Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells
- September 22, 2020
- Zynga
- 6h median play time
Get on Play Store
Get on Apple Store"Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells" is a Match-3 puzzle game that immerses players into the magical world of Harry Potter with its spectacular story and sensational game mechanics. The game features stunning visuals and great music, but can be very grinding at times and is unfortunately full of bugs. Despite these flaws, the game's humor and emotional moments make it a worthwhile experience for fans of the franchise.
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PC
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Reviews
- Great graphics and engaging gameplay that immerses players in the Harry Potter universe.
- Fun and challenging puzzles that require strategy and skill, with a variety of events and rewards.
- No intrusive ads, allowing for a more enjoyable gaming experience.
- Frequent crashes and connection issues, especially during important events, leading to frustration.
- The game becomes increasingly difficult, often requiring multiple attempts to complete levels, which can feel tedious.
- Recent updates have removed daily rewards like unlimited lives, making it harder to progress without spending money.
- graphics1,181 mentions
- 77 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received widespread acclaim for their beauty, creativity, and attention to detail, effectively capturing the essence of the Harry Potter universe. Players appreciate the vibrant colors, smooth animations, and the integration of familiar characters and elements from the films, which enhance the overall gaming experience. However, some users have noted issues with graphics performance, particularly after updates, and expressed a desire for options to adjust graphic settings for smoother gameplay.
“The graphics and animation are beautifully done and make the game even more fun.”
“The graphics are phenomenal and I love the gameplay and customization, the levels get kinda hard sometimes but if you keep trying then you can finish the level and be on with your playing.”
“The graphics are stunning and the voices are perfect!”
“But after this last update, it's cracking down the graphics and the colors are too childish, too bright, too hard to look at and keep playing for hours.”
“Edit: I used to love the graphics but after the recent update I kinda don't like it anymore, the gems were changed in a way that made the game look like any other puzzle game, the graphics before were better and were fitting for the Harry Potter franchise.”
“The flat coloring on the jewels looks awful now and doesn't match the aesthetic of the rest of the game.”
- monetization769 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 68 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the lack of intrusive ads and the option to watch ads for bonuses, such as extra moves or rewards. However, numerous users have reported glitches that prevent them from receiving these rewards after watching ads, leading to frustration and a perception of the game as a cash grab, especially at higher levels where in-app purchases seem necessary to progress. Overall, while the game offers a relatively ad-free experience, the inconsistencies in ad rewards and the push for in-app purchases have left some players dissatisfied.
“Nice to play without spending money, it's not too 'in your face' about the in-app purchases.”
“No ads unless you choose to watch them for bonuses.”
“You can advance without making any in-app purchases.”
“I made the mistake of making an in-app purchase, and consequently lost the ability to watch videos for extra moves.”
“Be aware that if you make any purchases in this game, the free option to watch ads to get extra moves at the end of puzzles will no longer be available to you once they figure out you're willing to spend even $1.99 on the game, that's done.”
“It's an unfortunate cash grab now.”
- stability439 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent glitches, freezes, and crashes that disrupt gameplay and lead to lost progress. While some players appreciate the game's engaging content, the overwhelming number of bugs—especially after recent updates—has led to frustration and dissatisfaction. Despite responsive customer support, the persistent technical issues have prompted calls for urgent fixes to enhance the overall gaming experience.
“Love it! There's plenty to do and the game runs great; I haven't had any problems with it at all. Hours of fun if you need to pass some time; this game is a good one for it.”
“Been playing for over three years now, no glitches and no freezing.”
“No glitches, no issues getting cards anymore, definitely loving the new challenges!”
“For example, everyone's creature of the week is showing the brown rat still, the maze kept disappearing, on some levels the board freezes then the app closes out and if I'm on a win streak, that's lost.”
“It's a really nice game to play, but the glitches need to stop.”
“The game is fun and engaging, but the glitches make me so irritated.”
- story366 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The game's story is highly praised for its faithful adherence to the Harry Potter narrative, with many players appreciating the integration of familiar characters, spells, and settings from the books and films. While the graphics and sound design enhance the immersive experience, some users express a desire for a more dynamic and original storyline, as well as a faster progression through the plot. Overall, fans of the Harry Potter franchise find the storyline engaging and enjoyable, though some feel it could benefit from additional depth and variety.
“I love how the game follows the story, and playing on a team is also a plus.”
“The graphics are wonderful, and the storyline is great.”
“I love the addition of side quests and competitions.”
“The storyline is achingly slow and rewards are too few, infrequent, and disproportionate as you make progress.”
“Basically an easy to win match game, loosely tied into the Harry Potter films with voice clips and a vague storyline.”
“Nothing more than a very bog standard Candy Crush style matching game with an irrelevant story tagging along in the background.”
- music244 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its authenticity, featuring tracks from the Harry Potter films that evoke nostalgia and enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the integration of familiar sound effects and character voices, which contribute to an immersive atmosphere. However, some users have noted issues with sound balance, finding certain sound effects too loud compared to the background music.
“I never want to look away with the John Williams music in the background, surprisingly simple but fun gameplay and working through the Harry Potter story!”
“The music is fantastic, makes me want to go watch the movies right now.”
“The authentic music, voice clips, and beautiful illustrations make it a perfect game for Harry Potter fans.”
“I changed the 5 stars; the soundtrack is horrible. Where are the songs from the movie? I even removed the sound from the game. Before, the songs were the same as in the movies; now they are very boring.”
“The one gripe I have is that I can't adjust the sound effect and music volume. It's minor, but the effects are blaringly loud and the music that brings back all the memories from the films is too low.”
“The background music could be better.”
- gameplay240 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is generally well-received, with many players enjoying its unique mechanics, engaging puzzles, and integration of the Harry Potter theme. However, there are significant concerns regarding pay-to-win elements, bugs, and inconsistent mechanics that can hinder the experience. While the graphics and overall design are praised, some players find the gameplay can become tedious or overly reliant on luck, especially in higher levels.
“The gameplay is fun with diverse challenges and I love the club activities.”
“Gameplay is very enjoyable, and you need to change strategy to solve levels, which I like very much.”
“Great gameplay, beautifully illustrated graphics, and the puzzles don't get repetitive or tired.”
“The game reboots when it wants to during gameplay, resulting in me losing my winning streak.”
“Gameplay is impossible unless you spend money!”
“The gameplay starts simple enough but ramps up the difficulty in true pay-to-win fashion as you progress into the higher levels, often requiring purchasable power-ups to complete a board as the number of moves provided are wholly insufficient to finish them otherwise.”
- humor28 mentions
- 86 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding the sound effects, character interactions, and clever references to the Harry Potter universe particularly amusing. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke laughter through its quirky elements and entertaining gameplay, although some players note that certain frustrations, like losing trophies, can detract from the overall fun. Overall, the game is described as addictive and filled with humorous moments that enhance the player experience.
“I can't stop laughing.”
“Just met the troll in the dungeon, friggin hilarious 😂😭😂😆 so.”
“As an avid Harry Potter fan, this game combines all my favorite elements of the movies along with puzzles that are really hilariously fun to play.”
“I lose lives, that is not funny.”
“Taking away trophies when you've worked so hard to win them is not funny.”
“I can't believe this happened; it's supposed to be funny and fun, not to upset people.”
- grinding26 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, especially as they progress to higher levels where repetitive gameplay and reliance on luck become prominent. Many reviews highlight that the initial enjoyment diminishes significantly due to the need to replay levels excessively, often leading to a feeling of being forced to spend money or watch ads to advance. While the game starts off fun, it ultimately becomes a grind that detracts from the overall experience.
“Fun for the first 100 levels or so, then becomes an increasingly tedious grind waiting for the game to 'allow' you to complete the next level.”
“Don't mind failures but when it gets to the point where you're on a single puzzle for days, it gets tedious, monotonous, and frustrating.”
“Could be a great game, but it gets tedious playing the same puzzle 50 times over and over.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, often feeling nostalgic and heartbroken due to technical issues that disrupt their experience. The game fosters a sense of community and warmth among friends, making it a wholesome experience for fans, particularly those with a fondness for childhood memories. Overall, the emotional responses range from joy and nostalgia to frustration and disappointment.
“This whole game makes me want to cry as it puts me into the movies that made my childhood.”
“So heartbreaking.”
“Engaging, emotionally intelligent and fun to play.”
- atmosphere9 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 11 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its charming graphics, faithful character designs, and immersive settings that evoke the Harry Potter universe. Players appreciate the innovative approach within the match-three genre, highlighting the depth and engaging ambiance that enhances the overall experience. The combination of excellent animation, music, and a distraction-free environment contributes to a captivating and enjoyable atmosphere.
“The characters are drawn cute as well as true to the books, the scenery and overall atmosphere are just right.”
“It creates such a fabulous atmosphere.”
“The animation, atmosphere, and music are fantastic.”
“I am yet to see a good HP game that actually takes you into the atmosphere of the universe and not just places random characters to say a few lines between puzzles.”
“The atmosphere is there, the graphics are cute, characters familiar and there's a surprising amount of depth!”
“I started playing this game with a grain of skepticism due to it being a match-three type (and we all know how many boring games exist in this genre), yet I was surprised with the innovations and the general atmosphere.”
- optimization7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, user reviews on optimization are mixed; while some players report smooth performance and impressive graphics without lag, others experience significant issues such as stuttering, slow loading times, and crashes. Many users express disappointment with the game's optimization, especially in comparison to other graphics-intensive titles that run without problems on their devices.
“The game is fun and runs smoothly, but turns into a 'pay-to-play' real quick.”
“Amazing effects and perfectly optimized; my phone doesn't lag at all despite how HD and sparkly everything is.”
“Sometimes these issues last for almost a day; I would expect better performance.”
“And yes, I have more graphics-intensive games that don't lag, and no other performance issues on my device, so it is the game.”
“Interesting to play while learning the spells; however, it would be great if you could look at the loading of different screens as performance gets slow while using the app.”
- replayability7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while it boasts over 2000 levels and the potential for upgrades, many players feel it lacks replay value, especially when updates are infrequent. However, recent additions like "legends" levels have improved replayability, making the game more engaging for those who enjoy high-quality puzzles. Players appreciate the absence of ads and pressure to spend money, but the need for more content between updates remains a common concern.
“With well over 2000 levels and the ability to upgrade your spells, this game really does have a lot of replay value.”
“Edit: updated my review as promised, now that they added replayability to the game via 'legends' levels.”
“Great puzzles, high replay value.”
“The game has potential, but with zero replayability, it makes waiting for updates very dull and frustrating, especially when you drop out of the promotion zone.”
“Very fun and addictive matching game with a new element to the genre, no ads which is great, and never felt pressured to buy anything. The only thing that prevents me from giving 5 stars is that it offers no replayability; once you've reached the last puzzle, you have to wait weeks for an update that opens 10-20 new ones with nothing to do in between updates.”
“Please add a level replay feature to increase this game's replay value; otherwise, it might get old faster if people get stuck later on hard levels.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate frustration with technical issues, such as ads and connectivity problems, which detract from the overall experience. Additionally, there is a desire for more diverse character designs, suggesting that character development could be enhanced through greater variety and customization options.
“The character development feels shallow and uninspired, making it hard to connect with anyone in the game.”
“I was expecting more depth in the characters, but they all seem one-dimensional and forgettable.”
“The lack of meaningful choices in character progression really detracts from the overall experience.”
