Harry Potter Defenders vs Hogwarts Battle
Both are Harry Potter deck-building games. The difference is who you play against. Hogwarts Battle is fully cooperative: everyone fights the game together. Defenders of Hogwarts puts a real player in charge of the Dark Arts, and the houses are also racing each other.
Quick pick
- Want co-op, a campaign that grows over 7 "years", and a lower price? Hogwarts Battle.
- Want a villain player, a map to move around, room for 5, and MinaLima's art? Defenders of Hogwarts.
Side-by-side
| Defenders of Hogwarts | Hogwarts Battle | |
|---|---|---|
| Publisher | MinaLima (2026) | USAopoly / The Op (2016) |
| Players | 2–5 | 2–4 |
| Play time | ~90 min | 30–60 min |
| Age | 13+ | 11+ |
| Type | Deck-builder + map movement, 1 vs many, one winner | Fully cooperative deck-builder |
| Who you play | A Hogwarts house (all houses identical) or the Dark Arts | Harry, Ron, Hermione or Neville, each with their own deck |
| Villain | A real player runs the Dark Arts | The game runs the villains and Dark Arts events |
| Board | Illustrated map of Hogwarts with pawns | Location cards; no map movement |
| Progression | Same game every time | 7 'years' that unlock new cards and rules |
| Solo play | No | Unofficially, by playing 2 heroes |
| Expansions | None announced | Monster Box of Monsters, Charms and Potions |
| Price | £75 RRP | $49.95 list |
| BGG rating | Too new (about 5 from ~140 early ratings, split) | About 7.3 from ~22,000 ratings |
At a glance
Max players
Show data table
| Harry Potter Defenders | Hogwarts Battle | Players | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defenders | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| Hogwarts Battle | 0 | 4 | 4 |
Play time (minutes)
Show data table
| Harry Potter Defenders | Hogwarts Battle | Minutes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defenders | 90 | 0 | ~90 |
| Hogwarts Battle | 0 | 60 | 30–60 |
BGG ratings so far
Number of ratings on BoardGameGeek
Show data table
| Harry Potter Defenders | Hogwarts Battle | Ratings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defenders | 138 | 0 | ~140 |
| Hogwarts Battle | 0 | 22,300 | ~22,300 |
How they play differently
Deck-building
In Hogwarts Battle you play your whole hand each turn, buy cards with influence, and fight with attack tokens. It feels like a classic deck-builder. In Defenders of Hogwarts you play one card per action, mostly for its movement. New cards go on top of your deck, so you draw them next. Decks stay small and every card counts. Some backers felt there were too few cards for a deck-builder; the designers say that is deliberate.
The board
Hogwarts Battle has no map. Locations are cards that fill with Dark Arts control. Defenders of Hogwarts is built around a map of the castle and grounds, with locked doors, water, secret passageways and fly-off points. Where your pawns stand matters as much as your cards.
The villain
Hogwarts Battle's villains and Dark Arts events are run by the game. In Defenders of Hogwarts one person is the Dark Arts. They move pawns, bump students back to the Great Hall, and grow stronger as the Dark Arts Path moves from white to orange to red. That makes it more interactive, but balance depends on the person playing that seat.
Replay value
Hogwarts Battle unlocks content over 7 game boxes and has two expansions (Monster Box of Monsters and Charms and Potions), plus a standalone 2-player spin-off, Defence Against the Dark Arts. Defenders of Hogwarts is the same full game from the first play. Replay comes from the random Location cards, events and which player takes the Dark Arts. No expansions have been announced yet.
Our take
Hogwarts Battle is still the safer buy for most Harry Potter fans: it is cheaper, cooperative and well proven. Defenders of Hogwarts is for groups who want someone to play the villain, need a fifth seat, or want MinaLima's artwork on the table. Owning both makes sense: they don't overlap much.
FAQ
Is Defenders of Hogwarts a sequel to Hogwarts Battle?
No. They come from different publishers and designers. Hogwarts Battle is by The Op (formerly USAopoly); Defenders of Hogwarts is MinaLima's first board game, designed by David Waterman.
Which is better for families?
Hogwarts Battle. It is cooperative, so nobody plays the villain, the early years teach the rules gradually, and it is rated 11+. Defenders of Hogwarts is 13+ and one player has to attack everyone else.
Which is better for 5 players?
Defenders of Hogwarts. Hogwarts Battle tops out at 4 players.
I liked Hogwarts Battle. Will I like Defenders of Hogwarts?
If you liked the deck-building, yes. But it is competitive: one player is the villain and only one house wins. If co-op is what you loved, try the Hogwarts Battle expansions first.
See also: other Harry Potter board games.