Avid fans eagerly await each new book and film in the Harry Potter series. They can also indulge their passion for the stories by playing the video games such as the Harry Potter Gamecube. These are immensely popular, largely because the graphics are of a high standard and the content is entertaining and challenging. The games tend to tie in with the movies in their visual presentation but references from the books are included too.

Each movie release brings a new game, allowing players to immerse themselves in specific scenarios. The Nintendo Harry Potter Gamecube is a role playing opportunity with different locations to explore and features major and minor characters. The first installment has been upgraded into Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone: Next Generation (Sorcerer's Stone in the USA). The age rate is for 3 years old upwards and the graphics are three dimensional, improved from the previous game played on PlayStation, PCs, Game Boy Advance and Game Boy Color.  It's the first year at Hogwarts and players can interact with 20 different characters.

The second year at Hogwarts brings the story to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. This Harry Potter is in the form of a 3-D platform game and features Dobby the House Elf and lessons in advanced spell casting.  Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans can be exchanged for Wizard Cards and Quidditch kit. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the next installment, a scary game with Dementors, Neville and the ghoul and Buckbeak. There are quests in Fred and George's shop and a game that involves the statues inside Hogwarts.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire has an age rating of seven years plus and involves the Triwizard Tournament in which Harry and the other contestants battle with a dragon, dive into an icy lake and navigate a terrifying maze. Other scenes involve the Quidditch World Cup and a duel with the dark Lord Voldemort. This is the most nail biting of the Harry Potter Gamecube publications. There is a multi player option whereby players have to co-operate with each other for the spells to work. The graphics are of an even higher quality than previous games.

The latest game, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, has been released just ahead of the July release of the movie. There are two more Harry Potter Gamecube publications to follow with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. A special edition involving the game of Quidditch is also available.

Although the Gamecube system has been replaced by the Wii, you can still play Harry Potter Gamecube games on the Wii system which makes it that much more versatile and fun.  Search for Harry Potter Gamecube games available online.