The gameplay for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 is different from the previous games after developers decided it required a new direction to suit its growing adult audience.

[8] Part of the combat sequences involve the cover system where the player hides behind an obstacle, until it has been destroyed, to avoid receiving damage from their opponent.

[12] While manoeuvring under the Invisibility Cloak the player must move slowly to ensure the stealth meter, on the bottom right hand corner of the screen, does not turn red.

[12][13] When the player gets close enough to an enemy while under the Invisibility Cloak they are able to cast a stunning spell at them, or use the shield charm as a knock-out melee attack.

[citation needed] The two-player missions are played in on-rails shooter mode, where the player casts spells through hand and body gestures.

[25] On June 1, 2010, EA and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment officially announced Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 was in development to be released alongside the film in autumn of 2010.

[26] Prior to the game's announcement, EA had launched a campaign through the social networking website, Facebook, where users could "like" the page and therefore eventually reveal the first image which depicted the characters Harry, Ron and Hermione in a forest with their wands pointed at the Snatchers.

[2][3] High resolution head scans of the main cast of the film were made as well as photo shots in different angles and lighting to capture every facial detail.

[33] It was recorded, like its predecessor, with The Philharmonia Orchestra at AIR Studios in London, while the soundtrack was first unveiled on 28 October 2010 at St Mary's Church, Nottingham where Hannigan performed several tracks with the Pinewood Singers.

[60] Game Informer awarded it 5.5 out of 10 and said "Like a Quidditch player falling from a broomstick mid-match, this installment loses all forward momentum and goes plummeting toward a faceplant at top speed".

"[61] The Guardian gave the game a score of two stars out of five and said that "when you play [Deathly Hallows Part 1], you get the feeling that everyone involved with the franchise will be secretly relieved when the whole juggernaut finally grinds to a permanent halt.