We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more Chances are that the first readers of the first Harry Potter book that came out in 1997 didn’t expect the franchise to evolve so much over the next quarter of a century to the point of spawning a multitude of subsequent books, films, and video game titles. But these aren’t the only types of media that the Harry Potter universe has expanded into. Over the course of the last decade and a half, the franchise has also been enriched by a multitude of tabletop games, and in this article, we will try to list the best Harry Potter board games of all time.
List of Best Harry Potter Board Games
- Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle
- Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle – Defence Against the Dark Arts
- Codenames: Harry Potter
- Munchkin: Harry Potter
- Fantastic Beasts: Perilous Pursuit
- Harry Potter: Spellcasters
- Harry Potter Labyrinth
- Clue: Harry Potter Edition
- Trivial Pursuit Harry Potter
- Time’s Up!: Harry Potter
- Harry Potter Tri-Wizard Tournament – Capture The Cup Game
- Harry Potter Trading Card Game
- Harry Potter: Magical Beasts Board Game
- Harry Potter Whomping Willow Game
- Talisman: Harry Potter
- Funkoverse Strategy Game Harry Potter
- Harry Potter: Death Eaters Rising
- Harry Potter: Miniatures Adventure Game
1. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle
- Designer: Forrest-Pruzan Creative, Kami Mandell, Andrew Wolf
- Players: 2-4
- Time: 30-60 Min
- Age: 11+
- Complexity: 2/5
The Harry Potter series is famous for our young protagonists working together to defend Hogwarts from evil forces and this is what you and your friends will have to do in the coop deckbuilder in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle. Up to four players take on the roles of Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville, and are tasked with protecting the castle using their personal deck of cards. As one of the most popular Harry Potter board games, the players will acquire resources, such as spells and magical items, and will have to work together to withstand the onslaught of Dark Arts attacks that the villains will throw at them.
Buy Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle on Amazon US.
2. Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle – Defence Against the Dark Arts
- Designer: Kami Mandell, Andrew Wolf
- Players: 2
- Time: 30-60 Min
- Age: 11+
- Complexity: 1.7/5
If you like the deckbuilding aspect of the previous game but also crave a bit of competition, then Harry Potter Hogwarts Battle Defence Against the Dark Arts is for you. As the name suggests, this game is a sequel/spinoff of the previously described title and it sets two players against each other in a fast-paced competition. The premise is that these are training exercises that put students one against the other in order to teach them to, well, defend against the dark arts. It should be noted that, albeit similar in gameplay to the previous title, this one is an entirely standalone game and none of the content from both games is meant to be incorporated together.
But Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle – Defence Against the Dark Arts on Amazon US.
3. Codenames: Harry Potter
- Designer: Vlaada Chvátil, Scot Eaton
- Players: 2+
- Time: 15 Min
- Age: 11+
- Complexity: 1.6/5
Fans who are quite into the lore and details of the franchise might like types of Harry Potter board games that require a lot more knowledge of the books and films. This is why Codenames: Harry Potter could be the perfect title for them. In this coop game, players are tasked with locating secret Agents from the Order of the Phoenix who are concealed among a grid of Harry Potter references. They have to do so before time runs out, using just one-word clues to guide their friends to the right answers, or else Death Eaters will come for them.
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4. Munchkin: Harry Potter
- Designer: USAopoly
- Players: 3-6
- Time: 1-2 Hours
- Age: 11+
- Complexity: 2.13/5
With a wide variety of versions, Steve Jackson’s classic role-playing card game Munchkin also extends into the universe of Harry Potter. In this game, players can become a member of their favorite Hogwarts house and level up by defeating villains and monsters, competing against other players in order to be the first one to reach level 10. To do so, players may utilize Allies, use Proficiency, and even deal Curses in this dungeon crawler of a game in an effort to be the first to reach the top.
Buy Munchkin: Harry Potter on Amazon US.
5. Fantastic Beasts: Perilous Pursuit
- Designer: Kami Mandell
- Players: 2-4
- Time: 45–60 Min
- Age: 8+
- Complexity: 1.4/5
The Harry Potter franchise has spawned several spin-offs, and Fantastic Beasts is perhaps the most popular one. Because of this, it was a prime target to receive one of the best Harry Potter board games in the face of Fantastic Beasts: Perilous Pursuit. In it, players take the roles of Newt, Tina, Jacob, and Queenie, who must return all the beasts to Newt’s suitcase before the non-magical community notices something strange. Players do so by collecting dice to take action and shield each other in their quest to bring the beasts back into the suitcase before they cause too much trouble.
Fantastic Beasts: Perilous Pursuit is currently unavailable on Amazon US.
6. Harry Potter: Spellcasters
- Designer: Pressman Toy Corp.
- Players: 3-8
- Time: 10-30 Min
- Age: 8+
- Complexity: 1/5
This is a game similar to Charades, which requires players to faithfully represent different spells using their wand. A “Spellcaster” pulls out a card keeping it hidden from other players’ view. Then, they have to follow the spell drawn out on the card, while the other participants have to guess. If a player guesses correctly, the Spellcaster keeps their Spell card. The next Spellcaster is determined by the first player who points at the correct Guessing card. To spice things up, each spell card has a special challenge on the back, which the new Spellcaster will have to endure. One game runs rather quickly, with the winner being the participant who ends up with the most Spell and Guess cards combined at the end.
Buy Harry Potter: Spellcaster on Amazon US.
7. Harry Potter Labyrinth
- Designer: Ravensburger
- Players: 2-4
- Time: about 30 Mins
- Age: 8+
- Complexity: 1/5
The original Labyrinth game was released in 1986 and it has become a fun pass time for the whole family. Harry Potter board games are also a fun activity for the family, so it’s no wonder that Labyrinth has a Harry Potter-themed version. With an easy-to-understand ruleset, the title challenges players to roam through the hidden trails and passages in and around Hogwarts and find various characters from the franchise, such as Dumbledore or Hagrid. But the magical castle and its surroundings often change shape and layout, so the shifting maze will challenge players each step of the way.
Buy Harry Potter Labyrinth on Amazon US.
8. Clue: Harry Potter Edition
- Designer: Rob Daviau
- Players: 3-5
- Time: 30 Min
- Age: 9+
- Complexity: 1.5/5
Playing as Harry, Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Luna or Neville, players are tasked with finding out the whereabouts of a fellow student that mysteriously disappeared. Participants have to discover what kind of spell or item was used and by whom when the student was attacked. Similar to the previously discussed game, this one also features a dynamic playing field that reveals hidden passages, secret staircases, and more of Hogwarts’ secrets.
Of course, the game is quite similar to the original Clue, making it easy to pick up from players who have enjoyed that title. The Harry Potter edition retains the standard mechanics of going from room to room making suggestions of who, what, and where, but also adds a multitude of new features. These include the previously mentioned changing board, as well as the so-called house points, making the Harry Potter edition a fresh iteration of the classic board game.
But Clue: Harry Potter Edition on Amazon US.
9. Trivial Pursuit Harry Potter
- Designer: n/a
- Players: 2-8
- Time: 60 Min
- Age: 8+
- Complexity: 1/5
Another classic title making its way into the best Harry Potter board games is Trivial Pursuit with its version based on lore of the franchise. In this simple to get into quiz game, players are tasked with showing their knowledge of the eight movies. When their turn arrives, players must roll a die and move their pawn on the board and answer questions related to the franchise. These can range in a variety of categories, ranging from animals and magical creatures to spells and potions, and even the Dark Arts. With over 600 questions included in the base game, Trivial Pursuit Harry Potter offers a wide diversity of challenges.
But Trivial Pursuit Harry Potter on Amazon US.
10. Time’s Up!: Harry Potter
- Designer: n/a
- Players: 4-12
- Time: 30 Mins
- Age: 8+
- Complexity: 1/5
Another easy-to-learn title, Time’s Up!: Harry Potter is a redesign of another classic party game. With a three-round play loop, consisting of phases in which players team up and have just 30 seconds to guess the most words, they will have to think and act fast. In the first round, participants must describe what they see on their cards without saying a single word from what is written. Their teammates must then guess what’s on said card. In the second round, players will have to make their teammates do the same, but only by saying just one single word. The final round sees participants act out the card so that their companions can guess the card.
Time’s Up!: Harry Potter is not currently available on Amazon US.
11. Harry Potter Tri-Wizard Tournament – Capture The Cup Game
- Designer: n/a
- Players: 2-4
- Time: n/a
- Age: 5+
- Complexity: 1/5
The Tri-Wizard Tournament is one of the most memorable story arcs in the whole franchise, so it should not be a surprise that a game inspired by it comes up in a list of the best Harry Potter board games. The monster-filled maze from the tournament served as the final test that participants in the books and movies had to go through, and players of the game are also tasked with the same thing. On their way to the finish line, participants must avoid traps and monsters, but also explore to find items that will help them reach the goal.
Buy Harry Potter Tri-Wizard Tournament – Capture The Cup Game on Amazon US.
12. Harry Potter Trading Card Game
- Designer: Skaff Elias, Mike Elliott, Paul Peterson
- Players: 2
- Time: 20 Mins
- Age: 9+
- Complexity: 2/5
Launching in 2001, the Harry Potter TCG is one of the oldest Harry Potter board games out there. It allows players to collect different cards inspired by Rowling’s writings and then duke it out in duels involving strategy, luck, and persistence. Each player constructs a 60-card deck containing spells, creatures, items, and the “lesson” cards needed to put them into play. The goal is to make the opponent discard more and more cards from their deck until they are all out of cards. The game also has a series of expansions named Quidditch Cup, Diagon Alley, Adventures at Hogwarts, and Chamber of Secrets.
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13. Harry Potter: Magical Beasts Board Game
- Designer: n/a
- Players: 2-4
- Time: n/a
- Age: 8+
- Complexity: 1/5
Another easy-to-learn game, Magical Beasts lets players take control of either Harry, Ron, Hermione, or Ginny and compete to discover different magical beasts. The objective of the game is to obtain four cards that correspond to one beast. During their turn, a player will roll a die to indicate how far they move on the game board. If they land on a tile that indicates a type of card, they take one from a special pile and place it down. However, if a player rolls the special die and it lands on a “P”, then they get to go to a passage of his/her choice, with all other players not currently on a “P” being removed. Then, the game board shifts, and the player who initially rolled the special symbol gets to put the other players on any tile of his/her choosing and steal one of their cards. The winner is the first player who obtains all four cards of each type for one magical beast.
Buy Harry Potter: Magical Beasts Board Game on Amazon US.
14. Harry Potter Whomping Willow Game
- Designer: Mattel, Inc.
- Players: 1-4
- Time: 10 Min
- Age: 7+
- Complexity: 1/5
The moment when Ron and Harry hit the Whomping Willow with the flying car is one of the most memorable moments of the Chamber of Secrets, so it’s not surprising the magical tree made it to the list of the best Harry Potter board games. With its three different types of play, this easy-to-learn game offers players a variety of things to do. In the Time Trial, participants must use race against the clocks and remove luggage from the tree using their flying cars. This mode can even be played by a single player. Collection, however, requires at least two players. In this mode, participants play simultaneously and race each other to become the first one to remove one of each type of luggage (suitcase, books, owl) from the sentient tree. Finally, the free-for-all requires players to collect the most pieces of luggage from the tree and features two modes, easy and advanced, with the latter one making the tree’s branches move a lot faster and more unpredictably.
Harry Potter: Whomping Willo Game is not available on Amazon US.
15. Talisman: Harry Potter
- Designer: Galakta, The Op
- Players: 2-6
- Time: 90-120 Min
- Age: 13+
- Complexity: 2/5
Another Harry Potter iteration of a popular game, Talisman: Harry Potter pitches players against the dark lord Voldemort himself. Participants take control of members of the Order of the Phoenix or Death Eaters and they must prove their bravery or loyalty in a race to get to the big baddie himself. When you meet him, you must either use one of the Deathly Hallows to defeat him or present it to the dark lord in a show of loyalty.
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16. Funkoverse Strategy Game Harry Potter
- Designer: Prospero Hall
- Players: 2-4
- Time: 20-60 Min
- Age: 10+
- Complexity: 2/5
What happens when you combine Harry Potter board games and Funkopop, the popular series of figurines? You get a Funkoverse Strategy Game, which puts players in front of different challenges, which they must surmount using l unique abilities that may be performed only by spending ability tokens. Said tokens have a “cooldown” period, with stronger abilities taking longer to be available again, making players think wisely before spending their tokens. Considering each character has unique features, players are incentivized to try out different combinations of items and heroes in order to discover new strategies.
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17. Harry Potter: Death Eaters Rising
- Designer: Patrick Marino, Andrew Wolf
- Players: 2-4
- Time: 45-90 Min
- Age: 11+
- Complexity: 2.3/5
One of the best Harry Potter board games pitches players against the dark lord’s savage servants, requiring participants to assemble teams of witches and wizards from the Order of the Phoenix, Dumbledore’s Army, and Hogwarts to fight off the invaders. Taking control of some of the franchise’s heroes, players rally a party of a variety of year-5 characters to their cause, including Luna Lovegood, Alastor Moody, Ginny Weasley, and more. Players then have to command their teams and work together to battle villains such as Bellatrix Lestrange and Lucius Malfoy for control of key points in the wizard world, such as the Ministry of Magic or Diagon Alley.
Harry Potter: Death Eaters Rising is not currently available on Amazon US.
18. Harry Potter: Miniatures Adventure Game
- Designer: Gustavo Adolfo Cuadrado, Mark Latham
- Players: 2-6
- Time: 30-90 Min
- Age: 12+
- Complexity: 2.3/5
Last, but not least, Harry Potter Miniatures Adventure Game tasks players with taking control of a character from the cinematic universe and exploring iconic environments from the franchise, such as the Chamber of Secrets, and the Forbidden Forest. To secure victory, participants must solve a wide variety of challenges and quests by equipping their wizards with potion and artifact cards and an array of spells. The game stands out with its beautifully designed game board as well as the detailed 35mm miniatures sculpted in high-quality resin in collaboration with Warner Bros.