Status on 10 October 2026
The first wave of Kickstarter copies is being prepared for shipping in October 2026. MinaLima closed its backer surveys around 9 October to start fulfilment. Collector's Box extras are scheduled for March 2027. Shops get the English edition in 2027; translated editions follow later, without a date yet.
Timeline
| Date | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 21 to 22 May 2026 | Studio MinaLima announces Defenders of Hogwarts, its first board game. | MuggleNet, License Global |
| 30 June 2026 | Kickstarter campaign goes live with a £50,000 goal. | MinaLima YouTube, Kickstarter |
| 17 July 2026 | Official How to Play video published. | YouTube |
| 24 July 2026 | Campaign ends: 10,156 backers pledged £1,224,472. Late pledges open. | Kickstarter update #11 |
| 28 August 2026 | Pledge manager opens with partner Hive: addresses, shipping, taxes and add-ons. | Kickstarter update #13 |
| 2 October 2026 | Pledge manager extended until 9 October. | Kickstarter update #16 |
| 8 to 9 October 2026 | Last 24 hours for late pledges and surveys, then fulfilment starts. | Kickstarter update #18 |
| October 2026 | First shipping wave to backers (estimated). | Kickstarter reward pages |
| Autumn 2026 | Limited release through selected online retailers, House of MinaLima and Harry Potter Shops (announced; no listing found on 10 October). | The Leaky Cauldron, License Global |
| March 2027 | Second shipment for Collector's Box items: metal pawns, Dumbledore's Army upgrade, token bag, signed artist's portfolio (estimated). | Kickstarter reward pages |
| 2027 | English edition available to shops through wholesale. A UK retail price of £75 has been reported. | MinaLima retail interest form; ScreenRant |
| Spring 2027 and later | Global release in more languages was announced for spring 2027. MinaLima's retailer form now says translations will follow "at a later date". | License Global, retail interest form |
Backer counts: 10,156 at the end of the campaign; the Kickstarter page showed 10,959 backers and £1,313,755 on 10 October 2026, which includes late pledges.
If you backed the game
- Check that your Hive survey is complete and your address is correct. MinaLima said that surveys finished after the deadline are not guaranteed to go out in the first wave.
- Shipping and taxes were charged in the pledge manager, so there should be no extra payment on delivery in most regions. Check your pledge manager receipt if a courier asks for fees.
- If you chose The Collector, expect two deliveries: the game and most extras in the first wave, the Collector's Box in March 2027.
If you did not back it
Read our where to buy guide. It lists what is still open (late pledges, shops) and what to expect from the retail release.
While you wait
Learn the game now and you will be playing in minutes when the box arrives: start with how to play, then the setup checklist.