Choosing Your House in 'Hogwarts Legacy' Changes the Gameplay Experience

When Feb. 10 rolls around, the controversial open-world RPG game Hogwarts Legacy will launch and continue the wizarding school's tradition of separating students with the magical sorting hat.

As usual across the franchise, the esoteric hat will determine how students become sorted into one of the four different houses: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff.

Each house has its standard colors, quirks, and decked-out common room for students to share in Hogwarts Legacy, which makes deciding important for those with personal preferences. To make sure you make the right choice, here are the main differences between each house in Hogwarts Legacy.

In the beginning, players answer a series of questions the Sorting Hat poses to it to be placed in their house. That choice won't influence the main story, but NPCs will recognize you based on your selection and treat you differently. If you plan to unlock all of the achievements in the game, though, you'll have to complete four different save files in different houses.

Beyond the classic differences in house colors, another significant difference between houses is the common rooms. These rooms are basically resting hubs for students in their respective houses to mingle. In Hogwarts Legacy, developer Avalanche Studios recreated them from the Harry Potter series with new flourishes.

The last distinction in houses will be the type of companion you will meet. Each wizard house has a unique character you will eventually meet and travel with as you complete quests and explore new horizons. It's unknown exactly when you'll meet them, but once you're acquainted, your companion will become a unique part of your overall journey.

All players won't get a substantial edge in the game depending on their house choice. In fact, the perks of each house are entirely subjective and cosmetic by design. Choosing one or the other boils down to specific traits the player wants to represent and following in the footsteps of notable witches and wizards from the Harry Potter franchise, so answer the Sorting Hat's questions based on the virtues of the house you desire to be in.

Players who want to be viewed as ambitious and calculated wizards will want to fall into Slytherin, while players more imaginative than most by nature and accepting of people will find a home in Ravenclaw.

Their respective colors, animals, and common rooms are additional perks to roleplay your house to a T.

J.K. Rowling has made numerous public anti-trans comments, and while she was not directly involved in the creation of Hogwarts Legacy, she is still likely to profit from the title. If you or someone you know is a member of the transgender community and in need of support, call the Trans Lifeline at , the Trevor Project's 24/7/365 Lifeline at 866-4-U-TREVOR (), or TrevorChat, their online instant messaging option, or TrevorText, a text-based support option. If you are looking for peer support, you can visit TrevorSpace from anywhere in the world.