Ever since its beginnings as a book series, theHarry Potterfranchise has blossomed into a larger-than-life media empire. From massively successful movie adaptations to its own theme park,Harry Potterhas reached astronomical heights. Naturally, the franchise has expanded to gaming, as well.
Whether it be movie tie-in games orLEGO Harry Potter, the famous wizard has maintained a presence in the industry for over two decades now. One of the most recent, and also most successful, adaptations has been2023’sHogwarts Legacy, followed byHarry Potter: Quidditch Championslast year. So many spin-offs meansHarry Potterhas staked a claim in a diverse list of genres, but there is one type of game that the franchise has yet to explore: hero shooters.
A Harry Potter Hero Shooter May Just Be Wild Enough to Work
One of Modern Gaming’s Most Popular Trends
Of course, it’s important to note that chasing gaming trends doesn’t always pan out well.Sony’sConcordattempted to make waves in the hero shooter genre, only for it to be shut down two weeks after launch. Jumping on trends is far easier said than done, butHarry Potter’s brand recognition and unique combat potential could truly make it a standout in the genre. The hero shooter may tend to focus on guns, but the use of wands sets the stage for a brand-new take on the formula.
Taking Note of a Recent Hero Shooter Success
If there is another media empire that rivals the popularity ofHarry Potter, it’s definitely Marvel. Since the beginning of the Marvel Cinematic Universe back in 2008 withIron Man, the movies and their various spin-offs have brought comic book storylines into every corner of pop culture. The brand has also been digging its claws even deeper into gaming, with one of its most recent beingthe super-successfulMarvel Rivals. The variety of heroes and villains offered really makes for a dynamic combat experience, which has been perfect for the genre. Since much of the combat inHarry Potteris specifically wand-based, a hero shooter spin-off may not boast the same combat diversity asMarvel Rivals, but the latter is proof that a hero shooter can work incredibly well with new approaches to fighting.
Hogwarts Legacywas the highest-selling game of 2023.
A Harry Potter Hero Shooter Could Experiment With Wand Mechanics
Just because the main source of weaponry is isolated to a wand doesn’t mean it has to be boring. A hero shooterinspired byHarry Pottercould play around with the lore a bit, giving specific wands assigned strengths and weaknesses that offer the character diversity that hero shooters are known for. Some wands could have heavier blasts that cause greater damage and have longer charge time, which could serve as the role of Tank, for example.
There could be plenty of compelling ways for the right team of devs to play around with how to translateHarry Potterloreinto staple hero shooter features. This may be challenging, but if done well, it could prove to be another heavy-hitter in the hero shooter genre.
Harry Potter Shows No Signs of Slowing Down
John Lithgow has been cast as Dumbledore.
As of now, there are currently no known plans for aHarry Potterhero shooter, but the franchise could be a perfect fit. Even if such a spin-off never happens, it’s clear thattheHarry Potterfrenzyis still continuing with its planned projects.
