Harry Potter: Defenders of Hogwarts is a tabletop board game by Studio MinaLima, the graphic designers of the Harry Potter films. You play it at a table with cards, pawns and a map of Hogwarts. It is not a video game, it is not on PC, PlayStation, Xbox or Switch, and it is not a sequel to Hogwarts Legacy.
Why some news sites call it an RPG
Several entertainment sites covered the game with headlines about a new Harry Potter RPG. The label fits in one sense: each player takes on a role. You either represent one of the four Hogwarts houses or play the Dark Forces trying to break into the castle before Voldemort arrives. But there is no game master, no character sheet and no long campaign. Each game is a self-contained match of about 90 minutes.
In board game terms, Defenders of Hogwarts is an asymmetric deckbuilding game: one player against the rest, with different goals on each side, and everyone improving their own deck of cards as the game goes on.
What the game is, in numbers
| Full name | Harry Potter: Defenders of Hogwarts, a board game by MinaLima |
|---|---|
| Type | Asymmetric deckbuilding board game (one versus many) |
| Players | 2 to 5 (one is always the Dark Arts Player) |
| Play time | About 90 minutes |
| Age | 13+ |
| Game design | David Waterman, with creative direction by Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima (Studio MinaLima) |
| Funding | Kickstarter, ended 24 July 2026 with 10,156 backers; 10,959 backers and £1,313,755 including late pledges (as shown on 10 October 2026) |
| Delivery | First backer shipments estimated for October 2026; some Collector extras in March 2027 |
How a game feels
House Players move three students around the castle and grounds, learn spells, visit the Library and climb the Hogwarts Loyalty Track. The first student to collect two Defence Shields wins. Meanwhile the Dark Arts Player deploys followers into the grounds, bumps students back to the Great Hall and pushes along the Dark Arts Path towards a final assault on one location of the map.
The clever twist is that students feed the Dark side every time they refill their hand. So the house players share a clock, while still racing each other for the win. Read the full rules explained for details.
Can you buy it?
The Kickstarter campaign is over. Late pledges ran through the Hive pledge manager, and MinaLima announced that late pledging would end around 9 October 2026 so shipping could begin. Shops are next: a limited release at House of MinaLima stores and Harry Potter Shops was promised for autumn 2026, and the English edition reaches game shops in 2027. Our where to buy page tracks what is open today.
Looking for a video game?
We have not seen any announcement of a digital version of Defenders of Hogwarts (checked 10 October 2026). If you searched for a new Harry Potter video game, this is not it. If you like the idea of a Hogwarts adventure you can play with friends around a table, you are in the right place.