Stop 'The Calamity' by exploring the real-world in this latest mobile game from the makers of Pokemon Go.
After a long wait, Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is now available on iOS and Android in the U.S., U.K., Australia, and New Zealand. The game brings the world of Harry Potter into our own, and challenges players to help the Statute of Secrecy Task Force contain “The Calamity,” which has caused items from the Wizarding World to go missing and start appearing in the real world.
Similar to Pokemon Go, the game presents players with a real-world map representing their current location. “Traces of magic” appear at random on the map, similar to how Pokemon appear when playing Pokemon Go. Players can tap on one of these Traces to cast a spell in an attempt to reclaim a “Foundable” — an object that has gone missing from the Wizarding World. It’s possible the spell may fail, and players can try again. (While most Traces have this setup, a specific type of Trace, called an Oddity, will see players compete in a spell battle instead.)
When a spell encounter is successful, players will collect a fragment of the Foundable that will go into their in-game Registry. A Foundable’s entry in the Registry will only be complete once players have collected the required number of fragments. Some items, like Hagrid, only require a single fragment to be completed, while others require far more.
Like in Pokemon Go, players have the option to use augmented reality (AR) technology to cause in-game activities to look like they’re taking place in the real world. To be clear, players can turn off the AR camera if they prefer.
As players explore the real-world, they can interact with Inns, Greenhouses, and Fortresses, which are attached to real-world structures like churches, historical markers, parks, and more. Inns allow players to collect additional spell energy (used to cast spells) while Greenhouses give players free crafting ingredients. Finally, Fortresses allow players to work alone or with other players to complete Magical Challenges (spell battles) against computer-controlled enemies in order to receive rare Foundables. Players can add someone as an in-game friend by sharing their friend code with them.
In addition to crafting ingredients, players can collect a variety of potions and Runestones as they play, which will help them on their journey. For instance, one potion may temporarily improve their spell casting power when interacting with traces of magic, while Runestones can be used at Fortresses to begin a Wizarding Challenge. Players can purchase some of these items in the in-game store using premium currency (real money).
Finally, special items called Portmanteaus will occasionally appear on the in-game map. These items function similarly to Eggs in Pokemon Go, in that players must walk a certain distance before they can be opened (and different kinds of Portmanteaus require players to walk different distances). Portmanteaus are opened with Keys. Players have a single Golden Key that can be used repeatedly, while Silver Keys are single-use items.
Harry Potter: Wizards Unite is available to download for free on iOS and Android. The game is rated 9+ on iOS and E10+ on Android. Check out 14 minutes of Harry Potter: Wizards Unite gameplay in our SuperParent First Look below to see the game in action.
Brandy Berthelson has been writing about video games and technology since 2006, with her work appearing on sites including AOL Games, Digital Spy, and Adweek. When she’s not gaming, Brandy enjoys crafting, baking, and traveling with her husband.
