Hogwarts Legacy Step Aside, A New Harry Potter RPG Officially Releases This Month

Published Oct 2, 2026, 1:00 PM EDT

Austin King is the Senior Editor of Gaming at ScreenRant and has been with the site since 2020 with a focus on RPGs and tabletop games. He previously managed content for Geek to Geek Media, and has served as a writer for sites like Nintendad, Geek Fitness, and more.

In addition to his work at ScreenRant, he also hosts the Dragon Quest FM podcast and is the author of several books, including co-writing Nimbus (a #1 bestseller in 2013). His latest is the nonfiction The Dragon Quest Book, available now.

He's written about pop culture, video games, and genre studies over the course of his career. You can find him on BlueSky, X, and at Dragonquestaustin.com

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Harry Potter fans are heading back to Hogwarts this October, and fans of Hogwarts Legacy may especially be enticed by what's being offered. If you're eagerly awaiting the arrival of Hogwarts Legacy 2, which has at least been officially confirmed now, then consider checking out Defenders of Hogwarts.

Defenders of Hogwarts is a new board game from MinaLima, the graphic design studio behind the visual style of the Harry Potter movies. Designed for two to five players, the game's sessions will last roughly 90 to 180 minutes. Players take on roles aligned either with the four Hogwarts Houses or the Dark Forces, the kind of decision-making many were hoping for in Hogwarts Legacy.

According to the game's description on Kickstarter, Lord Voldemort's arrival at Hogwarts is imminent in Defenders of Hogwarts. Players must prepare for the upcoming confrontation by developing their spell-casting abilities and exploring the grounds of the school. The combination of exploration and character development should feel right at home for anyone who's used to playing tabletop RPGs.

Defenders of Hogwarts includes over 200 components, including 100+ illustrated cards. The listing says players should expect to see "familiar favorites based on props from the films" as well as "brand-new graphics you've never seen before." This obviously makes the game a must-play experience for everyone who loved the movies, but Hogwarts Legacy fans should find the decision-making and role-playing aspects refreshing too.

Many fans were disappointed when Hogwarts Legacy allowed you to use the Dark Arts without any real repercussions. Even choices that leaned into the Dark Arts didn't really change the story or character interactions. For those who wanted to follow the path of a Dark Wizard, the option was really never there. That's why having the option to join the Dark Forces in Defenders of Hogwarts will likely entice all of those people who wanted to experience the Wizarding World with a darker edge.

If Hogwarts Legacy made you want to spend more time in the Wizarding World, then Defenders of Hogwarts gives you a different reason to return. You aren't recreating the video game's story. You're taking the familiar setting and turning it into a shared strategic experience where you can roleplay to your heart's content.

If Hogwarts Legacy rekindled your love of exploring Hogwarts, learning spells, and discovering hidden rooms, then this could be the game for you. Even if you just want to spend more time in the Wizarding World, Defenders of Hogwarts could be a particularly appealing way to bring that immersion to the tabletop. With the game's October 2026 release approaching, Harry Potter fans now have a new way to revisit Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

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