LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4

Game review by Christopher Healy, Common Sense Media
LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 8+

Magical adventure is fun, funny, and fantastic.

Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 2010
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Parents say

age 7+

Based on 14 reviews

Kids say

age 7+

Based on 54 reviews

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  • LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 Game: Screenshot #1
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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this game.

Stands out for and .

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 covers the stories of the first four Harry Potter books (and movies). Those stories get darker as they go along, but in the world of LEGO video games, even that which is scary or violent is depicted with colorful block characters. A spooky LEGO ghost still looks like a toy. Even among the growing library of LEGO video games, though, Harry Potter is less violent. With LEGO Star Wars or Batman or Indiana Jones, there was a lot of physical fighting, but such melees are only a small fraction of the action here. In LEGO Harry Potter, the focus is much more heavily weighted toward exploration and puzzle solving. There is a tiny bit of crude humor, most of it involving bad odors -- as when a LEGO creature leaves little brown LEGO droppings, and characters grimace.

Community Reviews

Tessa C.
Tessa C. Adult
June 19, 2020
age 12+

So Hard and Frustrating. Waste of Money Because it's unplayable for an average kid.

I had this as a kid and it was incredibly hard. I had the Nintendo ds version so it might be a bit different from Xbox or ps4 but generally I know that it's going to be the same. Couldn't get past the first level. I remember learning that tons of other kids could not finish Lego Harry Potter. I found this recently and gave it to my little brother. He is way more of a 'gamer' than me and skilled with fast reflexes. He hated it and couldn't do it. Yah, it's a Lego game, you think it is for little kids, right? Wrong, Lego games may be less scary than video games for an older audience, but lego games are damn hard. I also had lego avengers and only got two levels in before getting utterly stuck. This game might frustrate your Harry Potter loving kids and hurt their confidence. There is nothing inappropriate abput this game, but it is unnecessarily difficult and not a high quality game.
Miguel M.
Miguel M. Adult
February 27, 2017
age 6+

good game :I

i have this game on xbox 360 it must be backwards compatible on xbox one i had it when i was little i gotten the platinum hits edition of this game when i was in first or second grade so this was the best game to play even when a kid wanted to play this game best for all ages so i gave my friend the lego harry potter collection to him for the ps4

This title has:

Great role models
Easy to play/use
See all 14 parent reviews

What’s It About?

LEGO HARRY POTTER: YEARS 1-4 covers the same plot as the first four Harry Potter books (and movies). Young Harry discovers he comes from a magical lineage, goes to Hogwarts School of Wizardry and Witchcraft, makes friends, discovers enemies, and learns that he must stop the return of the most evil wizard ever, Lord Voldemort. Covered within this game are such memorable Potter moments as Harry's first Quidditch match, the battle with the basilisk, the attack of the Whomping Willow, the visit to Hogsmeade, and the Tri-Wizard Tournament.

Is It Any Good?

LEGO Harry Potter: Years 1-4 is yet another winner in a long line of fantastic LEGO video games. The beautifully rendered story scenes are filled with tongue-in-cheek in-jokes and a lot of fun to watch, but here, more so than in previous LEGO games, much of the plot is revealed through gameplay sequences. The classes, for instance, in which Harry and friends learn new spells must all be played out. There are so many imaginative features and details that you may not even notice everything on your first playthrough; luckily the game is designed to encourage multiple replays. Exploration and trial-and-error are rewarded throughout, and it is so much fun just to wander around the halls of Hogwarts trying out different spells on different objects to see what happens. It would be almost impossible for Potter fans not to adore this game. But even those who aren't mega-Potterheads can appreciate and have a great time with this truly creative adventures.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Harry Potter fans can talk about this latest incarnation of their favorite story. How does LEGO Harry Potter compare to the books and the movies? Does it capture the spirit of the tale and its characters?

  • This is a game built for two-person cooperative play and requires a lot of teamwork. How do you like playing with another person as a team? Do you find it difficult to coordinate your actions? Or do you work better with a partner?

Game Details

Our Editors Recommend

For kids who love action and adventure

Themes & Topics

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