to find out what Harry Potter games you can play on the popular Nintendo handheld console.
The Harry Potter Games: A Complete List
Main Film And Book Adaptations
In both Lego Harry Potter Nintendo Switch games, players can unlock and purchase around 167 characters from the books and films. Like most other Lego games, the Lego Harry Potter Nintendo Switch games can be played in a single-player mode or a local co-op mode, allowing a friend to pick up a controller and play the second character. Announced the long-rumored open-world Harry Potter RPG during the PS5 Showcase on September 16, 2020, with the title set to release on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X and S, Xbox One, and PC.
As already mentioned, there have been numerous Harry Potter video games, all of which have spanned several console generations and were released alongside each film in the Harry Potter movie franchise. The main book and film adaptations and the consoles they launched on include;
- Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone
- Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets
- Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban
- Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire
- Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix
- Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince
- Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows – Part One
- Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows – Part Two
- Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4
- Lego Harry Potter: Years 5-7
All of the above games were based on the films and were all developed by Electronic Arts. Most of the titles featured an open-world Hogwarts, and some versions of Prisoner Of Azkaban,Goblet Of Fire, and Order Of The Pheonix allowed players to control additional characters like Hermione, Ron, Dumbledore, and more.
The final two games in the series, Deathly Hallows Parts One and Two, changed the formula by turning the games into a third-person shooter with spells, leading to a series of complaints that the two titles were rushed out to launch in time with the films.
Other Games
Alongside the games based around the film adaptations, there have been countless other video games based on or in the Harry Potter world. These titles, which vary in gameplay mechanics, also span different console generations. They include:
Xbox Lego Harry Potter
- Lego Creator: Harry Potter
- Creator: Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets
- Harry Potter: Quidditch World Cup
- Harry Potter: Find Scabbers
- Harry Potter: Mastering Magic
- Harry Potter For Kinect
- Wonderbook: Book Of Spells
- Wonderbook: Book Of Potions
- Lego Dimensions
- Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
- Harry Potter Wizards Unite
- Hogwarts Legacy
What Harry Potter Nintendo Switch Games Can I Play?
Now, although there have been plenty of Harry Potter-themed video games, not all of them have released on the Nintendo Switch. In fact, at the time of writing, there is only one Harry Potter game available to play on the Switch; the Lego Harry Potter Collection.
The collection includes Lego Harry Potter Years 1-4 and Lego Harry Potter Years 5-7 which adapts all eight Harry Potter films which have been recreated in Lego pieces. Each year is comprised of six missions based on key events from every film and the missions are intermixed with free roam gameplay around Hogwarts, its grounds, Diagon Alley, Knockturn Alley, and in Years 5-7, a larger open hub world.
Throughout the two games, players will learn various spells, craft potions, and tame magical creatures while using certain characters’ unique skills and abilities to solve puzzles, unlock new free roam areas, and obtain the games’ various collectables. In both Lego Harry Potter Nintendo Switch games, players can unlock and purchase around 167 characters from the books and films.
Nintendo Switch Harry Potter Lego Game
Like most other Lego games, the Lego Harry Potter Nintendo Switch games can be played in a single-player mode or a local co-op mode, allowing a friend to pick up a controller and play the second character.
Where Can I Buy The Lego Harry Potter Nintendo Switch games?
You can purchase the Lego Harry Potter Nintendo Switch games in most places, including the Nintendo Switch eShop and Amazon. The game is generally cheaper on Amazon, and we’ve included a quick and direct link to the Amazon page through which you can grab a copy of the game itself. Please note, we do earn a small percentage of income on any purchases made through the link.
Lego Harry Potter Collection
Hogwarts Legacy – The Harry Potter RPG
September 2020 Update: The Harry Potter RPG was officially announced at Sony’s PS5 September showcase for the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC. Although it may not be releasing on the Nintendo Switch, anyone on the above platforms should check out everything we know about Hogwarts Legacy.
In addition to the above, a video of an unannounced Harry Potter next-generation game leaked in 2018. The video featured what looked like an open-world with character customisation. Although the game still hasn’t been announced, it’s widely regarded as one of gaming’s worst kept secrets and there have been numerous leaks regarding the game.
Some of these rumours suggest that the title will be based in the 19th century and will follow a customisable 5th year student who joins Hogwarts late. You’ll be able to explore Hogwarts as well as various other areas, but nothing else has been confirmed. It’s unclear what platforms the game will release on but there are rumours that the video game will launch in 2021.
Tons of starry eyed children fell in love with fantasy stories because of Harry Potter. The books and movies might only have been around for about twenty-five years, but they're already a key piece of media in international culture. In fact, they're so extensive that they're spreading out into all sorts of other stories in the Harry Potter universe. While Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is naturally a key example, there's also media like Hogwarts Legacy, which will explore the setting differently by taking players 100 years into the past from the time of the books.
However, even if Hogwarts Legacychanges the way that players experience the Wizarding World, it can't change the fanbase. Hogwarts Legacy is liable to draw people interested in fantasy games of all kinds, but naturally, the main player base is going to be made of people who already have a love for Harry Potter media. The problem is that not all of these devoted fans will necessarily get the chance to play this game because there's no known plans to release it on Nintendo systems. Harry Potter has a rich history on Nintendo consoles, strangely enough however.
RELATED: What to Expect From Hogwarts Legacy Gameplay
Harry Potter-Nintendo: End of an Era?
Harry Potter games are nearly as old as the books themselves are. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was published in 1997, and the first games inspired by the books rolled out only four years later. As one would expect from the fantasy adventure that defines the source material, a slew of action-adventure games and RPGs starring Harry Potter and his allies appeared in the 2000s. Plenty of side games appeared, like sports games about the in-lore flying broom sport Quidditch, as well as a couple of entries in the rich lineage of licensed LEGO games.
Nintendo Switch Harry Potter
What nearly all of these games had in common was that they were available on some device produced by Nintendo. Aside from a few relatively minor games exclusive to PCs or mobile phones, Harry Potter games have been available for play on everything from the GameCube and the Game Boy Advance to the Wii and the Nintendo 3DS. Harry Potter is a pretty family friendly series, so it stands to reason that a family friendly company like Nintendo would be open to featuring the franchise. However, for some reason, Hogwarts Legacy is breaking tradition and has no confirmed plans thus far to release on the Switch.
RELATED: Every Magical Creature Confirmed for Hogwarts Legacy
Harry Potter-Nintendo: Cause for Change
There must be a reason for this move. Although it's releasing on current-gen platfoms like the PS4 and Xbox One, it may be because it is primarily a next-gen game for PS5 an Xbox Series X. The Switch can handle a lot more than what some give it credit for, but there is a limit. If Hogwarts Legacy is indeed over that limit, that at least bodes well for the quality of the game if not for its likelihood on the Nintendo Switch Even so, it's a shame for Harry Potter fans that they have less ways to play the game or can't play it on their preferred platform. Maybe if the Switch Pro rumors are true, there'll be a port someday.
Hogwarts Legacy is in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE: Why Harry Potter Fans Are Divided Over Hogwarts Legacy