It is weirdly easy to forget how bleak the end of the Wizarding World actually gets. You’ve got Horcruxes, tragic deaths, and a literal war. But then there’s the LEGO Harry Potter Years 5 7 experience, which somehow takes the most depressing parts of the franchise and turns them into a chaotic, stud-collecting joyride. It covers the events of Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, and both parts of Deathly Hallows. Honestly, if you grew up playing the original LEGO Star Wars games, this was the peak of that formula before everything got too complicated with open worlds and full voice acting.
What Most People Get Wrong About LEGO Harry Potter Years 5 7
A lot of gamers think the second LEGO Potter game is just a re-skin of the first one. It isn't. While Years 1-4 was all about the cozy mystery of Hogwarts, the sequel shifts toward a much darker, more expansive vibe. You aren't just stuck in the castle anymore. You're hitting the Ministry of Magic, Godric’s Hollow, and the bleak forests where Harry, Ron, and Hermione spent way too much time camping.
The mechanics changed, too.
The "Weasley Boxes" are probably the funniest addition. Only a Weasley can open them, and they spit out these ridiculous gadgets like Decoy Detonators or Sticky Trainers that let you walk up walls. It adds a layer of character specificity that the first game lacked. Most people just want to play as Harry or Voldemort, but you quickly realize that Arthur Weasley or Luna Lovegood are the real MVPs for 100% completion.
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The Duel Mechanic Is Actually Kind of Deep
One thing that genuinely surprised people back in 2011—and still holds up now—is the dueling system. Unlike the standard "mash the button until the enemy explodes" combat of earlier LEGO titles, LEGO Harry Potter Years 5 7 introduced a circular dueling ring. You have to match your spell color to the opponent's. It feels more like a rhythm game or a simplified version of a fighting game. It’s not Elden Ring, obviously. But for a game made of plastic bricks, it requires a surprising amount of focus, especially when you're fighting Bellatrix or the Dark Lord himself.
Why the Hub World Matters More Than the Levels
Hogwarts is still there, but it’s transformed. It’s more weathered. There are Umbridge’s posters everywhere in the fifth-year section. But the real magic is London. You can wander around the Leaky Cauldron and step out into a surprisingly detailed (for the time) version of Diagon Alley and even Nocturn Alley.
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The game uses a "hub" system that feels incredibly organic. You don't just select a level from a boring menu; you walk through the world to find the next story beat. This makes the transition from the sunny corridors of the early films to the grey, ash-covered ruins of the Battle of Hogwarts feel earned. It’s environmental storytelling without a single line of spoken dialogue. Just grunts and pantomime. Honestly, the silent humor of the older LEGO games is just better than the voiced ones. Seeing a LEGO Voldemort try to act menacing while holding a green popsicle is peak comedy.
Collecting Gold Bricks Is a Massive Time Sink (In a Good Way)
If you’re a completionist, this game is a nightmare—and a dream. There are 200 Gold Bricks. You get them for everything: finishing levels, rescuing Students in Peril, and hitting that "True Wizard" status by collecting enough studs. The Red Bricks are the real prizes, though. Finding the multipliers (2x, 4x, 6x, etc.) turns the game into a literal fountain of silver and gold studs. By the time you get the 10x multiplier, the sound of collecting studs becomes a constant white noise that is strangely therapeutic.
The Technical Reality: Glitches and Remasters
We have to be real for a second. The game isn't perfect. If you're playing the original version on a console like the Wii or PS3, you’re going to hit some frame rate drops during the busier scenes. The LEGO Harry Potter Collection on PS4, Xbox One, and Switch fixed a lot of this, bumping the resolution and smoothing out the lighting.
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However, even the Remastered version has some legacy bugs. Sometimes a character will get stuck in the geometry of the Room of Requirement, or a Gold Brick won't trigger because a script failed to fire. It’s rare, but it happens. If you’re going for the Platinum trophy or 1000 Gamerscore, the best advice is to keep multiple save slots. Don't rely on just one.
Character Roster Nuance
With over 200 characters, the variety is insane. You have versions of Harry in his pajamas, Harry in a winter coat, and Harry in his Triwizard gear (wait, wrong game, but you get the point). The nuanced differences matter. Dark Wizards are the only ones who can use Crucio to break red-and-black LEGO objects. Goblins are the only ones who can open the vaults at Gringotts. This forces you to engage with the lore. You can't just be the "Boy Who Lived" all the time; sometimes you need to be Bogrod or a random Death Eater to get the job done.
The Impact of the Soundtrack
They used the actual John Williams and Nicholas Hooper scores. This is probably why the game feels so "prestige." When you’re flying over London or sneaking through the Ministry, and those soaring orchestral themes kick in, it elevates the experience. It stops being a "kids' toy game" and starts feeling like a legitimate entry in the Harry Potter canon. The contrast between the epic music and the silly LEGO sight gags creates a weirdly perfect tension that defines the whole experience.
Actionable Steps for New and Returning Players
If you're looking to jump back into LEGO Harry Potter Years 5 7, or if you're a parent playing it with a kid for the first time, there is a "right" way to do it.
- Prioritize the Story First: Don't worry about the locked chests or the weird glowing objects during your first playthrough. You literally cannot interact with 60% of the stuff in the levels until you unlock specific spells and characters in later years.
- Hunt for the Stud Multipliers Early: As soon as you have the freedom to roam, look for the Red Bricks that multiply your stud count. It makes buying the expensive characters (like Voldemort or Dumbledore) much less of a grind later on.
- Unlock a Dark Wizard ASAP: You’ll need someone like Bellatrix or Lucius Malfoy to interact with the dark objects. It opens up huge chunks of the hub world that are otherwise inaccessible.
- Use the "Ghost Studs": If you get lost in Hogwarts—which is easy to do because the layout is a literal labyrinth—follow Nearly Headless Nick. He leaves a trail of translucent studs that lead you exactly where you need to go for the next mission.
- Check the "Leaky Cauldron" Basement: This is where you can see your progress and build the massive gold structures that show off your achievements. It’s also where you can input cheat codes if you’re just in it for the fun and don't want to hunt for every single brick manually.
The game remains a staple of the "collectathon" genre for a reason. It captures the vibe of the films without taking itself too seriously. Whether you're trying to find every single character token or just want to blow up some LEGO furniture for the satisfying "click-clack" sound, it holds up remarkably well against modern titles.