Honestly, if you grew up playing the original LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4, you probably have a very specific, slightly traumatic memory of a giant pixelated spider. I’m talking about Aragog. Specifically, the LEGO Harry Potter Follow the Spiders level. It’s a classic. It’s frustrating. It’s weirdly atmospheric for a game made of plastic blocks.
Most people remember the Forbidden Forest as a place where you just spam the "Lumos" spell and hope for the best. But there is a lot more going on under the hood of this level than most players realize, especially if you’re trying to hit that 100% completion mark.
The Absolute Chaos of the Forbidden Forest
The level starts out simple enough. You’re Harry, you’ve got Ron (who is visibly shaking because, well, spiders), and Fang. Fang is actually the MVP here. Without that dog, you aren't getting past the initial dig spots. You start in a murky, grey-green thicket. It’s classic Year 2 vibes.
The game design here is actually pretty clever. It forces you to navigate a 3D space that feels claustrophobic despite being an "outdoor" level. You’re constantly looking for those tiny, brown LEGO spiders scuttling along the ground. They lead you deeper into the woods. It’s a literal interpretation of the movie’s dialogue, but in LEGO form, it feels like a scavenger hunt from hell.
Missing the Red Brick? You’re Not Alone
One of the biggest gripes players have with LEGO Harry Potter Follow the Spiders is the collectible placement. Some levels in the game are straightforward. This isn't one of them. The Red Brick in this level—which, if I remember correctly, is the one for "Extra Hearts"—is tucked away in a spot that feels borderline mean.
You have to build a cloud. Yeah, a LEGO cloud.
Once you assemble the pieces near the upper ledge, it rains, things grow, and eventually, you get your prize. But if you’re playing this in Story Mode for the first time, you can’t even touch half the secrets. You need Dark Magic. You need a Strength character. You basically need to come back three hours later when you’ve finally unlocked Tom Riddle or Lucius Malfoy.
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It’s a masterclass in "Metroidvania" style level design hidden inside a kids' game. You see a chest vibrating with red sparkles and you just know you’re coming back later. It’s teasing you.
The Aragog Boss Fight is Kinda Broken (In a Good Way)
When you finally reach the hollow, you meet Aragog. He’s massive. He’s got those terrifying LEGO pincers. The fight mechanic is simple: Aragog sends his "children" at you, you spin them around using Wingardium Leviosa, and launch them back at the big guy.
But here’s the thing.
The physics engine in the early LEGO games was... adventurous. Sometimes you’ll grab a spider, and instead of spinning it, the spider just clips through the floor. Or Ron gets stuck in a running animation against a rock. It adds a layer of unintended difficulty that makes the victory feel earned.
To beat him, you do the three-heart cycle. Spin, throw, hit. Repeat. It’s not Dark Souls, but when you’re seven years old (or twenty-seven and trying to get a Platinum trophy), the tension is real.
Secret Locations Most People Walk Past
- The Lake Area: Before you get to the hollow, there’s a body of water. Most people just jump across the platforms. If you have a character who can go underwater or use specific spells on the reeds, there’s a Student in Peril tucked away there.
- The Hollow's Edge: During the boss fight, don't just focus on Aragog. There are gold brick opportunities and studs hidden in the periphery that disappear once the "car chase" sequence starts.
- Dark Magic Clusters: There are these black, glowing rocks. You need a Death Eater. Use Crucio. It’s the only way to get the character token for the Forest Giant.
Why This Level Matters for 100% Completion
If you are hunting for the "True Wizard" status, LEGO Harry Potter Follow the Spiders is actually one of the easier levels to max out your stud count. Because the environment is so destructible, you can basically level the entire forest. Smash every mushroom. Burn every web.
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The stud multipliers (x2, x4, x10) make this a gold mine. I’ve seen players walk out of this level with millions of studs just by being thorough in the first two clearings.
The "Car Chase" Escape
Once Aragog is "defeated" (he just kinda retreats into the dark), you get the vehicle sequence. You’re in the Ford Anglia. It’s clunky. It handles like a shopping cart with one broken wheel.
This part of the level is purely about reflexes. You’re driving toward the screen, which is a classic cinematic trope, but in LEGO form, it means you can’t see the obstacles until they’re right on top of you. You have to navigate the trees and the spiders jumping onto the hood.
If you miss the Crest piece here, you have to restart the whole level. There’s no "rewind" button for the car chase. It’s high stakes for a game made of plastic.
The Technical Reality of the Remaster
If you’re playing this on the PS4/PS5 or Xbox Series X via the LEGO Harry Potter Collection, the level looks surprisingly good. The lighting in the Forbidden Forest was overhauled. The "creepy" factor is dialed up with better fog effects and more vibrant spell flashes.
However, the glitches remain.
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The "Follow the Spiders" level is notorious for a specific bug where the spiders you’re supposed to follow just... stop. They hit a pathfinding error and stare at a wall. If this happens, you usually have to restart the level or try to jump-start the AI by casting spells near them. It’s a reminder that even in a magical world, code is fragile.
Essential Tips for Your Next Run
Don't go in blind. If you're looking to master this specific part of the game, keep these things in mind:
- Bring a heavy hitter. You need someone with Strength (like Hagrid) to pull the chains in the second area.
- Dark Magic is mandatory. You cannot get the Crest or the character tokens without someone like Voldemort or a generic Death Eater.
- The "Lumos" trick. Some vines in the forest respond to light. If you feel stuck, just hold down the spell button and walk toward anything green and grabby.
- Watch the background. A lot of the visual cues for where to go next are hidden in the parallax of the trees.
The LEGO Harry Potter Follow the Spiders level represents a specific era of gaming. It was a time when licensed games weren't just "cash-ins" but were actually built with a lot of love for the source material. The level designers clearly watched Chamber of Secrets on loop to get the atmosphere right.
It’s creepy, it’s funny, and it’s a little bit broken. That’s exactly why we still talk about it.
Next Steps for Players
Go to the Leaky Cauldron and make sure you have purchased at least one Dark Magic user from the character shop. Then, head back to the Forbidden Forest via the level selector. Focus on the "Free Play" mode rather than the story mode. This allows you to hot-swap between Hagrid, Harry, and a Death Eater instantly. This is the only way to unlock the "Follow the Spiders" Crest piece hidden behind the black LEGO bricks near the start of the level. Once you have that, you're well on your way to that elusive 100% trophy.