Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions Review – A ONE-WAY FLIGHT OF FERVOUR

I’m sure we don’t need reminding, but those who played Hogwarts Legacy last February were more than a little peeved when Quidditch was ceremoniously canned from the curriculum. Though two months later, who could’ve guessed that Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions would be announced then released just over a year later? Certainly not me…

Ziggin’ & Zaggin’

While some may witness this 6-vs-6 sport and scratch their heads furiously, the gameplay here is actually pretty straightforward and almost entirely accurate to the books/movies. Whether it be the 3 goal-scoring Chasers who dodge, duck and drift quaffles towards their opponent’s rings, or the Beaters who literally knock out opponents—Keepers included—the fast-paced action and dynamic player switching are quite splendiferous. Think of gridiron, soccer and Rocket League all rolled into one, and you wouldn’t be too far off the mark.

Once you go through the initial tutorials, it won’t be long till you’re volleying quaffles and setting up plays like a pro broomsticker. Even though the 4 roles (Seeker, Chaser, Beater and Keeper) have their own quirks and mechanics, the controls are relatively consistent between them and feel mighty intuitive, yet hard to master. The only awkward aspect of flying is when you have to hard-turn around or glance over your shoulder for a better view. If you’re looking for a fast, get-out-of-danger pass or a quick reorient after a missed tackle, the dizzying struggle can be real at times, especially in the heart of midfield.

In terms of graphics, I wasn’t too sold on the cartoon-like aesthetic, but I honestly grew to enjoy it the more and more I played. Quidditch Champions’ PC performance is also top-notch too, and it doesn’t require a grand chungus of a rig to reach consistently high frame rates. However, even if the cartoonish art style does look nice, it can be tricky to track the quaffle at points, as speed rings, arrows and indicators casually blow up the screen. Chasing after the snitch gets a little dull as well, since you essentially just move back and forth across the pitch and aren’t able to fly into the stands or punt Draco high out of the sky. Now that would be amazing!

Is That All?

What I do find astonishing is that this game touts zero micro-transactions. Zilch. Nada. Each and every aspect like upgrade points and cosmetics can be purchased with in-game collectibles or obtained through playing matches. Need I remind you that this is the same publisher that brought us Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League? A game laden with buyable skins, banners, emotes and a recurring Battle Pass? They could’ve so easily taken the same route here—especially since Harry Potter merch sells gangbusters—but they didn’t, and I immensely respect Warner Bros. Games for that.

But as a whole, Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions feels like it’s holding back. Yes, there are a handful of Harry Potter characters represented in-game. From the likes of Molly Weasley, Fleur Delacour and Viktor Krum, alongside a heap of iconic customisation items like the Firebolt, Hagrid’s PS1 head and house-coloured quidditch uniforms. However, due to the lack of gameplay modes (apart from the four solo tournaments and multiplayer) or a dedicated story to keep fans invested, this online-only experience may start to push people away. Yes, you heard that right. People out and about or those with a shoddy internet connection will either not be able to play this game, or keep getting booted from all the online/offline modes, simply because the game requires a constant internet connection. Oh, and your match progress won’t be saved when this happens too. Good luck!

It also doesn’t help that you’ll hear the same commentary lines over and over again from the one and only, Lee Jordan. A real pity considering that his character in the books/movies is all about being biased towards Gryffindor and going on tangents for days. That being said, the game features full cross-play and cross-progression between each platform on the market, which is a big plus. At the moment though, Quidditch Champions only supports 3-vs-3 online matchups, so you’ll be switching between two roles during a game. Those being: Chaser/Seeker, Chaser/Beater or Chaser/Keeper or any combination of the two, if you don’t opt for one or the other.

Decision

Potterheads rejoice! If you’ve been holding out for a strong follow-up to 2003’s Quidditch World Cup, you’re in luck. Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions has bolted down the formula with an exciting game of broomstick ball, featuring a diverse cast of Harry Potter characters, various positions to play, and simple-to-pick-up, hard-to-master controls. However, it severely lacks major gameplay modes and a dedicated story, while also suffering from highly repetitive commentary and a required internet connection just to start the game. Blimey!

By Anthony Culinas – Reviewed on PC

Good

Harry Potter: Quidditch Champions gets 7 points for Gryffindor! After its omission from Hogwarts Legacy last year, this quidditch game has filled that hole with aplomb. It’s just a shame that the game contains barely any modes or a storyline that’s worth writing home about. So unless you’re absolutely floored by the aerial action, Quidditch Champions’ sparse content won’t accio players back for the long haul.

This game was reviewed using a download code provided by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. The Beta Network uses affiliate partnerships, however, this does not influence reviews or any other content published. The Beta Network may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links that are on the website.