The Fate of Hogwarts Legacy: Should a Younger Protagonist Take the Lead in the Sequel?

Despite the controversies surrounding it, Hogwarts Legacy has emerged as one of the most successful games of 2023 thus far. Its continued success is further bolstered by the release of multiple ports throughout the year. And where there is success, there is a strong desire for more, which makes the likelihood of a Hogwarts Legacy sequel extremely high. While the original game served as a remarkable introduction to the Wizarding World by Avalanche, there is much that the developers can learn from for a potential sequel.

While a Hogwarts Legacy sequel could simply aim to be bigger and better than its predecessor, with more spells, enemies, and missions, it would not truly surpass the first game without implementing significant changes. One of the most notable changes that a Hogwarts Legacy sequel could introduce is a new protagonist, and there is a compelling argument for a younger protagonist in a potential sequel.

The Argument for Hogwarts Legacy's Sequel to Have a Younger Student Protagonist

Hogwarts Legacy places players in the shoes of a mysterious fifth-year student who was admitted as a special case. While players had the opportunity to customize their character's appearance and engage in typical activities like purchasing a wand and attending classes like first-year students, many players felt disconnected, as if they were thrust into the middle of a story.

A potential solution to this issue in a Hogwarts Legacy sequel would be to start players right at the beginning of their Hogwarts journey. By beginning as a first-year student, players would have the chance to purchase all their equipment from Diagon Alley, experience the excitement of boarding the Hogwarts Express, and participate in the Sorting ceremony. With a first-year protagonist, the sequel could also prioritize classroom experiences, which was a desired aspect for many fans in the initial game.

If players were to begin their journey as first-year students, a possible sequel to Hogwarts Legacy could greatly extend its duration by encompassing the entirety of their school life at Hogwarts. As they advance through the game, players would progress to a new year at Hogwarts, unlocking a myriad of fresh classes to attend and extracurricular activities to engage in within the expansive open-world. Each new year would reward the player with an array of innovative equipment, spells, and gameplay mechanics. By intertwining an overarching narrative throughout the seven in-game years, the experience would become more immersive and organic, potentially resulting in a significantly more rich and captivating story than that of the initial game.

The Argument Against Hogwarts Legacy's Sequel Having a Younger Student Protagonist

Whilst the concept of commencing a sequel to Hogwarts Legacy as a first-year appears logical, there are several drawbacks associated with this approach. The foremost disadvantage is the restriction of numerous magical abilities for first-year students within the Wizarding World. Upholding the authenticity of the source material may consequently result in players being unable to access the universe's most emblematic spells for a significant portion of the game. Another significant downside is the potential monotony that could arise from the inclusion of an abundance of additional classes in the sequel, unless managed meticulously. Ultimately, the majority of players still yearn for grandiose and awe-inspiring magical moments in their Harry Potter gaming experience, which may not be fully realized when assuming the role of a younger protagonist, as per fan expectations.

Hogwarts Legacy is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, with a Switch version releasing November 14.