Summary
- Hogwarts Mystery explores the intriguing mystery of the Cursed Vaults, secret chambers hidden within Hogwarts Castle, each booby-trapped with its curse.
- Players must overcome unique challenges in each Cursed Vault, using their wit and skill, to uncover their secrets and treasures.
- The game takes players through a series of Cursed Vaults, including the Vault of Ice, Vault of Fear, Forest Vault, Buried Vault, and Sunken Vault, each with its own captivating storyline and obstacles to face.
When the Harry Potter series made its debut in 1997, it ignited a love for magic in the hearts of an entire generation of readers, and with the release of Hogwarts Mystery in 2018 by Jam City and Portkey Games, that magic was captured in gaming form, allowing gamers to experience some of the enchantment - although the game endured a lot of difficulty at launch. Among the rich and mysterious lore at Hogwarts, the cursed vaults stand out as one of the most intriguing. The origin of these vaults has since been lost to the winds, and the very existence of such cursed places within the supposedly safe walls of Hogwarts Castle adds even more puzzlement to the story, making it a captivating lore to explore in the game.
Hogwarts Mystery's story revolves around the Cursed Vaults - secret chambers concealed within Hogwarts. Players follow Jacob's sibling and friends, exploring the mysteries and dangers of these ancient Vaults while seeking their missing sibling. The origin of the Vaults is an enigma, with theories ranging from the founders' involvement to a former headmaster's madness. Among these Vaults, the final one is believed to hold the true treasure, while the other four are mere decoys, each booby-trapped with its curse. Each Cursed Vault presents unique challenges and requires wit and skill to overcome. The first Cursed Vault encountered in the game is the Vault of Ice, concealed at the end of the vanished stairs and shielded by an icy magical door on the fifth floor.
Hogwarts Mystery's Vaults Contain Secrets and Ancient Guardians
The door wards off potential entrants with lightning attacks, and the chamber is under guard by an ice knight that defends it from intruders. The Vault emerges when cursed ice is unexpectedly unleashed, posing a grave threat to even the entire wizarding school. In the 1986-1987 school year of Hogwarts Mystery, players discover the second chamber -- the Vault of Fear -- resembling the Vault of Ice and hidden in a forbidden library section. This cellar is under the protection of three boggarts, creatures that manifest a person's deepest fears.
That's no deterrent for players, and gamers must touch a column with a broken wand to access the Vault of Fear and reveal its secrets, which are a shattered arrow and a map of the Forbidden Forest. The third Hogwarts Mystery Vault appears in the 1987-1988 school year, as players come across the Forest Vault. This secretive strongroom lies within a grove of trees deep in the Forbidden Forest, guarded by an Acromantula using the location as its lair to prey on sleepwalking students. Accessing the vault requires players to touch a column with the centaur Torvus' arrow. Inside, they find a portrait of a dragon and a small sweater.
The Buried Vault is the fourth chamber, and its location in Hogwarts Mystery was a confounding mystery, with many thinking it was underground. Jacob, Rakepick, and Pettigrew were the first to locate the vault, and upon encountering a dragon guarding its door, Pettigrew fled. Later, in the 1988-1989 school year, Jacob's sibling and friends defeated the dragon and revealed Rakepick's true intentions. After freeing Jacob from a portrait, they faced Rakepick, who eventually escaped with Jacob in pursuit.
The Sunken Vault, the fifth and final one, lies beyond Hogwarts Castle, hidden within a cave in the Great Lake, concealed in a statue of a Giant Squid. This vault traps anyone who touches it in a loop of their worst memories. In the 1990-1991 school year, Jacob, Ben Copper, Merula Snyde, and Jacob's sibling managed to avoid the curse and attempted to break in but couldn't open it, leaving its contents shrouded in mystery. This suspense has left many Harry Potter fans with a lot of questions, and it would surely be appreciated if Jam City ties up the loose ends.
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery is out now for Android and iOS mobile devices.