Summary
Hogwarts Legacyhas proven to be a runaway success commercially and has catapulted Avalanche Software into the AAA space. A story set inthe world ofHarry Potterduring the late-1800scoupled with an expansive open world captured the attention of gamers all over the world, but in doing so, it has piled the pressure on for when the developer likely follows it up with something new.
A sequel toHogwarts Legacyhas not been confirmed, but given the game’s impact, it feels like a sure thing. Nothing is known about the plans (or even lack thereof), though, and there aren’t any rules to say that it has to use the same template as the first offering. Shifting into a game that isn’t a ‘true’ sequel gameplay-wise could wield more benefits than drawbacks.
Hogwarts Legacy’s Next Step Could be Smaller
Systems, mechanics, world-building, and presentation flourishes were made to makeHogwarts Legacystructurally sound, and given the game’s strong sales, it’s unlikely that Avalanche Software will abandon the formula that it’s worked on for years in favor of something completely new for the big follow-up. However,theHarry Potterlicense lends itself to so many different thingsthat could easily be adapted into a game, so slotting in small half-sequel could give small bits of the lore new life and the player a bit more variety within a largely similar setting.
Half-sequels are becoming more popular in recent years thanks to offerings likeUncharted: Lost LegacyandSpider-Man: Miles Morales.
Alternatively, proper spin-offs could release. Ideas include a wizard’s chess game that takes inspiration fromstrategy RPGs likeFire EmblemorThe Banner Saga, a quidditch game that resembles offerings likePyre, or a full-scale, class-based ARPG that shifts its focus to fleshing out the history of Hogwarts could all be great games in their own right. Even leaning further into the VIvarium to create aPokemon Snap-esque monster collector title to help people better understand the nuances of all the franchise’s fantastic beasts and where to find them could be a lot of fun. Bringing such experiences into theHogwarts Legacyuniverse could be a welcome break before a big, inevitable sequel that’s more in line with the 2023 release.
A Predictable Hogwarts Legacy Sequel Could Facilitate Player Fatigue
Despite being less overwhelming than titles likeBaldur’s Gate 3, andZelda: Tears of the Kingdomwhich was released in the same year,Hogwarts Legacyis a title that players can spend dozens of hours in, completing side quests, collecting resources, battling enemies, and filling out the field guide. It’s so reminiscent of theHarry Potterbooks and films that preceded it so that the potential for escapism is high, letting fans of the IP truly get immersed in the space Avalanche has crafted.
Despite being the first in what will likely become a new series,Hogwarts Legacyis the best-selling game of 2023.
Because of that impressive scope, a sequel using the same mechanics may result in a somewhat dampened experience since it’s a familiar format.Big-budget games likeSpider-ManandBorderlandssuffer from this somewhat because the gameplay loop and progression cycle doesn’t change drastically between releases, and since players know what to expect, they can burn out faster. A semi-sequel with a short runtime instead of another huge game could avoid that burnout. The same could be said for a change to the formula, be it temporary or permanent, as it would be a viable way to get people back intoHogwarts Legacy’s world while keeping them on their toes since they will not know exactly what to expect.
