Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery forces you to pay - or wait - to save a kid from being strangled

I've been waiting years for a new Harry Potter video game, and the premise of Hogwarts Mystery is instantly interesting - a time period so far untouched by the series' lore, a chance to reconnect with well-known characters, and, yes, the simple ability to role-play being at Hogwarts, just like Harry and his pals.

But the game's premium licence and production values all come at a cost - and that cost is forced onto the player in the form of a debilitating energy system, which slows progress to a near-impossible crawl unless you pay up.

Hogwarts Mystery is a narrative adventure, its scenarios taking the form of things like potion-making and broom lessons, conducted via simple on-screen tapping and the occasional need to trace a specific gesture. There are a few dialogue options but no ability to actually fail, as the story-led experience propels you onward through the game's central plot.

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