Hogwarts Legacy 2 is expected to follow in the first game's footsteps, and could be an improvement over its predessor in several ways. Ever since the original Harry Potter movie was released, fans of the series have been waiting for an immersive video game experience. While the wizarding world was touched on in games like LEGO Harry Potter and PlayStation Harry Potter games from the early 2000s, none has quite hit the mark like Hogwarts Legacy.

With its stunning visuals, engaging storyline, and the freedom to customize a character, the game truly brings the magic of Hogwarts to life like never before. Yet, there are still a few places where even Hogwarts Legacy falls short. Its shortcomings have left many yearning for more, and a sequel will hopefully fix some of the first game's issues.

Hogwarts Legacy Didn't Have Enough Classes, Quidditch, Or School Gameplay

Hogwarts Legacy Needs More To Do In School

While Hogwarts Legacy does a fantastic job of recreating the wizarding world, the school-life aspect feels incomplete. Classes like Potions, Charms, and Defense Against the Dark Arts are fun and visually impressive, but they're more like short tutorials than a regular part of Hogwarts life. You only attend these classes a few times, and they don't feel like part of the everyday experience of being a Hogwarts student.

The lack of Quidditch is another big letdown. Flying on a broom is enjoyable, but not the same as competing in a full Quidditch match. Quidditch is such an important part of the Harry Potter universe, and not including it feels like a missed opportunity. Adding a full Quidditch experience with practices, matches, and rivalries would have made the game much more exciting for fans. ing house teams, training with teammates, mastering specific roles, and competing for the Quidditch Cup would make the game more immersive and authentic to the Hogwarts experience.

Hogwarts Legacy 2 is intended to be connected to the Harry Potter television series.

Beyond classes and Quidditch, the game doesn't include enough school-life activities to make players feel like part of the Hogwarts community. Things like forming friendships, ing clubs, or attending school events could have added depth and made Hogwarts feel more alive.

Small interactive moments, like studying in the library, pulling pranks with friends, or helping classmates with their problems, could have added personality to the world. Unfortunately, with these missing aspects, and the fact that the story is pretty short overall, Hogwarts Legacy doesn't fully deliver the magical school experience.

The Vivarium Was Good, But Not Enough

Taking Care Of Magical Creatures Is Fun But Is Still Lacking

Despite Hogwarts Legacy not fully embracing classroom, Quidditch, and school gameplay, there is one area where the game tries to be unique: the Vivarium. The Vivarium allows players to care for and breed magical creatures in a sort of Newt Scamander-esque role. It provides a nice break from the game's combat-heavy action, letting players feed, pet, and watch creatures like Thestrals, Hippogriffs, and Nifflers. The creatures are well-designed, and players can breed them to get unique traits, adding some customization to the experience. Players can even play fetch with their creatures.

The Vivarium is undoubtedly a charming addition, but it could have been much more. The creatures are fun to take care of, but they don't impact the rest of the game much. In the Harry Potter books, magical creatures are often an important part of the story. Still, in Hogwarts Legacy, the Vivarium acts more like a side activity with little connection to the main events. No quests or missions involve the creature in any significant way, so it ends up feeling disconnected from the rest of the game.

The biggest problem with the Vivarium is the lack of challenge or progression. Sure, you can care for the creatures and make them happy, but there's not much else to do. It's fun at first, but it doesn't keep you engaged for long. There's no sense of growth or achievement, and it becomes repetitive after a while. The Vivarium could have been more interesting if there were more ways to interact with the creatures or if they played a bigger role in the game's story.

While the Vivarium in Hogwarts Legacy is a nice feature overall and gives players something else to do, it feels more like an afterthought. It's a great way to relax, but it doesn't add much to the game's main story. Magical creatures are such a big part of the Harry Potter world, and it would have been great to see them play a more important role in the game.

Hogwarts Legacy 2 Should Lean Into Life Sim Gameplay

Hogwarts Legacy 2 Would Be Much Better As A Life Sim

Hogwarts Legacy 2 can improve on a lot of where the original game fell short. Instead of focusing on RPG elements, Hogwarts Legacy 2 should focus more on life simulation gameplay. The original Hogwarts Legacy was celebrated for its open-world exploration and RPG elements, but it failed to deliver what felt like an actual Hogwarts student experience.

Still, it also showed that the magic of the Harry Potter universe can shine through in other genres. The first game's rich storytelling, stunning visuals, and attention to detail in world-building made players feel immersed in Hogwarts even without the need for deeper character progress or complex RPG mechanics. A sequel could take a different approach.

Adding things like daily routines, meals in the Great Hall, and dormitory life would make players feel more like real Hogwarts students. There should also be an overhaul in classes and Quidditch, as well as the addition of more school-life activities that could make players feel more like actual students. Instead of just attending an occasional class, students could have more consistent schedules, with activities like study groups, library time, and classroom interactions. Quidditch should be reintroduced with practices, games, and house rivalries.

The original Hogwarts Legacy was celebrated for its open-world exploration and RPG elements, but it failed to deliver what felt like an actual Hogwarts student experience.

Lastly, the sequel could also give players more choices and customization options. Things like picking elective classes, ing clubs, and setting up their own schedules would make the game feel more personable. Players could a Dueling Club, sign up for Care of Magical Creatures, or attend extracurricular events like the Yule Ball. These features could further form and deepen relationships and rivalries, creating the ultimate Hogwarts experience.

Hogwarts Legacy 2 has an opportunity to be even more of a success in adding such elements. While Hogwarts Legacy delivered an experience that Harry Potter fans have been longing for decades, Hogwarts Legacy 2 has the chance to take it even further and all the developers have to do is expand on the school-life experience. Turning Hogwarts Legacy 2 into more of a life sim than an RPG would only deepen the player's connection to the world.

Source: Hogwarts Legacy/YouTube