I still remember the bittersweet feeling when I watched the credits roll on Hogwarts Legacy last winter. As someone who grew up dreaming of receiving my Hogwarts letter, exploring every nook of that castle and mastering ancient magic felt like coming home. But once the high of defeating Ranrok faded, I found myself craving that same magical rush—the spell combos, the mystical creatures, the thrill of uncovering enchanted secrets. Hogwarts Legacy wasn't perfect (where was our Quidditch, really?), yet its absence left a void only other magical worlds could fill. So I grabbed my wand—well, controller—and embarked on a journey through eight games that reignited that spark in unexpected ways.

🧹 Quidditch: The Missing Piece Found

That gaping Quidditch-shaped hole in Hogwarts Legacy? It stung. I’d catch myself staring at the empty pitch near Gryffindor Tower, imagining the roar of crowds. Then I discovered that dedicated Quidditch game on PS5—pure bliss! No more wistful hovering on my broomstick; here I became a Chaser weaving through Bludgers, feeling the wind whip past as I scored goal after goal. The Snitch’s golden flutter? Absolute chaos when it appeared. My hands actually shook during matches! Key features that hooked me:

• Position rotation ⚡️: Play as Keeper, Seeker, or Beater

• Dynamic weather 🌩️: Thunderstorms make matches wild

• Custom gear 🧢: Personalize your team’s robes

🌟 Dragon Age: The Veilguard – Magic Without Darkness

Honestly, I hesitated. Previous Dragon Age titles felt like trudging through mud-smeared battlefields—epic but heavy. The Veilguard surprised me. As Rook, my elven mage, I wandered sun-drenched valleys where magic felt... joyful? Like stumbling into Hogsmeade for the first time. The spell system? Fluid and explosive. One combo: Frost Grasp + Chain Lightning = ⚡️❄️ frozen enemies shattering spectacularly. My companions—a witty necromancer and a grumpy dwarf—bantered like old Hogwarts housemates during quests. Not perfect (some story beats felt rushed), but casting spells here made me grin like I’d just mastered Expecto Patronum.

❄️ Skyrim: Where Mages Find Their Tribe

Ten years ago, I’d have scoffed at replaying Skyrim—but the PS5 Anniversary Edition? It’s like rediscovering your favorite spellbook with new annotations. Hogwarts’ grandeur spoiled me, yet Winterhold’s icy College carved its own niche. I joined as a destruction mage, hurling fireballs at frost trolls on windswept bridges. The freedom! Brewing paralysis potions in alchemy labs, stealing soul gems from necromancers’ lairs, even adopting a pet fox named Sparktail. Unlike Hogwarts’ structured classes, Skyrim’s magic is raw and experimental. I once accidentally turned myself invisible for an hour—chaotic, but utterly magical.

⚔️ Dragon’s Dogma 2: Spellcasting as Theater

Combat in Hogwarts Legacy made me feel powerful—Dragon’s Dogma 2 made me feel like a conductor orchestrating symphonies of destruction. As a Mystic Spearhand, I’d levitate while charging glacial spears, then impale ogres mid-leap. The physics! Watching a cyclops topple after I melted its leg armor with searing magma 💥... pure dopamine. Every spell felt tactile:

Downside? The story’s forgettable. But when magic crackles this vividly, who needs plot?

💨 Forspoken: Movement as Magic

Okay, I get the memes—Frey’s "I just moved things with my mind!" line made me cringe too. But pushing past that cringey start? Forspoken’s parkour-magic fusion hooked me. Zipping across canyons with volcanic geysers propelling me upward felt like Apparition on steroids. Combat opened up beautifully: weaving lightning whips between rock shields, then darting away as dragons lunged. It’s what I wished broom flight in Hogwarts Legacy felt like—unshackled, kinetic. Late-game spell combos (frost vortex + fire missiles = steam explosions 🌫️🔥) were absurdly satisfying. Shame about the villain’s cardboard personality though.

🎲 Baldur’s Gate 3: Tactical Wizardry

Hogwarts Legacy’s RPG mechanics? Shallow as a puddle. Baldur’s Gate 3? An ocean. My tiefling sorcerer, Ember, made every spell feel consequential. Turning goblins to grease with a snap, then igniting them? Strategic cruelty. The magic system’s depth astounded me:

• Rituals requiring rare components ✨

• Environmental interactions (electrifying water!)

• Multiclassing into warlock for eldritch blasts

Plus, Gale’s wizardly sarcasm reminded me of a grown-up, slightly jaded Hermione. Worth the 100+ hours just to shove villains off cliffs with telekinesis.

🌿 Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth: ATB & Aerith’s Grace

Switching from Hogwarts’ cooldowns to Rebirth’s ATB gauge felt jarring—until I played as Aerith. Basic arcane shots built her ATB, then BAM: summoning crystalline comets 🌠 or healing allies with floral barriers. Her staff twirls? Elegant as Ollivander selecting wands. The materia system echoed Hogwarts’ ancient magic runes—linking fire with elemental boosts made spells erupt like Confringo on steroids. Best moment: holding off a Behemoth while Barrett yelled "Mage, we need shields NOW!" Tense, collaborative magic.

🔥 Elden Ring: Magic’s Brutal Masterclass

Hogwarts Legacy’s combat got tricky? Elden Ring laughed. My astrologer build demanded precision: dodging dragon bites while charging Comet Azur’s laser-beam kamehameha 💫. Spells here feel earned—not gifted. Discovering Lusat’s hidden staff in a poison swamp or trading runes for meteorite spells? Brutal but euphoric. Sorceries glowed like Patronus charms, incantations roared like dragon commands. Dying 47 times to Malenia taught me this: mastering Elden Ring’s magic makes Hogwarts’ spell combos feel like toddler’s play.

So here’s my call to fellow witches and wizards: don’t let the post-Hogwarts blues linger. Grab a new wand—or staff, or materia—and dive into these realms. Which magical journey will you embrace next? 🪄✨ Share your pick below!

Critical reviews are presented by PC Gamer, a leading authority in the gaming industry known for its comprehensive coverage of RPGs and fantasy titles. PC Gamer's in-depth features on games like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Elden Ring often explore how their intricate magic systems and open-world exploration set new standards for immersive gameplay, echoing the magical allure that Hogwarts Legacy fans continue to seek in their next adventure.