Best Harry Potter Board Games
Best Harry Potter Board Games
I’ll admit the first time I ever heard anything about Harry Potter was on the playground in grade school. Two of my classmates were arguing about the complexities of Quidditch. I thought they were dumb and I, therefore, refused to read Harry Potter or even engage.
That didn’t last long. Someone gave me a copy of Harry Potter & The Sorcerer’s Stone and I was hooked. I’ve been a huge fan of JK Rowling’s magical world ever since.
With the popularity of the series, a ton of toys, games, and random products were pumped out with the Harry Potter name and it can feel like walking in a labyrinth trying to find the gems hidden among the duds.
Believe me, there were a lot of duds. They even sold a “vibrating” broomstick for children to ride around. It was a formative time for many kids.
Luckily for you, I’ve scoured the board game-verse and have come up with the best Harry Potter board games… so you don’t have to.
Find our list of the best Harry Potter games below.
Our Top Picks for Best Harry Potter Board Games
In a hurry? Check out our favorites below.
Best Family
- Unique swinging game board allows play inside and outside of...
- Explore the interior of Hogwarts and the grounds as you try to...
- Be the first to collect all the clues, and figure out which...
Best Party
Best Overall
Best Harry Potter Games
#1. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle
This is THE Harry Potter board game.
It has everything you’d want from the wizarding world we all know and love. Hogwarts Battle is a cooperative deck-building game that spans the entire book series. Each character has their own custom deck that grows the longer you play the game.
It’s brilliantly thematic and brings to life the magic from the original series. The game takes place over the entire series of books/movies. The first game played pits a young Harry and the gang against enemies and baddies from the first book.
The amazing part is that the game itself is broken down into chapters similar to a Legacy game, without the destruction of components. The second game prompts players to open box #2 and the cards and characters represent Year 2 of the kids’ adventures. It’s an awesome way to show the progression of the series within a game and I haven’t ever seen it done quite so well.
- Play as your favorite character to defend the wizarding world...
- Gain influence to master powerful spells, recruit allies, and...
- Enhance your abilities with over 140 cards
#2. Harry Potter: Death Eaters Rising
You Know Who has returned but all is not lost.
In Death Eaters Rising, players must build up their forces to fight Voldemort before he can regain his full strength.
What I really like about this game is the factions. Players will be able to choose from three different factions; Dumbledore’s Army, Hogwarts, and the Order of the Phoenix.
Each faction will be slightly better at certain things than the others and through the course of the game, players will recruit new members of that faction. You’ll see a lot of familiar faces from movie stills on the cards.
Death Eaters Rising uses a dice-based mechanic and is based on Thanos Rising. I really like the idea of building up your own team and banding together to fight Voldemort.
It’s highly thematic and makes for a very fun cooperative experience.
It does use a dice mechanic, so there is a bit of randomness built into the system but it’s not completely random. How you build your team and how you manage the Death Eaters’ influence across the locations is much more important than any single random dice roll.
I highly recommend it, even if you are cursed by the dice gods.
- He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has returned! Lord Voldemort and his...
- Use strategy, teamwork and the help of Wizarding World forces to...
- In Harry Potter Death Eaters Rising, players must summon witches...
#3. Harry Potter Miniatures Adventure Game
The Harry Potter Miniatures Adventure Game had a bit of a rough start.
It was universally agreed that all of the models looked absolutely amazing and they really do. Unfortunately, with the first edition, that’s basically all the game had going for it. It had super pretty models that were difficult to make, bad quality cardboard, and a confusing rulebook.
Luckily for us, the second edition addresses most of those problems. So now we have a really cool Harry Potter Miniatures game that is a much more cohesive product.
The models themselves still look absolutely amazing. One of the few downsides, however, is that they’re made of resin. They look very pretty but it’s going to be difficult for a beginner to put them together. They’ll require a lot of work but look awesome when done.
Seriously though, look at the detail on these models.
- Immerse yourself in J.K. Rowling's Wizarding World like never...
- Take control of a group of witches and wizards from the Harry...
- Outmanoeuvre your opponents across beautifully illustrated game...
#4. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle – Defence Against the Dark Arts
Not to be confused with the big box Hogwarts Battle in the #1 spot, the Defence Against the Dark Arts deck-building game is the little brother that always follows you around.
The Defence Against the Dark Arts game is completely standalone and not actually compatible with the other. That’s a little irritating from a marketing standpoint and makes the whole thing seem like a quick cash grab.
Despite my reservations, this annoyingly-named game is a lot of fun. It’s a quick little dueling deck-builder where players go head to head in a wizard duel.
This one was a roller coaster for me. I went in thinking it was related to my much-loved Hogwarts Battle, then was disappointed that they just slapped the same name on it, and finally, pleasantly surprised at the amount of thematic flair and wiz biz.
Whoo, that’s a mouthful.
- Go head to head and dominate this Harry Potter board game perfect...
- Draft cards, build an unstoppable deck, be strategic and take...
- Includes 1 practice mat, 4 House cards, 8 House movers, 2 bases,...
#5. Codenames: Harry Potter
If you’re a fan of Codenames, then this is an easy choice. It’s a reskinning of Codenames: Duet, not the original Codenames. So, the number of players will be limited.
Players race against a timer to attempt to uncover their “agents” on the board by using simple word clues.
They do include a lot of cute little mission sheets where players can mark off achievements, which adds to replayability. It’s a great adaptation for Potter fans and is basically the same game as Codenames: Duet.
- Harry Potter themed word and picture association game perfect for...
- Locate secret Agents who are concealed in a grid of Harry Potter...
- Use one-word clues to guide guessers to their victory all while...
#6. Munchkin Harry Potter Deluxe
Kick open the Chamber of Secrets and Avada khedavra your friends. It’s the same Munchkin you know and love… but with Harry Potter.
What I do like about random versions of Munchkin is that each one has a slightly different twist or new rule added to the classic game.
Munchkin Harry Potter adds a ton of thematic flair and since Munchkin is such a versatile game, you can basically tailor-make a version of Munchkin for anything. Harry Potter just happens to fit rather well.
- Get ready for an epic duel in this collectible Munchkin game...
- Play as a member of your favorite Hogwarts house - Gryffindor,...
- Defeat villains and monsters all while outwitting the other...
#7. Fantastic Beasts: Perilous Pursuit
When I first saw the name of this game I immediately thought it was a Harry potter-themed Trivial Pursuit.
I was also dead wrong.
Fantastic Beasts: Perilous Pursuit is a very cute tie-in to the Fantastic Beasts movie. Players will work together as characters from the movie to track down all the lost beasts from Newt’s suitcase.
The game is entirely dice-based and the dice are used to perform different actions. It’s fun, whimsical and exactly what you expect from a family-friendly Harry Potter game. It’s cooperative, so the players will be working together with no direct competition.
The rules and actions are all relatively simple as well. This makes it easy for the younger crowd to jump into a game and have a fun and quick wizarding adventure.
#8. Harry Potter: Spellcasters
Spellcasters is a different kind of tabletop game that’s a weird mixture of Charades and a wizard duel.
Each turn, one player becomes the spellcaster. They get the magic wand (one of the coolest components in a game) and then wave the wand, recreating one of the spells on the cards.
It’s a quick, goofy party game that’s easy for anyone to pick up and play. You don’t even have to be a fan of the series to really enjoy the game. There’s not a lot of party games out there that appeal to a large audience that includes younger children.
It’s very similar to another game called Abra Kazam! They look pretty much identical except for the Harry Potter theme. Abra Kazam came out a year before Harry Potter, so I’m just assuming that it’s a reskin because I haven’t heard anyone crying foul or throwing around copyright infringement notices.
- In this charade game with a magical spin players use the wand to...
- Guess the spell correctly to earn the card and earn the most...
- Fun Easy to learn gameplay keeps everyone involved
#9. Harry Potter Trading Card Game
Harry Potter also had a short-lived collectible trading card game. It was still geared towards kids so it’s pretty easy to pick up and play.
They are currently out-of-print but are still pretty easy to find around. You can easily still find a starter pack with a couple of boosters and that’s all you really need to play the game.
I really like the artwork on the cards. It reminds me of the original book art which I really appreciate. There are only so many games I can have that are just filled with stills from the movies.
As far as gameplay goes, think of it as a lightweight version of Magic: the Gathering. Currently, it’s pretty easy to find and it’s still available but as time goes on, it’s going to be harder and harder to find copies.
- Welcome to the mystical, magical world of Harry Potter where...
#10. Harry Potter: House Cup Competition
The House Cup has been a staple of the Harry Potter series since book one. Of course, if you were in anything other than Gryffindor, you were never gonna win. Now it’s time for all you Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws, and Slytherins to fight back.
Dumbledore’s biased favoritism aside, the House Cup Competition looks at the Harry Potterverse from a different perspective using worker placement mechanics. Each player takes the role of one of the 4 houses and sends their students out to complete classes, gain knowledge, and compete in challenges. It is a school, after all.
House Cup Competition is a solid gateway worker placement game, especially for fans of the series. Usually, when it comes to USAopoly games, they usually have a mass production or filler feeling. The House Cup Competition deviates from this and has some very cool components and a fantastic production quality, especially the scorekeeper.
- Prepare to learn and gain knowledge at the famous Hogwarts School...
- Play as your favorite Hogwarts House – Gryffindor, Slytherin,...
- This easy to learn competitive game has a streamlined experience...
#11. Harry Potter: A Year at Hogwarts
A Year at Hogwarts distills down the entire Harry Potter series and world into one box. That’s a pretty impressive achievement considering everything that goes into the series.
Players will compete for the house cup by completing missions, classes and grades that they need to accomplish/attend, and there’s even a final hard mode where players will need to find and destroy Voldemort’s Horcruxes before he can be revived.
I love the map in this game. It’s designed like the Marauder’s Map and the components fit extremely well with the theme.
It hits bits and pieces of every aspect of Harry Potter. That being said, it’s a nice snippet of the entire world. It does a lot but never quite focuses on any one particular aspect. It’s a super fun game but I can sometimes feel that it tries to do too much.
#12. Golden Snitch: Snitch Snatcher – The Quidditch Game
This is another weird Harry Potter mashup. It’s like chess but if your chest pieces were wizards.
The game is a sports-based game but it’s based off Quidditch, every wizard’s favorite sport. Players will have to maneuver the iconic Quidditch positions, like chasers, beaters, seeker, and keeper around the board, based on the rules of Quidditch.
It’s super fun but there is a bit of randomness thrown into the mix. Each position will move in a different set way (much like Chess). Unlike Chess, you’ll have to roll dice to choose which piece can move.
It’s a completely different feel from other Harry Potter games but hits an important thematic element that isn’t usually seen in games. Quidditch was such a huge part of the series and this is probably the best iteration I’ve seen.
A little wizard weirdness…
So the last three games on this list are a little different. They’re definitely games but just a little different. Two are just for funsies and the last one is just weird.
#13. Harry Potter Tri-Wizard Tournament – Capture The Cup Game (or Maze Game)
Okay, so this is just a bit of nostalgia for me. I love the game Trouble. Everyone’s played some version of it or at least seen it around. I used to keep a set on the table and it was fun to just start popping the dice and playing as we waited for whatever was happening later.
It was like a coffee table book, but a coffee table game. It was always out and ready to play. The Tri-Wizard Tournament game is another version of that.
It’s Trouble, but with Harry Potter. I know it’s not the most hardcore game but there’s still room for a good old fashioned game of Trouble. It’s one of my favorites to just play around with and although the Pop-O-Matic dice is 100% a gimmick, I still love it.
- Perfect for the Harry Potter super fan
- Classic Pop 'N' Race gameplay with a twist
- Race through the Triwizard maze to get to the finish line
#14. Funkoverse Strategy Game
Okay, so the Funko Pop board game isn’t necessarily a Harry Potter board game but it does have an expansion to add some iconic characters to the mix.
If you’ve never started to collect Funko-Pops, consider yourself lucky. They’re iconic in their own right and are little vinyl figures/dolls shaped like pop culture figures. There’s a whole line of Harry Potter ones and even a board game.
The Funkoverse Strategy game is basically a duel between pop culture icons. Players can use the stock set that comes with the game or buy booster characters like Harry Potter or DC characters.
They’ll then get a set of objectives and basically wail on each other until there’s a winner. It’s cutesy and fun, and not 100% a Harry Potter game. You can definitely throw them into the mix though.
- Accio Funkoverse strategy game! Go on a magical adventure with...
- Use your magical powers to gain points and overcome your...
- Light strategy game. Play as a stand-alone game or mix with other...
#15. Harry Potter Whomping Willow Game
Who remembers the scene with the Whomping Willow? Now, who remembers immediately afterward thinking, “That would make a fun game!”
I have no idea who would come up with this kind of madness, but I suppose that’s why I’m a muggle.
A mechanical Whomping Willow flails about on the table while players each hold a hook, that’s shaped like the flying car with a wand shoved up its butt, and try to pull your stuff off the Whomping Willow.
If you really want to be reminded how old we all are, you can take a look at the original commercial for it. I don’t remember things being this old…
- Made by Mattel
- 3AA Batteries Required
- 2002 Version
#16. Harry Potter: Magical Beasts Board Game
This definitely qualifies as a weird one. The game looks really cool and promises an awesome romp through the wizarding world where you wrangle up awesome creatures.
It’s really not. It’s basically a very poorly-designed, Candy Land-esque Harry Potter game. You’ll roll the dice and move around the board. That’s the majority of the game and every so often you’ll pick up a card if you land on the right space.
That’s the majority of the gameplay. I wanted to include this one because it does look really cool, but it’s actually so awful that I felt it would be a good public service announcement to let people know to steer clear. It’s a shame because the game looks like it could be really cool.
Check out Perilous Pursuits if you’re looking for an awesome Harry Potter creature feature that’s family-friendly.
- Unique swinging game board allows play inside and outside of...
- Explore the interior of Hogwarts and the grounds as you try to...
- Be the first to collect all the clues, and figure out which...
Wrap-Up
Surprisingly enough, there seem to be more board games released after a series of books and movies ended. This is probably due to licensing issues since USAopoly bought the rights to distribute Harry Potter merchandise.
On the one hand, it floods the market with board games and on the other, some of them are really good. Anything that puts more material for one of my favorite fandoms isn’t necessarily a bad thing, I just wish I saw more original artwork instead of movie stills.
You may notice a distinct lack of certain games. There are, of course, the Clue, Monopoly, and Trivial Pursuit versions of Harry Potter, but I just assumed that everyone knew about those and where to find them.
We hope your enjoyed our list of best Harry Potter board games. What’s your favorite Harry Potter board game? Did yours not make the list? We’d love to hear from you so leave a comment below.
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