Harry Potter is a beloved franchise and has been adopted into multiple forms, be it books, plays, movies or computer games. There have been a few mobile games too from Harry Potter Go, which is similar to Pokemon Go, to the Harry Potter adventure game. Harry Potter Puzzles and Spells, a match 3 puzzle-based game, is definitely a surprising addition.

What sets this game apart is the love put into the delivery of the story. From the moment you start the game, it reminds you of the Hogwarts’ universe by asking you to pick your wand and a house. You also get to choose your look, which resembles that of the other characters in the franchise. The game screen looks just like the newspapers in the movie. Each visual and audio in the game — from voiceovers to the sound effects — is taken directly from the movies. The story starts with Harry getting the letter to join Hogwarts and, as a player, you have to solve match 3 puzzles to progress.

The match 3 board is another place where the game has innovated. Each element on the board reminds you of the Harry Potter universe — the chocolate frog, the every- flavoured beans, the lanterns. The basic mechanics is the same but there are additions of special obstacles and bonuses that can be undone only by spells. You learn more spells as you progress in the game.

Another addition is the pets. You get cards as you play the game and upon collecting these, you get pets. These pets aid you in playing levels by giving you power-ups. Unlike other match 3 games, you don’t get gems for completing levels. You get them by doing quests, which are limited-time goals related to your puzzle. There are also special quests given to you by characters such as Snape that are special levels you need to complete. The other innovation the game brings to the table is the club system. Your club members and you have to beat others to climb to the top of the leaderboard and enter a higher league. A higher league will give you permanent benefits such as additional lives.

VERDICT: Harry Potter Puzzles and Spells is a fun, match 3 game that reminds you of the boy wizard’s magical universe. However, when it comes to the franchise, you definitely expect more than what the game presents. The new elements that it brings to the match 3 genre is refreshing but might be a little too complex for first timers to understand easily. However, if you are a fan of both Harry Potter and match 3 games, this is the game for you. I would go so far as to rate it eight out of 10.

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