Fantastic Beasts: Cases from the Wizarding World
A hidden object game set in the Wizarding World.
Fantastic Beasts: Cases from the Wizarding World is a hidden object game from 2016, created by Mediatonic and WB Games San Francisco, and released by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. It launched for Android and iOS on November 17, 2016, was taken down from the App Store and Google Play on December 10, 2019, and officially shut down on January 14, 2020.
In the game, players take on the role of a new recruit in the Beast Division of the Ministry of Magic’s Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. They explore locations such as Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade, and the Leaky Cauldron, investigating strange events by finding hidden objects, analyzing clues, casting spells, and brewing potions to locate and safeguard the magical creatures involved in each case.
The game was developed by British studio Mediatonic in collaboration with WB Games San Francisco. To ensure accuracy, the developers visited the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, aiming to replicate objects from the Harry Potter films as closely as possible.
Its release date of November 17, 2016, came one day before the theatrical debut of the film *Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them*.
Common Sense Media rated it three out of five stars, noting that while the love for J.K. Rowling’s world and the game’s concept are strong, much of the magical enjoyment is diminished by poor design choices and an aggressive monetization strategy. Gamezebo also gave it three stars, commenting that the game is perfectly adequate and will attract a sizable audience, but lacks the fizz and sparkle of the magic one might expect.
- Developer
- Mediatonic and WB Games San Francisco
- Publisher
- Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
- Release date
- November 17, 2016
- Platforms
- Android, iOS
- Closure date
- January 14, 2020
- Genre
- Hidden object video game
Lore & Background
In Fantastic Beasts: Cases from the Wizarding World, the player controls a new recruit of the Beast Division in the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures of the Ministry of Magic. The player visits locations such as Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade, and The Leaky Cauldron to investigate unexplained happenings by discovering hidden objects, analyzing evidence, casting spells, and brewing potions, ultimately uncovering and protecting magical creatures at the center of each case.
Reader's Guide
The game was developed by British studio Mediatonic in partnership with WB Games San Francisco. Developers visited Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter to replicate objects from the Harry Potter film series as closely as possible. The game was released one day before the theatrical release of the film Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Common Sense Media gave a score of three out of five stars, noting that 'a good chunk of the magical fun is sapped by poor design choices and/or the publisher's aggressive money-making scheme.' Gamezebo also gave three stars, stating the game 'just doesn't fizz and sparkle with the sort of magic you might be expecting.' The game was removed from the App Store and Google Play on December 10, 2019, and officially closed on January 14, 2020.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Fantastic Beasts: Cases from the Wizarding World?
It is a mobile hidden object game released in 2016 that tasks players with solving magical-creature cases set across the Wizarding World. The title was developed by Mediatonic and WB Games San Francisco and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.
What role do you play in Fantastic Beasts: Cases from the Wizarding World?
Players step in as a fresh recruit in the Beast Division, a unit under the Ministry of Magic's Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. Gameplay centers on searching detailed scenes in places like Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade, and the Leaky Cauldron for hidden items that advance each case.
When was Fantastic Beasts: Cases from the Wizarding World released, and when did it shut down?
The game launched on November 17, 2016, for both Android and iOS. It was removed from the App Store and Google Play on December 10, 2019, and all services were officially terminated on January 14, 2020.
Who developed and published Fantastic Beasts: Cases from the Wizarding World?
Mediatonic and WB Games San Francisco handled development, while Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment acted as the publisher. The title was available exclusively on mobile—Android and iOS—and never appeared on console or PC.
Why can't I download Fantastic Beasts: Cases from the Wizarding World anymore?
Warner Bros. delisted the game from both major app stores in late December 2019 and fully wound down its servers by mid-January 2020, roughly three years after launch. The closure appears to have been part of a routine retirement of older mobile titles rather than a single incident.
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