There’s a lot to love about the firstHarry Pottermovie, from its set design to its special effects to its world-building. But if there’s one thing that keeps everything glued together in that first movie, it’sJohn Williams' magical score, with a main theme that’s transcended theHarry Potterseries and has been carried over as the Wizarding World’s theme. Even if a Wizarding World score doesn’t use the iconic main theme of theHarry Potterseries, it’ll attempt to imitate the sound of those movies very closely, and thankfully,Hogwarts Legacydoes an excellent job of blending the old and the new.
Set at least 100 years beforethe events of theHarry Potterseries, it only makes sense thatHogwarts Legacyhas its own distinct style of music. But rather than go for a completely new sound,Hogwarts Legacyhas decided to strike the perfect balance, offering a fitting new soundtrack that evokes the same magical feel as the original Williams' score while also sprinkling in a few motifs that will be instantly recognizable for long-timeHarry Potterfans, adding to the already overwhelming sense of nostalgia thatHogwarts Legacyhas.
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Hogwarts Legacy’s Music Cues are the Perfect Blend of Nostalgia and New
Theopening 30 minutes ofHogwarts Legacyis a rollercoaster ride of references, action, and story setup, barely giving fans a moment to breathe. But after Professor Fig and the player-character escape Gringotts, the carnage comes to a halt, and players are finally given their first look at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. As the camera rises above a forest, the Hogwarts Express enters Hogsmeade Station, all while the music continues to build. Though it’s a new theme, the instruments and general tone of the music will be all too familiar to fans, and as the camera finally pans up to reveal Hogwarts for the first time, the mainHarry Pottertheme kicks in, and an undeniable rush of nostalgia is guaranteed to rush through the body of any fan.
From then on, the originalHarry Potterscore is largely forgotten about, with the game favoring its own unique soundtrack. While this might seem like a turn-off for fans, it’s actually for the best, asHogwarts Legacy’s unique scoreallows it to stand out against the movie series and carve out its own identity, all while having the same magical essence as the original John Williams score.
This blend of new music that evokes old, nostalgic themes is carried across all of the game’s environments. When players areexploring Hogwarts, they’ll hear calm music that feels as though it’s encouraging learning, curiosity and adventure. When players enter Hogsmeade, they’ll be met with an upbeat, lighthearted, and fun score. And when players step foot in the Forbidden Forest, the soundtrack gets a little eerie and foreboding.
But that’s not to sayHogwarts Legacyforgets about theHarry Potterscore entirely. Whenever a player unlocks a new Field Guide Page, or levels up, or completes a quest, they’ll hear just a few key notes of that iconicHarry Pottertheme. This decision is nothing but sheer genius on Avalanche’s part. With just six notes,Hogwarts Legacymanages to truly make the player feel like the hero of the story, and that what they’ve just accomplished has all been worthwhile. Nostalgia can be a powerful thing, andHogwarts Legacymanages to walk that line very well.
Hogwarts Legacyis available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. PS4 and Xbox One ports are scheduled to release on April 4, the Nintendo Switch version is arriving July 22, 2025.
