Ahead of its April 25 worldwide release, Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery is already available to user in Australia and New Zealand, according to a recent report from Mashable. The report states that the game has been divided into chapters, much like the books, and is set over different years in Hogwarts.
However, the game doesn’t share its timeline with the books, placing the protagonist somewhere between the murder of Harry’s Parents and Harry’s first day at Hogwarts.
Upon first starting the game, players will be required to create a new avatar, which can be customized according to their preference. The game will then drop them into Diagon Alley, where players will first meet their classmates and Rowan, who’s like the Hermione of the game’s universe. Just like in the novels, players will be required to purchase their books at Flourish and Blotts, drop by Ollivander’s for a wand, and so on.
The game works on a number of narrative-based choices which makes the story dynamic. Unlike the books, however, players will be allowed to pick their own houses once they reach Hogwarts, before proceeding to their common room. They’ll be allowed to attend classes, like Charms with Professor Flitwick or Potions with Professor Snape (who’s still alive in this timeline).
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery is a free to play game with microtransactions with which players will be able to purchase items within the game. The game is scheduled to roll out worldwide on April 25, but if you don’t wish to wait you can download the game from the Australian Play Store by using a VPN.
