The expansive lore of Harry Potter can seem daunting to anyone who hasn't sunk hours of their time into understanding it, and this may be making some potential Hogwarts Legacy players feel wary about their first journey into the wizarding world. But in order to enjoy the upcoming RPG, no such expertise is required. Only a simple explanation of Hogwarts' ins and outs should suffice for non-magic users (or Muggles, as the community lovingly calls them) as they step foot into Hogwarts.
To contextualize the setting of Hogwarts Legacy, it's important to know that the game is a prequel to the main Harry Potter series. Harry and his friends attended the school in the 1990s, whereas players will be one hundred years behind, in the 1890s. Naturally, much of the foundation will remain the same between both storylines, since Hogwarts Legacy is adapting Harry Potter canon, but reading the books or watching the films won't be necessary to follow along. A brief breakdown of Hogwarts' history, magic knowledge, and the societal norms of the wizarding world will cover everything new fans will need to know before they begin.
Essential Lore To Know Before Playing Hogwarts Legacy
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is one of many secret boarding schools across the globe in which young witches and wizards can learn about magic. In order to attend Hogwarts, one must already bear magical abilities. As children, magic is used unconsciously, but by the time they turn eleven years old, they receive a lettervia owl, for children of wizarding families, or a visit and letter for those who are Muggleborn, formally inviting them to the school. Students typically attend Hogwarts for seven years to graduate, with breaks for winter and spring holidays. But players will be busy in Hogwarts Legacy, as they will be starting their education late, as a fifth-year student.
Located in the Scottish Highlands, Hogwarts was founded around 990 A.D. by four powerful witches and wizards: Godric Gryffindor, Salazar Slytherin, Rowena Ravenclaw, and Helga Hufflepuff, who each named houses after themselves. Each student is sorted into a House during the start of their first year by donning the Sorting Hat, an animate object that makes its decision on a variety of factors, but mainly focuses on the student's personality and aspirations. Gryffindors are considered brave and righteous, Slytherins are cunning and ambitious, Ravenclaws are studious and creative, and Hufflepuffs are hardworking and loyal.
Once sorted, a student's House is their community. They'll share a dorm room with other members of their House, and their House's Common Room will be the main area to study and socialize. Hogwarts Legacy players can pick their House early, but if they don't, they'll still have the option to choose one in-game, unlike a typical Hogwarts student. House members are also incentivized to be on their best behavior through the points system.
Figures of authority at Hogwarts, like professors and House Prefects, can give (or take away) House points depending on the merit of a student's behavior. At the end of the year, the total number of points is tallied, and the House with the most points wins the House Cup. Sadly, the House Cup won't be a gameplay feature in Hogwarts Legacy - but at some point, players will likely hear a professor say "Ten points to Gryffindor," for example. This is what those points are intended for.
What Players Need To Know About Magic In Hogwarts Legacy
Of course, attending classes is a major part of Hogwarts life, as there, students can learn a wide variety of different magics. In Hogwarts Legacy, players might have new classes that weren't a part of the original Harry Potter series, but some of the more classic courses are likely to reappear in the game, as well. For example, there are eight classes that will be considered a core part of the curriculum, even in the 1890s: Astronomy, Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Flying (for first-year students), Herbology, History of Magic, Potions, and Transfiguration.
The extent of detail in Hogwarts Legacy classes remains unknown for now, but in general, students' main goal is to pass their yearly exams in every subject. Being a fifth-year student, the player might need to take their O.W.L.s (the wizarding world's equivalent of standardized testing). These exams are a big point of stress for all those involved, as they affect what subjects the student can continue with, and subsequently their future careers.
The most crucial tool at a student's disposal is, of course, a wand. Hogwarts Legacy will turn PS5 controllers into wands, but the experience could end up being personalized for players across the board. In the Harry Potter universe, each wand is a unique and highly individual possession. The composition of a wand determines its magical properties, and therefore, witches and wizards can only use their own wand to effectively perform spells. Students typically obtain their wands, alongside the rest of their school supplies, in Diagon Alley. The wand chooses the wizard, which is why most rarely end up having more than one wand.
The Rules Of Hogwarts Legacy's Wizard Society
Just as in any community, the wizarding world has its own societal rules, and there are certain things that are considered taboo. The most important principle to know is that of the three Unforgivable Curses. Casting these Dark spells comes at a price, both in Hogwarts Legacy gameplay and in the Harry Potter universe, where a governing body called the Ministry of Magic has placed laws on their usage. Imperio (the mind control curse), Crucio (the torture curse), and Avada Kedavra (the killing curse) are all strictly forbidden. Failure to comply will result in a life sentence at the infamous, high-security prison, Azkaban.
Unfortunately, as in real life, discrimination occurs in the magic community. Wizards and witches who were born to two magic users call themselves pure-bloods, and many of them believe this makes them superior to others. Proud pure-bloods tend to have a violent hatred towards muggleborns or half-bloods, who are related to muggles in some way, referring to them as Mudbloods. A highly offensive term that implies a witch or a wizard is tainted and unworthy of magic. This social injustice is likely to play a role in Hogwarts Legacy, which could lead to moral choices with heavy consequences.
The world of Harry Potter is a highly complex one that extends far beyond the basics above, but players won't need to be anywhere near a lore expert to experience Hogwarts Legacy. As long as one understands the general premises of the school, magic, and the wizarding community, they should be all set to venture into Hogwarts when the time comes. During the events of Hogwarts Legacy, players are bound to pick up on the inner workings of the wizarding world at their own pace, and ultimately uncover the true magic of this fictional universe for themselves.
Source: Hogwarts Legacy/YouTube
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.
In the USA:
- Trans Lifeline: (877) 565-8860
- The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386
In Canada:
- Trans Lifeline: (877) 330-6366
- Youth Line: 1-800-268-9688
In the UK:
- Switchboard: 01273 204050
- Mermaids: 0808 801 0400
