Harry Potter: Defenders of Hogwarts — Everything We Know
Death Eaters have infiltrated Hogwarts, and this time you get to choose a side. Here's the release date, how it plays, and where you can (and can't) buy it yet.
What it is: A hidden-role board game for 2–5 players (ages 13+), designed by Studio MinaLima — the graphic designers behind the Harry Potter films — where players secretly defend Hogwarts or join the Dark Forces. Release: Limited release Fall 2026 via Kickstarter/BackerKit, House of MinaLima, and Harry Potter Shops. Global retail release Spring 2027. On Amazon? Not yet — expected with the Spring 2027 global launch. We'll update this page the moment it lists.
What Is Harry Potter: Defenders of Hogwarts?
Defenders of Hogwarts is Studio MinaLima's first board game — a notable milestone, since MinaLima (Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima) is the design studio behind the graphic identity of the Harry Potter films themselves, from the Marauder's Map to Hogwarts acceptance letters. The game was developed with industrial designer David Waterman, in collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products.
The premise: Lord Voldemort's return is imminent, and Death Eaters have already infiltrated the castle. Players explore the Hogwarts grounds, hone spell-casting skills, and prepare the school's defenses — but a hidden alignment system means not everyone at the table is playing for the same side. Choices made during the game can quietly push a player toward the Dark Forces.
It's MinaLima's first-ever board game, timed to the 25th anniversary of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone — and it's the first major Harry Potter tabletop release built around hidden-role tension rather than straightforward cooperation.
When Does It Come Out?
The game funded through Kickstarter (with pledge management continuing on BackerKit) in mid-2026. Here's the release timeline MinaLima has confirmed:
- Fall 2026: Limited release — backers first, followed by select online retailers, House of MinaLima locations, and Harry Potter Shop stores.
- Spring 2027: Global release in multiple languages through wider retail channels.
Will It Be on Amazon? Where to Buy
For the Fall 2026 limited release, MinaLima has only confirmed sales through Kickstarter/BackerKit, House of MinaLima stores, and Harry Potter Shop locations. No Amazon listing has been announced. That typically changes once a licensed game reaches its global retail release — expected Spring 2027 — which is when we'd expect it to show up on Amazon and other mainstream retailers. We'll add a buy link here the moment that happens.
How Does It Compare to Hogwarts Battle?
Defenders of Hogwarts isn't buyable yet — but Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle is, and it wears the same house colors. If you're a Harry Potter fan looking for a board game to play tonight rather than in 2027, this is the one to check out. Here's how the two compare:
Fully cooperative deck-builder. Everyone plays a student working together against the game itself, progressing through all seven years of the story.
Hidden-role game. Players are secretly on different teams — part of the tension is not knowing who else might turn against you.
In short: Hogwarts Battle is the pick for a purely cooperative family game night, while Defenders of Hogwarts is aimed at groups who enjoy social-deduction tension layered on top of the wizarding-world theme. We'll post a full head-to-head once Fall 2026 copies start shipping.
Should You Back It?
We haven't scored this game — we don't rate games we haven't played, and this is still pre-release. A few things worth knowing:
- Designed for 2–5 players, ages 13+.
- The hidden-role/alignment mechanic should give it strong replay value, since no two sessions play out with the same "traitor" dynamic.
- As with any crowdfunded game: shipping timelines can slip, and pledge-exclusive components may not carry over to the eventual retail edition.
We'll publish a full review with a score once we've had hands-on time with a retail copy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Harry Potter: Defenders of Hogwarts?
A hidden-role board game set at Hogwarts, designed by Studio MinaLima, where players secretly choose to defend the school from Death Eaters or join the Dark Forces.
When does Defenders of Hogwarts release?
A limited release is planned for Fall 2026 through Kickstarter/BackerKit, House of MinaLima, and Harry Potter Shop locations, with a global retail release planned for Spring 2027.
Where can I buy Defenders of Hogwarts?
Currently only through Kickstarter/BackerKit, House of MinaLima, and Harry Potter Shop stores. It isn't listed on Amazon yet — expected with the Spring 2027 global release.
How many players is Defenders of Hogwarts for?
2–5 players, ages 13 and up.
Is Defenders of Hogwarts the same as Hogwarts Battle?
No. Hogwarts Battle is a fully cooperative deck-building game, while Defenders of Hogwarts is a hidden-role game where players may secretly be working against each other.
Who designed Defenders of Hogwarts?
Studio MinaLima (Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima), together with industrial designer David Waterman, in collaboration with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products.
📰 Bottom Line
Defenders of Hogwarts is the most significant new Harry Potter board game announcement in years — not because it's on shelves yet (it isn't), but because it's a hidden-role game from the people who designed the films' own visual world. If you already love Hogwarts Battle, this isn't a replacement — it's a very different kind of tension. Worth tracking now, worth buying once the global release (and an actual buy link) lands in Spring 2027.
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