Review

Reviewed without a free copy

Data last checked: 2026-10-12· how we verify numbers

We have not received a sample and have not played the game. Every judgement page on this hub opens by saying that. What we do have is the complete official rulebook, the campaign record, two independent published reviews (one warm, one scathing) and the BGG community record — and we read them all, friendly and hostile.

Start with the verdict in “Is it worth it?”, then read why the 5.07 BGG score is not meaningful.

Is it worth it? An honest verdictThe verdict by buyer type — fan, family, veteran, co-op seeker, budget hunter — built on both published reviews, BGG data and our landed-cost maths.Scope-noted Why BGG shows 5.07BoardGameGeek's 5.066 for Defenders of Hogwarts comes from 67 ones vs 56 tens — a boycott-vs-fans score war, not product data. We unpack the 138 ratings.Scope-noted Every pro and con, listedEvery pro and con we could source for Defenders of Hogwarts, each pinned to the review or BGG thread that made it — including the game's harshest critic.Scope-noted All published reviews, ratedEvery review of Defenders of Hogwarts we could find, graded for sourcing quality — who was sent what, what was campaign copy, what no one covered yet.Scope-noted

Explore nearby

Where to buy — channels actually open today
All published reviews, rated — one-page index of every external review
Rules first — decide on the mechanics, not the marketing
Same money, other games — the alternatives math

Before you read further

Defenders of Hogwarts, A Board Game by MinaLima is Live on Kickstarter

Official 3:14 campaign trailer — MinaLima Design. Loads only after your click.— loads only after you click play. No JavaScript? Watch on YouTube

The trailer is marketing, not a review. Read the honest verdict afterwards — the two are deliberately kept apart.