Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mysteryhas been a divisive game so far, with some enjoying the chance to revisit Hogwarts, and others criticizing the game’s excessive use of microtransactions. However, some of those microtransaction issues should be alleviated as of today, asHarry Potters: Hogwarts Mysteryplayers are discovering a gift of 100 free gems when they open the app.
According to in-game text, the 100 free gems are a way to thank those who have been playing thefree-to-playHarry PotterRPGsince launch. It’s unclear what the requirements are to obtaining the gems, and it seems like players are receiving them at different times. For example, we received 100 free gems for the game on Android a few hours before the gift was available to us on iOS, though we can’t confirm that platform-of-choice has anything to do with it.
So, what exactly can players buy with their 100 free gems? InHarry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery, gems can be spent on a number of different things to help players get through the story faster. For example, 20 gems can be exchanged for 10 energies, 55 gems for 30 energies, and 100 gems for 60 energies. Players can go beyond their current max energy limit when buying energy with gems, though it’s worth pointing out that they can’t replenish their energy supply through waiting ortapping on the secret energy objectsuntil it has dipped back below their limit.
Gems can also be used so players can circumvent the wait time to start new story quests. AsHarry Potter: Hogwarts Mysteryprogresses, players will find themselves waiting longer periods of time for quests to start, and they are able to speed the process along by spending gems. This applies to side quests as well, though it may be better for players to spend their gems on extra energy instead.
Finally, players can spend gems to purchase new cosmetic items. Some of the cosmetics inHarry Potter: Hogwarts Mysteryrequire coins, whereas others require gems, though again, we would advise spending gems on more energy instead. Cosmetics in the game are basically pointless, and players should be earning more than enough coins to buy many of them anyhow.
However, it may not be wise to spend coins on cosmetics either. Coins may be easier to come by than gems, but there are certain friend interactions in the game that require coins for players to start. These friend interactions are how players canlevel up their friendsfor additional rewards (including more gems!), so they are more important to progressing through the game than a new pair of clothes.
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mysteryis out now for iOS and Android mobile devices.
