Harry Potter: Spells

Common Sense Media says

Puts the power of magic in your kids' hands.

Age(i)

2
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Quality(i)

 
(i)
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Harry Potter: Spells gallery

What parents need to know

Ease of play

Tutorials and an incantation chart do a good job of teaching muggles. To cast a spell you simply hold your device flat in the hand and place a thumb on the screen while making a motion in the air. For instance, expelliarmus, which disarms your opponent, requires moving the phone to the right then pulling it in.

Violence & scariness
Not applicable
Sexy stuff
Not applicable
Language
Not applicable
Consumerism

A single link in the app launches a Warner Bros. page with more iPhone games and TV, movie, and DVD selections. Players can also purchase additional spells; packs cost $.99.

Drinking, drugs, & smoking
Not applicable
Privacy & safety

Minor privacy concerns. Kids can choose to post their results on their Facebook pages or to a leaderboard.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Harry Potter: Spells will transform your mobile device into a magic wand and that your kids will be dueling alone, with the cat, with each other, and casting spells all over the house. Also note that additional spells are available as an in-app purchase for $.99.

Parents say

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Kids say

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AGE
7
QUALITY
 
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Is it any good?

QUALITY
 

There are less expensive magic wand apps but none that offer as much authentic Harry Potter atmosphere as this one from the movie studio. The music, graphics and clipped English voice welcoming you to the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry set the properly magical mood before you must delve into the serious business of learning your incantations and how to wave your device. Older teens might not be enchanted, but true Potter fans will have fun pretending, especially if there's a similarly equipped friend they can invite over for a duel.

App details

Devices:iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Price:$0.99
Release date:November 4, 2010
Category:Family Games
Topics:Magic and fantasy
Publisher:Warner Bros. Entertainment
Version:1.6
Minimum software requirements:iOS 3.1 or later

This review of Harry Potter: Spells was written by

Carla Thornton

About our rating system

  • ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
  • PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
  • OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
  • NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids of any age.

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Quality

Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Learning ratings

  • Best: Really engaging, great learning approach.
  • Very Good: Engaging, good learning approach.
  • Good: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
  • Fair: Somewhat engaging, okay learning approach.
  • Not for Learning: Not recommended for learning.
  • Not for Kids: Not age-appropriate for kids; not recommended for learning.

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What parents and kids say

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Teen, 13 years old Written bySpielberg00 July 21, 2011
AGE
7
QUALITY
 

Nearly flawless, completely fun.

It's violent, because you can buy the Killing Curse, the Cruciatus Curse, and the Imperius Curse (the three Unforgivable Curses--may be found as very violent), and the spells Serpensortia, Morsmordre, and Sectumsempra can also be violent and scary to kids.
What other families should know
Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much consumerism
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Kid, 12 years old June 30, 2010
AGE
11
QUALITY
 

About ages 11+

I really enjoyed this app on my iPod Touch. Considering not too many children have phones under the age of 11, I would rate this 11+. This game is a fun way to bring the user into the Harry Potter world, by making wnad movements just like the characters, and complete your wizard traing in less than 7 years. This app includes real spells used in the books and films, so Potter fans will not be dissapointed. However, there is a way to interact with other players worldwide, but is not possible without a wi-fi signal. Other than that, anyone will have a good time playing this.
What other families should know
Safety and privacy concerns
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Kid, 11 years old May 27, 2011
AGE
7
QUALITY
 

Harry Pooper

Easy most of the time just cheesy but somewhat entertaning
What other families should know
Too much violence
Too much consumerism
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