Hogwarts Legacy is a pretty unique entity among PS5 games, and among games in general. There are very few titles out there that let you inhabit the world of a beloved literary property and explore its intricacies, so if you’ve loved Hogwarts Legacy (or you’re avoiding it for whatever reason) and you’d like to play something close to it in those terms, you might be disappointed.
However, if you’re willing to think outside the box a little and play games that are more spiritually akin to Hogwarts Legacy than literally, then you’re in luck. Here are the best PS5 games like Hogwarts Legacy out there right now.
The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
Skyrim may be nearing its 12th anniversary (which is frankly a terrifying concept for those of us who were there at the time), but it’s still a consummate open-world experience full of adventure and intrigue. What’s more, it actually allows you to join a magical college as a fledgling wizard, so it’s probably the closest you’re going to get to the Hogwarts Legacy experience without playing the actual game. When you tire of magic (if such a thing is possible), Skyrim offers countless other ways to lose your life to its huge, holistic world.
Forspoken
Hogwarts Legacy embraces the modern open-world gameplay and approach of its peers, and if that’s the aspect of the game you’re into, then Forspoken will also appeal to you. Luminous Productions’ magical “isekai” adventure stars Frey, a young girl transported to a fantasy world from modern-day New York and tasked with unravelling its many mysteries. To help her, she has a sentient wisecracking bracelet and a “brace” (no pun intended) of magic spells at her disposal.
Immortals: Fenyx Rising
Don’t let the slightly ridiculous name fool you. Immortals: Fenyx Rising is an open-world game created by Ubisoft and strongly influenced by Breath of the Wild, which means you’re going to be doing a lot of climbing and a lot of puzzle-solving. The animated aesthetic means you’ll never tire of gazing out at Fenyx Rising’s vistas, and the comedic tone keeps things from getting too serious (even if it does start to grate after a while). Come for the puzzles, stay for the views.
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
There’s talk of the Assassin’s Creed franchise going back to basics with the upcoming Mirage (although fans of its newer approach will be pleased to hear there’s also an RPG-style flagship title in development), but Assassin’s Creed Valhalla represents the culmination of the series’ newer, more RPG-centric direction. It’s a huge open-world game with tons of hours of content, and while it does feel a little bloated at times, it’s easy to lose yourself in this Viking saga.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Thanks to the miracle of modern technology, 2015’s The Witcher 3 is available on PS5 alongside all of its DLC, and if you haven’t played Geralt’s latest monster-slaying adventure, then you need to rectify that right now. In visual and performance terms, the game is absolutely gorgeous on PS5, and the narrative is just as satisfying and well-written as it was all those years ago. Geralt has access to a variety of magic spells alongside his usual swordplay, too!
Minecraft
Allow us to indulge ourselves in a slightly sideways recommendation here. Minecraft may not be similar to Hogwarts Legacy in the traditional sense, but if what you want is to kick back and relax in a massive world in which you can do pretty much anything, Minecraft will definitely provide that experience. If you’re feeling particularly creative, you can even make your very own Hogwarts within Minecraft – just make sure you’ve got a ton of time and dedication on your hands first.
Elden Ring
Although Elden Ring is arguably the most approachable entry in the rather daunting Souls series, Hogwarts Legacy players may be slightly put off by its high level of difficulty. However, if you can “break through the wall”, so to speak, then Elden Ring offers a massive, beautifully-crafted world to explore, plenty of monsters to slay, and a deep and rich narrative to discover. You can also play as a sorcerer, and the magic system has been significantly streamlined and expanded.
Horizon Forbidden West
Although its world prominently features robot dinosaurs, it’s fair to say Forbidden West is significantly less magical than Hogwarts Legacy. However, it’s still a hugely compelling and fearsomely massive game; there are dozens of hours of content here, especially if you decide to pursue every side quest you find. Aloy’s adventure through the titular Forbidden West pushes the graphical capabilities of the PS5, resulting in some truly gorgeous vistas you’re going to want to savour.
Genshin Impact
If you’re looking for some open-world thrills without paying a penny, then Genshin Impact could well be the game for you. This beautiful, painterly experience drops you in the world of Teyvat, where you must explore and discover what’s happened to your sibling. Along the way, you will, of course, get sidetracked by myriad combat challenges, dungeons, and side quests. The amount of content that Genshin Impact offers for free is frankly impressive, and other studios are beginning to follow suit.
Sonic Frontiers
When it was released late last year, Sonic Frontiers didn’t exactly meet with an enthusiastic reception. While some loved its approach to classic 3D Sonic gameplay, others decried its rushed ending and patchy combat. We fall firmly in the “loved” camp; Sonic Frontiers feels like a genuine revitalisation of its core franchise, and we’d be surprised if the open-world approach isn’t where Sonic Team heads for the Blue Blur’s next outing.