Designed for entertainment, this role-playing game contains detailed graphics and experiences and adventures parallel to the original characters in the Harry Potter series. A lot of in-App purchases are required to maintain momentum in the game play. Players need to read competently, use basic motor skills and solve simple puzzles. There are fantasy themes, mild horror themes and frequent fantasy cartoon violence.
No gambling content found in the levels played
This review of Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 16 July 2019.
This section contains details about the app provided by an ACCM Reviewer.
Name of app: | Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery |
Developed by: | Jam City Inc. |
Platform reviewed: | Apple App Store |
Cost: | Free |
ACCM suggested age: | Parental Guidance-M due to In-App purchasing and on-line information requirements. However, with supervision, a child of 12+ years would find this App entertaining and achievable. |
Gambling content advice: | No gambling content found in the levels played |
This review of Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery contains the following information:
Year 1, Chapter 4. Approximately six hours play.
With exciting artwork and an enjoyable soundtrack, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery is a RPG that allows the player to choose and customise their own avatar to take them on a derivative and parallel journey to Harry and his friends in the original series of books, set before the famous wizard has saved the Wizarding world. Aiming to solve a mystery that surrounds the player’s older sibling, who disappeared whilst attending Hogwarts, is the premise for the adventure and promises much fun through exploring the grounds of the school, choosing a House and meeting familiar teachers including Professors Snape and MacGonagall.
Within the game there are mini-games, puzzles and problem solvers, as well as minor fine motor tasks that provide trials to challenge the player before progressing the story line. Quiz-like questions relating to the story are also present that test the player’s memory and pose some basic moral questions relating to friendship.
The game requires players to be competent readers (approx. 10 Year old) but the puzzles, games and trials are very basic, requiring little skill, except some memory work and mimicry.
At the level the reviewer played, this game offered little opportunity for learning apart from the actual game play process and requirements. The game may encourage reluctant readers to read and some of the puzzles require a moderate amount of creative problem solving.
Because the game is basically a story with interactive pictures the player may be constantly frustrated in their desire to progress the plot or explore the grounds and people in the environment by being required to spend currency during tasks, then wait to renew stashes of the currency to finish the tasks. The game play is very sluggish, due to this reliance on the player earning enough coins, power, gems and/or courage/empathy/knowledge to pay for items, access to activities or information. This makes the game a ‘nag’ hazard for parents as children playing may find it impossibly frustrating to wait (sometimes a very long time) for the free access options.
Parents should be aware that the in-App purchases are quickly depleted and consequently quite expensive.
There is In-App purchasing in this game, examples include:
As mentioned, coins and gems can be purchased as in-App purchases to speed up the game play but parents should be aware that they can become very pricey. Free access is available to all aspects of the game but not readily. Some activities can be held up by two minutes then open without paying for in-App virtual currency, whilst others require waiting up to two hours to get free access.
It is notable that the game can be played with the in-App purchasing disabled through the devices ‘screen time’ settings.
There is some online connectivity, such as:
At the time of review, the reviewer found no simulated gambling content. If you discover simulated gambling content in this app, please contact us with the details so we can update our review.
There is no advertising or product placement in this game.
None noted.
None noted.
Please see reviewer’s comments above.
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No gambling content found in the levels played
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