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This is a cross of an RPG and a card game set in a world created by J.K. Rowling. First on mobiles in 2021, it was developed by a Chinese studio NetEase, also known for mobile Diablo Immortal, Marvel: Super War and publishing the warmly received Naraka Bladepoint. The game is set 10 years after the events of the seventh installment of Harry Potter , its protagonist being a new muggle-born Hogwarts student (from a non-magical family). Just like Harry Potter, they learn about the wizarding world through Rubeus Hagrid and join the famous magic school. The young wizard is soon pulled into an intrigue, as a female student mysteriously vanishes after the assignment ceremony. Players explore Hogwarts and its surroundings, attend wizarding classes and try to solve the mystery of Ivy Warrington's disappearance. We'll participate in the rivalry between four student houses known from the books, which takes the form of group challenges or duels, and meet well-known characters from the original series.
In combat, we wield a self-made deck of cards made up of spells, characters, magical creatures, etc. Combat is not turn-based, though, but real-time. Players can freely move around the map and use their cards as skills with cooldowns, with them getting replaced by other cards after being used. This, combined with buffing spells and a limited number of mana, means battles require some strategy.
The game also features a QTE rhythm mini-game (ballroom dancing) and iconic quidditch matches. These take form of 3v3 mini-games, in which we must tap the right spot on the street to dodge Bludgers, intercept Quaffles and - if we're lucky - catch the Snitch.
Game modes
Harry Potter: Magic Awakened supports singleplayer, including PvE trips to the Forbidden Forest. Players can also take part in online duels between teams of up to three people and play quidditch against other players.
Technical aspects
The game uses a rather simple, slightly cartoonish 3D artstyle with animated card illustrations. It supports voice chat and includes gacha-style micropayments. |
