WithHogwarts Legacy 2officially in the works, fans have been speculating up and down as to what direction the next game’s story could take. Due to therich lore of the Wizarding World, there’s no shortage of possibilities, especially if there’s some level of time skipping involved in a sequel. But as beneficial as a time skip may be, it runs the game into a whole new set of issues that may make the game less enjoyable as a sequel.
Hogwarts Legacydid an excellent job of introducing a whole cast of supporting and side characters, but the series presents a unique issue that not many other franchises face; students graduate from the school and eventually move on. The original player character was already in their fifth year in the original game, leaving them only two more years at the school. Similarly, the other supporting characters are also on something of a time clock when it comes to how long they’ll be enrolled at Hogwarts. Thankfully, there’s something the developers can do to ensure the sequel keeps some continuity with the first game.
Hogwarts Legacy 2 Should Have a Short Time Skip
A short,3-5 year long time skip inHogwarts Legacy 2might be the best way for the developersto move the story forward while holding on to some of the endearing supporting characters they’ve created. A longer time skip may be tempting, especially as the timeline approaches certain real world events like the roaring 20s and WW1. The prospect of seeing how those historical events affect the magical community is intriguing, but skipping 20+ years into the future will ensure that all the students (and most of the teachers) from the first game will be gone.
One of thestrongest points ofHogwarts Legacywas the endearing companionslike Poppy, Natsai, Sebastian, and even some professors like Professors Garlick and Ronen. Yes, a three-year time skip will inevitably necessitate a new protagonist, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. A clean slate will allow for players to tackle the new game with a fresh set of eyes, and creating a new character is always half the fun of RPGs.
A short time skip will allow players to see those characters’ stories continue through the eyes of a different student, as well as let the consequences of the first game marinate over time. The school will surely still be feeling the effects of having amassive battle waged underneath school grounds, and it could be interesting to see how the student body reacts to such a thing happening right beneath their feet while they were in class. But more than anything else, there’s one massively exciting side character that could be introduced with a short time skip.
One New Character Players Could Meet After A Short Time Skip in Hogwarts Legacy 2
Canonically,Albus Dumbledore began his studies at Hogwarts in the year 1892, just two short years after the events of the original Hogwarts Legacy. A three-year time skip for the sequel would mean that the player character could meet and befriend the most powerful wizard inHarry Potterlore when he was just 13 years old. Obviously, other supporting characters can and should return, but the opportunity to be classmates with Dumbledore is just too good of a chance to pass up.
One of the most interesting aspects of the later entries in theHarry Potterseries wasdiscovering more about Dumbledore’s early daysand seeing him less as a wise mentor archetype and more as a flawed realistic person. By seeing what Albus was like as a young adult,Hogwarts Legacy 2could create a more detailed version of this beloved character. But the only way it can deliver on that promise is scaling up the timeframe of the games. A five-year time skip between games would put Dumbledore in his third year at Hogwarts, leaving plenty of time for him to start becoming the immensely talented wizard fans know, while also still retaining some youthful energy he hasn’t shown before in the series.
Hogwarts Legacy
WHERE TO PLAY
Hogwarts Legacy is an immersive, open-world action RPG set in the world first introduced in the Harry Potter books. For the first time, experience Hogwarts in the 1800s. Your character is a student who holds the key to an ancient secret that threatens to tear the wizarding world apart. Now you can take control of the action and be at the center of your own adventure in the wizarding world. Your legacy is what you make of it.Explore an Open WorldThe wizarding world awaits you. Freely roam Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, the Forbidden Forest, and the surrounding Overland area.Be the Witch or Wizard You Want to beLearn spells, brew potions, grow plants, and tend to magical beasts along your journey. Get sorted into your house, forge relationships, and master skills to become the witch or wizard you want to be Experience a New Wizarding World AdventureExperience the wizarding world in an unexplored era to uncover a hidden truth from its past. Battle against trolls, Dark Wizards, goblins, and more as you face a dangerous villain threatening the fate of the wizarding world.
