Game Description & Rules
Many of you are probably familiar with the board and placement game “The crazy labyrinth”, which was launched in 1986. There are now several new editions of this classic that have been created over the years – with the same rules. Among other things, the “Harry Potter Labyrinth” appeared – a must for all Harry Potter fans who want to save their beloved heroes.
Since I’m a little Harry Potter fan myself, I couldn’t resist taking a closer look at the “Harry Potter Labyrinth” and testing it for you.
Harry Potter Labyrinth Game Info
Brief description:
“Who keeps track of the Harry Potter maze and finds ways to the well-known Hogwarts residents? Harry, Ron, Hermione, Prof. Dumbledore, Hagrid and Harry’s owl Hedwig are waiting for you to find them. If you cleverly move the labyrinth, new paths will emerge that will lead you to the figures you are looking for.” Source: game box
Publisher: Ravensburger Spieleverlag
Author: Max J. Kobbert
Design: Paul Windle Design, UK
Copyright: HARRY POTTER characters, names and related indicia are © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (s18)
Release year: 2018
Game number: 26031 / EAN: 4005556260317
Player type
- board game
 - board game
 - Tactical
 - sliding game
 - placement game
 - licensed game
 
Number of players, age and playing time
- 2 to 4 players
 - from 7 years
 - around 20 to 30 minutes
 
Ravensburger rating
- Luck: 3 out of 5 points
 - Strategy: 4 out of 5 points
 - Communication: 2 out of 5 points
 - Creativity: 1 out of 5 points
 
Game material
- 1 game board
 - 34 path cards
 - 24 face cards
 - 4 game figures
 - 1 game instructions
 
The game goal
Scattered across the maze are the Hogwarts residents who can’t find the exit – anyone who’s read the movies and books knows how confusing it can be there. That’s why you have to start looking – but the other players also try to make their way. It is therefore important to keep the goal in mind, but at the same time hinder the others by constantly moving the walls and paths of the maze.
Design of the “Harry Potter Labyrinth”
As with the classic labyrinth version, there is a game board that you equip with 34 tiles around a few fixed tiles. The removable panels form the labyrinth with their printed walls and paths, which you keep moving to get to your destination.
The Harry Potter edition is reminiscent of the “Marauder’s Map”. The walls are decorated with small bookshelves and spells from the novels, on some panels you will find the movie stars such as Harry, Hermione or Professor Snape and many more.
As beautiful as the design of the game board is, the game pieces leave a lot to be desired: colorful wooden figures that you could use for any other game – a pity, because that takes away from the atmosphere of the game, because such fan editions score with the detail.
The 24 cards are again very loving: they all also show the different Harry Potter characters.
How to play the Harry Potter Labyrinth board game
Get the game started
Before you can start, you have to shuffle the maze tiles face down so that the maze can emerge randomly. To do this, you simply place them face up on the board, with one always remaining. You need this card to push.
Now shuffle the 24 picture cards and distribute them evenly amongst each other. Each player places these in a stack next to them and looks for their favorite color and the matching figure. Place these on the starting space, which you can recognize by the house crests in the four corners of the game board.
The gameplay
Anyone who has ever played another version of the crazy labyrinth knows the rules – because they are no different here either.
If you don’t know them yet: First you all look at the top card of your stack – in such a way that the others cannot see it. The youngest player can start, then play continues clockwise – but you can also think of other rules.
When it is your turn, the aim is to achieve the motif that your card gives you. To do this, the labyrinth must be moved by placing and inserting the remaining card.
You can see where this can happen by looking at the arrows on the edge of the field. Where there are none, there are the fixed panels and it is therefore not possible to slide them in. The labyrinth piece that is pushed out always goes to the following player, who can put it back in another place – even if it doesn’t help the person whose turn it is.
It can happen that a character is pushed out of the game. If that happens, it goes on the opposite field of the inserted card.
As soon as you have finished pushing, it is the character’s turn to move. This can be pulled as far as the labyrinth allows, or you can pull as far as is convenient so that you can keep running the next time it comes up.
As soon as the goal has been reached, the card is discarded face up and a new one is drawn face down.
Everything comes to an end
Once one of you has revealed all your cards, the game ends and you are the winner. He puts his character back at the start.
Why we like Harry Potter Labyrinth
- simple game rules
 - thematically appropriate
 - ideal for young and old
 - great, long-lasting fun
 
Conclusion on the board game “Harry Potter Labyrinth” by Ravensburger
The “Harry Potter Labyrinth” is lovingly made, but it does not bring any new rules or really playful features – the Harry Potter theme really has potential for some special rules. Magic, a maze and magic students and teachers – it couldn’t have been better. So if you don’t already own a copy of The Mad Maze or are a Harry Potter fan, you’ll be in for a treat – if you already own a copy, you won’t discover anything new here apart from the design.
Nevertheless, this does not detract from the fun of the game – especially because the start and course cannot be planned and you have to push and pull tactically clever again and again to find your way – if only the other players weren’t there.
The “Harry Potter Labyrinth” is fun for the whole family, where everyone will get in a brain teaser mood and one or two nasty laughs will come out because you have blocked someone’s path.
What is the goal of Ravensburger’s Harry Potter Labyrinth?
The players try to free the Harry Potter characters and have to move the walls of the labyrinth – ideally in such a way that the paths of the other players are blocked.
Who wins or loses Ravensburger’s “Harry Potter Labyrinth”?
The one who frees all their characters first wins.
Who is Ravensburger’s Harry Potter Labyrinth suitable for?
The “Harry Potter Labyrinth” is a family game, which is recommended for ages 7 and up.
How much does Ravensburger Harry Potter Labyrinth cost?
Depending on the version and provider, the game is available for around 15 to 60 euros.
What is the point of Ravensburger’s Harry Potter Labyrinth?
On interaction, cooperation, tactics and luck.
Are there any other “Labyrinth” versions?
In addition to the Harry Potter maze, there are other versions such. B .: The Labyrinth of Masters (1991), Junior Labyrinth (1995), The Labyrinth of the Rings (1998), 3D Children’s Labyrinth (2002), Labyrinth – the Duel (2009), The Electronic Labyrinth (2011), The Twisted Maze (2016). There are also numerous licensed games such as B. Avatar, Disney Pixar, Cars 3, Disney Frozen, Ocean, Star Wars, Fireman, Dragons, Jurassic World, Despicable and many more. There is also a card game (2000) and a PC version (2001), as well as Mad Maze for Nintendo DS (2008) and Mad Maze HD for iOS (2011).
Rules of the game in brief
Time needed: 30 minutes.
Ravensburger Harry Potter The Labyrinth Quick Start Guide
Mix
Shuffle the maze tiles face down
Build maze
Lay out the labyrinth tiles face up and place them on the game board
Mix
Distribute the 24 picture cards evenly among the players and place them in a face-down pile
Begin
Choose your favorite colour, take a game piece and place it on the house crest starting fields
Recognize goals
All players look at the top card of the deck
Slide maze
Whoever has a turn pushes the labyrinth in his favor where the arrows are
Set character
Drag character as far as it can go or stop in a place where it might fit to get to its destination on the next move
Reach a target
Once the goal is reached, the card is shown to the others and a new one is drawn
Win
The first to reach all of their goals wins!
More “Labyrinth” versions
- Classic Labyrinth (26446, released: 1986)
 - The Labyrinth of Masters (released: 1991)
 - Junior Labyrinth (released: 1995)
 - The Labyrinth of Rings (released: 1998)
 - 3D children’s labyrinth (released: 2002)
 - Labyrinth – the duel (released: 2009)
 - The Electronics Labyrinth (released: 2011)
 - The Twisted Labyrinth (released: 2016)
 - Escape the Labyrinth (205443, Released: 2020)
 
Lizenz-„Labyrinth“ -Versionen
- Disney (26348)
 - Avatar 3D
 - Cars 3
 - Disney Frozen
 - Ocean
 - Spongebob (26489)
 - Star Wars
 - Fireman
 - Dragons
 - Jurassic World
 - Despicable
 
Adaptations
Labyrinth – The Card Game (23206, released: 2000)
Labyrinth – The Treasure Hunt (26365, Card Game)
PC version (released: 2001)
The Mad Maze for Nintendo DS (released: 2008)
The Mad Maze HD for iOS (released: 2011).