Outside of the mini-games, the rest of the game is entirely free-roaming, letting you explore Hogwarts at will and pick up side-quests in a random order. The game still follows the plot of the film, but its makers say they were keen not to bog the player down with dialogue and cut-scenes. So if gamers want to tap on certain words in conversations to find out more of the backstory behind them, they can. Or they can also just run amok casting spells on unsuspecting bookcases and Slytherins instead.

Away from the combat, the game's story missions offer variety by using certain events in the film's plot for specially crafted sections. So for the Pensieve bits, where Harry is being tutored by Dumbledore to view Voldemort's memories, there are point-and-click, quick-time levels to play. Whereas Harry being chased by Death Eaters is translated into a linear, Time Crisis style level.