The Houses at Hogwarts have established reputations and several traits that are used to describe the students that belong to them, but Hogwarts Legacy may allow players to make moral choices that could go against their House's descriptors. Although there are still many details yet to be revealed, the possibility of diving deeper into the concept of individual wizards rather than defining them by their House is exciting. Making decisions that go against the values of a House have the potential to affect a player's experience and their interactions with other characters in Hogwarts Legacy.

While attending Hogwarts, players can choose one of four Houses to be sorted into. Gryffindors are characterized as being brave, bold, and chivalrous, while students in Hufflepuff are said to demonstrate patience, loyalty, and a strong work ethic. Ravenclaw House is known for intelligence, wit, and wisdom, and Slytherins are usually cunning, ambitious, and resourceful. Due to the limited representation of each House throughout the Harry Potter series, Gryffindor is also associated with heroics, and Slytherin has a reputation for producing evil witches and wizards. Hogwarts Legacy could give players a chance to challenge these preconceptions.

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It has been confirmed that players will be able to choose their House in Hogwarts Legacy, but it's unclear what effect that will have on gameplay and the overall narrative. Although having House-specific quests and activities would be fun, the big moral decisions in the game should stay separate from these labels. It's also been confirmed that a morality system will be in place, but it has yet to be connected to House choice. Having the ability to make questionable moral decisions regardless of what House a player is in could make the game different from anything currently in the Harry Potter universe. If that's the case, it's possible that some of the player's choices may bee incongruous with the traits and reputation of their chosen House.

Hogwarts Legacy Could Allow Players To Contradict House Reputations

Hogwarts Legacy Grand Hall with candles above

If players are given complete freedom, then there would be a lot of opportunities to make decisions that go against what their House in Hogwarts Legacy represents. For example, Slytherin characters could act bold and brave, and those who choose Ravenclaw could display characteristics like cunningness or ambition. Having the chance to become a dark wizard in Gryffindor or a hero in the Wizarding World that was sorted into Hufflepuff would be an interesting change in contrast to the expectations that usually surround each House.

Along with making major moral choices, players may have the opportunity to make a few minor decisions that go against the values of their House. Messing with other students isn't significant enough to be classified as dark wizard behavior, but most would expect such actions to come from a Slytherin in Hogwarts Legacy. Instead of fitting in with their House, players could have the option to be a laid-back Hufflepuff prankster or a courageous Slytherin hero. Keeping House characteristics separate from how players interact with characters and what activities they choose to participate in would make the game much more interesting and dynamic.

Related: Why Hogwarts Legacy Looks Like A Trilogy

Alternatively, since the game is set in the 1800s, it could also be possible that the events that take place help to validate the House stereotypes seen in the Harry Potter series. Choosing a House could determine what options are available when faced with a moral decision. If that were the case, then choosing a House at the start of the game would be one of the most important decisions to make. It would increase the replayability to have different moral choices available for each House in Hogwarts Legacy. However, it would also be unimagined and a bit unfair to build the entire experience around choosing a House, especially because it's likely the first big decision players will make.

Moral Choices Should Matter More Than Houses In Hogwarts Legacy

Hogwarts Legacy Can Let Players Make Unexpected Moral Choices Students Hanging Out

Although choosing a House is an important decision for most, the inclusion of a morality system could make this choice much less significant. Rather than defining characters and experiences by which House they're in, players may have the opportunity to develop their personalities through individual interactions. It's currently unclear what effect choosing a House will have on the rest of the game. However, with the various customization options and morality system already confirmed, it doesn't seem likely that characters will only be able to exhibit the stereotypical traits of their chosen House in Hogwarts Legacy.

Moral choices should go beyond a House's established expectations, but they shouldn't eliminate them completely. Ignoring the traits that make each House special would be a mistake, and it would make sorting redundant. Without distinct differences, the Houses would be unnecessary. However, instead of House choice affecting the morality system, it could present unique opportunities like special quests, activities, or minor dialogue differences. While these possibilities could be fun, the more important decisions that could change the player's experience should be separate from their House choice.

Hogwarts Legacy Choices Could Change How The Houses Interact

Hogwarts Legacy Can Let Players Make Unexpected Moral Choices Gryffindor Fighting

If there are any characters similar in personality to Harry Potter's Hermione Granger, then there may be some backlash for making decisions that go against a House's values. If a Gryffindor in Hogwarts Legacy runs from a fight or a Ravenclaw fails all of their classes, then the other students in their House should react in some way. Characters could question the player's decision, offer alternate paths, or fight against them for the good of the House, similar to how Neville attempted to stop Harry in The Sorcerer's Stone. Additionally, it would be interesting to see how students in other Houses react to a player's decisions. If a Hufflepuff character displays some cunning, then students in the Slytherin House could praise them or present them with new opportunities.

Alternatively, making certain decisions could influence other characters to act similarly. If players are able to develop deep friendships with some of the characters in Hogwarts Legacy, then it's possible they can influence how they behave as well. Being a Slytherin that corrupts a Gryffindor could be an intriguing experience. Of course, the effects would have to be minor in terms of changing gameplay. Otherwise, it could give players too much control and influence over the Wizarding World. Regardless of how Houses and moral decisions relate, it will be interesting to see how players can break the mold in Hogwarts Legacy.

Next: Hogwarts Legacy Could Become More Important Than Harry Potter Canon

Editor’s Note: Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling has been accused of transphobia by those in the LGBTQ+ community. Although not directly involved in the development of Hogwarts Legacy, Rowling does stand to earn royalties from the game. We would like to reiterate our support for trans rights and that trans identities are valid. Support services are listed below for trans people impacted by discussions of transphobia.

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