Harry Potter is stepping away from screens and into a very different kind of adventure. Defenders of Hogwarts is an officially licensed tabletop strategy game that turns the familiar Wizarding World into a contest of exploration, deck-building, and tactical preparation.
Created by MinaLima—the design studio behind many of the Harry Potter films’ most recognizable props—and industrial designer David Waterman, the game places Hogwarts under threat from Death Eaters and other Dark Forces. Two to five players can take part, with one side defending the castle while another player can work toward its destruction. MinaLima describes the project as a strategic wizarding adventure built around more than 200 components and over 100 illustrated cards. The official game page confirms its current availability through House of MinaLima.
The genre shift is significant because this is not another video game adaptation or retelling of Harry’s journey. The defenders choose one of Hogwarts’ four houses, develop magical abilities, explore the school, and gather what they need before the final confrontation. The opposing player instead commands the Dark Forces, creating an asymmetric structure in which both sides have different objectives and methods of play.
That setup gives the game a broader appeal than a straightforward licensed board game. Fans can approach it as a competitive battle, while groups more interested in the atmosphere of Hogwarts can focus on the artwork, recognizable locations, and film-inspired details. The official product listing identifies a roughly 90-minute playing time, a recommended age of 13 and up, and a price of £75 in the United Kingdom.
Defenders of Hogwarts also arrives at a moment when the franchise is expanding across multiple formats. Hogwarts Legacy brought the Wizarding World into an open-world action RPG in 2023, and Warner Bros. has confirmed that a sequel is in development. Industry coverage has pointed to a possible 2027 or 2028 window, though no firm release date has been announced. IGN’s coverage of the sequel confirmation places the project within the studio’s continuing effort to build new stories around the setting.
For now, MinaLima’s game offers the most immediate way to experience a new side of the franchise: not as a student following a fixed story, but as a player whose choices help decide whether Hogwarts survives. A limited release began in autumn 2026, with a wider global launch planned for spring 2027, giving tabletop fans a new route into the Wizarding World while the next major video-game chapter remains in development.
