Honestly, it’s a bit weird how well a game made of plastic bricks holds up more than a decade after its release. Most licensed games from the early 2010s feel like clunky fossils now. They’re awkward. They’re ugly. But LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 somehow managed to capture the mood of the later films better than the actual "realistic" movie tie-ins did. It’s dark. It’s funny. It’s surprisingly deep for a game where characters don't even talk.
If you’re looking to scratch that Hogwarts itch, you’ve probably noticed the sheer amount of options out there. You have the massive open-world scale of Hogwarts Legacy, which is great, but it lacks that specific Potter vibe—the one rooted in the actual story of Harry, Ron, and Hermione. This game, the second half of the LEGO collection, covers Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, and both parts of Deathly Hallows. It’s where the series stopped being about whimsical chocolate frogs and started being about, well, wizarding war.
The Tonal Shift That Actually Worked
Developing a LEGO game based on the later books was a massive risk for TT Games back in 2011. The source material gets grim. Sirius Black dies. Dumbledore falls. Characters spend half their time crying in a tent in the woods. How do you make that "fun" for a seven-year-old while keeping it authentic for the die-hard fans?
They did it through visual storytelling.
The game opens with a grey, depressing Little Whinging. The colors are muted. It feels oppressive. Then, the Dementors show up, and suddenly the "toy" aesthetic feels genuinely threatening. It’s a masterclass in atmospheric design. You’re playing with LEGOs, sure, but the lighting and the music—heavy on the Nicholas Hooper and Alexandre Desplat scores—make it feel like you’re actually inside the cinematic universe.
One of the coolest things about LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 is how it handles the hub world. In the first game, Hogwarts was a puzzle box of secrets. Here, the world expands. You spend significant time in 12 Grimmauld Place, the Ministry of Magic, and Godric's Hollow. These aren't just one-off levels; they feel like lived-in spaces. The developers understood that the Wizarding World isn't just a castle; it's a collection of iconic, slightly dusty, very magical locations.
Mechanics That Don't Treat You Like a Kid
Let's talk about the dueling system. It was a new addition for this specific title. Instead of just mashing a button to fire studs at a generic baddie, the game introduces a rhythmic, color-coded dueling mechanic. It’s simple, but it feels impactful. When you’re facing off against Bellatrix Lestrange or Voldemort, there’s a genuine sense of back-and-forth.
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Then there are the spells.
- Aguamenti is used for more than just putting out fires; it’s a core puzzle mechanic.
- Diffindo lets you cut shapes out of red LEGO walls, which feels tactile and satisfying.
- Focus (the white spell) allows you to see into the minds of characters or interact with specific environmental cues.
It’s not just "press X to win." You actually have to think about which spell in your wheel fits the situation. The game assumes the player has a certain level of intelligence, which is refreshing. Even the "Weasley Boxes"—special crates that only a Weasley can open to get specific gadgets like Decoy Detonators or Sticky Trainers—add a layer of character-specific utility that makes your choice of avatar feel important.
The Character Roster is Absurd
Seriously. There are over 200 characters.
You expect the heavy hitters. You know you’re getting Harry, Neville, and Luna. But the depth here is for the nerds. You can play as Professor Binns—the ghost history teacher who died in his sleep and just kept teaching. You can play as various versions of Death Eaters, random Ministry officials, and even the "Grey Lady."
Each character belongs to a "class." Goblins can open safes. Dark Wizards can use Crucio on sparkling red objects. Strong characters like Hagrid can pull orange handles. This creates the classic LEGO "Metroidvania" loop: you see something you can't interact with, and you realize you have to come back later with a different person. It’s addictive. It’s why people spend 40 hours trying to get that 100% completion trophy.
Why the "Silent" Era Was Better
There is a very vocal group of fans (myself included) who believe LEGO games peaked before they started using voice acting. In LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7, the characters communicate through grunts, shrugs, and pantomime.
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It’s hilarious.
The physical comedy required to explain a complex plot point like the Half-Blood Prince’s potions book using only mumbles is incredible. It forces the writers to be clever. When the games switched to full voice acting in LEGO Batman 2 and LEGO Lord of the Rings, they lost a bit of that "silent movie" charm. The slapstick in Years 5-7 is top-tier. Watching a LEGO Voldemort try to be intimidating while someone in the background is doing something stupid with a rubber chicken is the exact kind of levity the dark later chapters needed.
Collecting the Red Bricks and Gold Bricks
If you’re going for the Platinum or just want to see everything, the grind in this game is actually pretty logical. Unlike some of the newer LEGO titles (I’m looking at you, Skywalker Saga), the map isn't so bloated that it feels like a chore.
The Red Bricks are your "cheats." They’re hidden throughout the hub worlds. Some give you score multipliers (x2, x4, x10). Others are just for fun, like the "Disguise" brick that puts fake glasses and a mustache on everyone. Pro tip: get the "Collect Ghost Studs" brick as early as possible. It turns the transparent trail left by Nearly Headless Nick into actual currency. It’s a game-changer for buying those expensive characters early on.
Gold Bricks are your progress markers. You get them for finishing levels, achieving "True Wizard" status (collecting a certain amount of studs), and finding the hidden Crest pieces. There are 200 in total. Finding the last few usually involves a deep dive into the darkest corners of the London streets or the Forbidden Forest.
The Reality of Glitches and Limitations
We have to be honest: the game isn't perfect. Even in the Remastered Collection on PS4 and Xbox One, you’ll encounter some jank.
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Characters get stuck in the geometry. Sometimes a script won't trigger, and you’ll have to restart a level. There’s a notorious glitch in the Library where a certain collectible can become unobtainable if you do things in the wrong order. It’s frustrating, but it’s part of the LEGO game experience.
Also, the split-screen. If you’re playing couch co-op, the "dynamic" split-screen—where the screen divides and rotates based on where the players are—can be nauseating. You can lock it to a vertical split in the settings, which I highly recommend if you value your peripheral vision.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Playthrough
If you’re booting this up for the first time in 2026, don’t rush. The temptation is to blast through the story missions to see the ending. Don't do that.
The real magic is in the "free play" exploration. Spend time in the Leaky Cauldron. Walk through Diagon Alley and look at the shop windows. The developers put an insane amount of detail into the backgrounds. You’ll see references to obscure lore that only someone who has read the books multiple times would catch.
- Prioritize the "Stud Multiplier" Red Bricks. Everything in the game costs money. If you get the x2 and x4 bricks early, they stack to become x8. Eventually, you’ll have billions of studs and never have to worry about the cost of a character again.
- Use a walkthrough for the Hogwarts Hub. The castle is a labyrinth. It’s easy to get lost or miss a doorway that leads to a whole new wing.
- Don't ignore the Bonus Levels. Once you collect enough Gold Bricks, you can build portals in Borgin and Burkes that lead to special challenge levels. They’re some of the best puzzles in the game.
- Unlock a Dark Wizard ASAP. You can't 100% most levels without one. Tom Riddle or Bellatrix should be your first major purchases.
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7 is more than just a tie-in. It’s a love letter to a franchise. It manages to be a parody and a faithful adaptation at the exact same time. Whether you’re a parent playing with a kid or a nostalgic adult looking for a cozy weekend game, it delivers. It’s charming, slightly buggy, and deeply satisfying. Go find those bricks.