Harry Potter: Wizards Unite (June 22, 2019 – January 31, 2022)
Genre: Augmented Reality | Developer: Niantic | Platforms: Android, iOS | Payment model: Free2Play
What kind of game was it? Wizards Unite was developed by Niantic, the creators of Pokémon GO. Instead of small Pokémon, you fought against magical creatures from Harry Potter. All well-known characters from the books and films were featured here.
As a wizard, you fought against dark magic. For that, you had the choice of three professions that you could level up.
Just like in Pokémon GO, you had to move a lot and roam through the “real world”. Only then would you encounter the enemies you needed to defeat. Additionally, spells had to be drawn on the display to cast at enemies.
The game used the same data as Pokémon GO and Ingress.
What did it fail at? There is no official reason for the end of Wizards Unite. However, the game wasn’t anywhere near as well known and successful as Pokémon GO.
This may also be due to the long time between the announcement and the full release. That release was also very quiet, unlike Pokémon GO, where tens of thousands of people stormed the streets back then.
Moreover, there was criticism regarding monetization, which was more aggressive than that of its own competitor.
What are the best memories? The entry into Wizards Unite was actually very entertaining. Casting spells, defeating dragons, and experiencing that “Harry Potter” feeling was actually pretty cool.
However, in the long run, the game couldn’t motivate. It always pulled me – and many other players – back to Pokémon GO.
Are there alternatives or successors? The best alternative is and remains Pokémon GO.
