BoardA 7 by 7 grid with 16 tiles printed on it that never move. Arrows on the edges mark the rows and columns you can push.
Harry Potter Labyrinth is Ravensburger's classic moving-maze game with Harry Potter characters in place of treasures. The rules are the same as in the original Labyrinth by Max J. Kobbert. On every turn you push a tile into the maze to open a path, then walk your pawn towards the character on your secret card. Find all your characters, get back to your start corner, and you win.
Harry Potter LabyrinthRavensburger
- 2 to 4 players
- 20 to 30 min
- Ages 7+
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2 to 4Players
7+Age
20 to 30Minutes
24Characters to find
What is in the box
34 maze tiles33 fill the board, the last one is the spare you push in.
24 picture cardsOne character each, matching a picture in the maze.
4 pawnsRed, yellow, green and blue, one for each start corner.
Setup
- Before the first game, punch out the tiles and the picture cards.
- Shuffle the maze tiles and lay them face up on the empty spaces of the board at random. One tile is left over: put it beside the board as the spare.
- Shuffle the picture cards and deal them out evenly. Everyone keeps a face-down pile without looking at it.
- Put your pawn on the start corner of the same colour.
- Look secretly at the top card of your pile. That is your first target.
- The youngest player starts. Play goes clockwise.
| Players | Cards each |
|---|---|
| 2 | 12 |
| 3 | 8 |
| 4 | 6 |
A turn in two steps
1 Shift the maze
Push the spare tile into the board at one of the 12 arrows, until a tile drops out on the other side. That tile becomes the next player's spare. You must shift every turn, even if you could already reach your target.
2 Move your pawn
Walk as far as you like along open corridors, or stay where you are. Several pawns may stand on the same tile.
The forbidden move
You may not push the spare tile back in at the spot where the previous player just pushed it out. Otherwise you could simply undo their move.
If a push shoves a pawn off the board, put it on the tile that was just pushed in on the opposite side. That does not count as a move. When your pawn reaches the picture on your top card, turn the card face up next to your pile and look at the next one. You go for the new target on your next turn.
How to win
The first player to turn over all their cards and bring their pawn back to its start corner wins. There are no points. The way home is often the hardest part, because the other players can push the maze to block you.
The characters
The 24 picture cards show characters from the films. Some sit on fixed tiles, the others move with the maze. Among them:
Harry PotterHermione GrangerRon WeasleyAlbus DumbledoreSeverus SnapeRubeus HagridLord VoldemortDraco MalfoyLuna LovegoodSirius BlackDolores UmbridgeKingsley ShackleboltSybill TrelawneyDobbyHedwig
Variant for younger children
The rulebook has an easier version. Players may look at all of their cards from the start and pick, before each turn, which character to go for next. If everyone agrees, nobody has to return to their start corner at the end.
Families also like these ideas: deal fewer cards to younger players, or play together by laying out three targets that everyone helps to reach.
Harry Potter Labyrinth vs classic Labyrinth
| Harry Potter Labyrinth | Classic Labyrinth | |
|---|---|---|
| Rules | The same | The same |
| Targets | 24 Harry Potter characters | 24 treasures and creatures |
| Board | 16 fixed tiles, 34 loose tiles, corners in house colours | Same structure |
| Pawns | Plain pawns | Depends on the edition |
If you already own Labyrinth, this edition only adds the theme. For fans who don't have it yet, it is the more fun version to look at.
Tips
- Look at the tile you push out. It is the next player's spare. Think about what it lets them do.
- Use the edge. Stand on an edge tile and push its row or column: your pawn drops off and reappears on the far side.
- Can't reach your target? End on a crossing with many open paths, not in a dead end.
- Keep your target secret. Nobody can block what they don't know. Once everyone knows you are heading home, expect trouble.
- Push tiles slowly and straight. They can jam.
Rules questions
Can I push the tile back in where it was just pushed out?
No. That is the forbidden move. Most players also don't allow it with the tile turned around, since it would almost undo the last move.
Do I have to shift the maze if I can already reach my target?
Yes. Every turn starts with a shift.
Do I have to move my pawn?
No. You may stay where you are.
Can two pawns share a tile?
Yes. Pawns never block each other.
My pawn was pushed off the edge. What happens?
It goes onto the tile just pushed in on the opposite side. This is not a move, so on your own turn you can still walk afterwards.
Can I walk off one edge and come back on the other side?
No. You only get to the other side by being pushed off with a tile, which you can do to yourself on purpose.
I passed my target and the next one is also in reach. Can I take both?
No. After reaching a target, you look at your next card and go for it on your next turn.
Another player pushed me onto my target. Does it count?
The rules don't cover it. Most families let you claim it on your own turn, after your shift, if you are still on the tile.
Do I really have to go back to my start corner?
Yes, in the standard game. Only if everyone agrees can you skip it, as in the variant for younger children.
Is it worth buying?
For families with children from about 7 who don't own a Labyrinth yet, it is an easy recommendation. The rules take five minutes, every game has a new maze, and children prefer hunting Dobby and Hagrid to finding a generic treasure. Owners of the classic game get nothing new apart from the pictures.
Good
- Learned in five minutes, played in half an hour
- A new maze every game
- Characters children recognise
- Thick, sturdy maze tiles
Not so good
- Exactly the same game as classic Labyrinth
- Thin, small picture cards
- Plain pawns instead of character figures
- The end can turn into blocking the leader
Harry Potter LabyrinthRavensburger
- 2 to 4 players
- 20 to 30 min
- Ages 7+
- Amazon.com
- Amazon.co.uk
- Amazon.de
- We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. The price stays the same for you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.