Atelier fans have it good on Switch. These quality RPGs from Gust and Koei Tecmo have loads of entries on Nintendo's console, and with compilation bundles available for sub-series (the Dusk Trilogy, Mysterious Trilogy, and Ryza Trilogy), there's no better way to get into Atelier. Atelier Marie Remake brought everything full circle, and Atelier Resleriana took the series forward while nodding back to its substantial history.
But which Atelier game is best? It's a tough question to answer given all the different flavours, so we asked Nintendo Life readers to weigh in and help us rank every Atelier title on Switch. The list below is the result!
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Remember, similar to our other reader-ranked lists, this is a dynamic ordering that can change in real time depending on each game's User Rating on the site. Registered Nintendo Life users who haven't yet rated the Atelier games they've played can click on the stars below, rate any of them out of 10, and potentially influence the ordering even now.
If you've previously rated these games in our database, well, you're the loveliest of people and we thank you! If not, you can add your score to the game at any time, present or future, and it will still count and potentially influence the order. We say again, the game currently sitting at #1 doesn't have to remain there — the ranking is entirely up to you!
Okay, enough waffle. Let's take a look at the rundown of the Best Atelier Games on Switch, starting at the bottom...
21. Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout DX (Switch 2)
This edition includes new stories, playable characters, and features that have been added to "Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout. "
This game depicts the coming-of-age story of an ordinary girl named Ryza and her friends as they come in contact with alchemy and set out on a grand adventure involving the secrets of the island they call home.
New features added in the DX version:• Three new playable charactersAgatha, Kilo, and Romy are now available as playable characters.
• A new story featuring Kilo and BosThis side story follows Bos as he is chased into the Underworld and meets Kilo before reuniting with Ryza. You can also explore as Kilo!
• A new after storyThis story features Ryza, Agatha, and Romy and takes place between the events of Ryza 1 and Ryza 2. Having remained on the island, Ryza now teaches the local children as a substitute teacher and must search for them when they sneak out on an adventure.
20. Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key DX (Switch 2)
This edition includes new stories, playable characters, and features that have been added to "Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key. "
Set one year after "Atelier Ryza 2," this game follows the final summer adventure of Ryza and her friends as they learn about the origins of alchemy and discover the mysteries of their world.
New features added in the DX version:• Three new playable charactersClifford, Serri, and Kilo are now available as playable characters.
• A new story featuring Clifford and SerriAfter parting ways with Ryza, Clifford and Serri meet again on a deserted island and team up to pursue their goals. Control Serri as you explore both familiar areas and a new map!
• A Custom Combat modeSelect monsters to face and set their levels. You can also change monster behavior, the speed of battle, and other settings.
• Added a Wind Beast which automatically gathers ingredients to assist your exploration!
19. Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy DX (Switch 2)
This edition includes new stories, playable characters, and features that have been added to "Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy. "
Set three years after "Atelier Ryza," this game tells the story of matured Ryza and her friends as they reunite and have new encounters, all leading into an important decision. The story of summer and youths begins anew.
New features added in the DX version:• Two new playable charactersEmpel and Lila are now available as playable characters.
• A new story featuring Empel and LilaThis side story follows Empel and Lila as they search for a gate to the Underworld before they reunite with Ryza. Control Lila as you explore both familiar areas and a new map!
• A Custom Combat modeSelect monsters to face and set their levels. You can also change monster behavior, the speed of battle, and other settings.
• Fi will help you on your adventureFi will follow Ryza as she moves around the field, providing support.
18. Nelke & the Legendary Alchemists: Ateliers of the New World (Switch)
An Atelier spin-off game which launched back in 2019, Nelke & the Legendary Alchemists: Ateliers of the New World was released to celebrate the series' 20th anniversary and features a bunch of characters from past games. It added a hefty dose of town management and life sim to the franchise's RPG formula while scaling back the combat.
As such, it was sure to rub some of the series faithful the wrong way. It isn't perfect, but it was nice to get a change of pace from the main series, and to onboard potential newcomers with the more sedate town-management angle.
17. Atelier Totori: The Adventurer of Arland DX (Switch eShop)
Debuting on PS3 in 2010 or 2011 depending on your territory, Atelier Totori: The Adventurer of Arland is the second in the Arland quadrilogy (oof, what a word!) series.
Set five years after the first in the series, it sees new wannabe alchemist Totori learning alchemy under the tutelage of Rorona, the previous game's protagonist. Totori, however, is also on a journey to find her lost mother — everyone in Arland thinks she's passed on, but Totori thinks otherwise.
While the Arland series is beloved among Atelier fans, Totori is often singled out as one of the best protagonists in the series, and as the second game, this entry settles into a strong, comfortable rhythm, and it's hard to argue with the adorable Totori and her adventure being one of the series' standouts.
16. Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland DX (Switch eShop)
Originally released on the PS3 in 2011 (in Japan, elsewhere the following year) with a 'Plus' version following on PS Vita in 2013, this third entry in the Arland sub-series revolved around Merurulince Rede Arls — Meruru to her pals — a beansy princess who's after a life of adventure rather than opening libraries, waving limply at loyal subjects, and having to put up with the questionable behaviour of extended family members.
Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland DX is a solid entry, though its protagonist wasn't to everyone's taste, and a weak story leaves it in the mid-to-lower tier of Atelier adventures.
15. Atelier Rorona: The Alchemists of Arland DX (Switch eShop)
The first in the Arland lineage, Atelier Rorona: The Alchemists of Arland launched on PS3 in 2009 in Japan, with a 'Plus' version arriving four years later on both PS3 and Vita (and on 3DS in 2015, although only in Japan).
Kicking off a much-loved branch of the series in style and introducing us to the city of Arland, Rorona delivers the goods when it comes to loveable characters, simple yet engaging combat, the requisite resource gathering and time management, and a narrative to match. Later entries may have streamlined elements of the series, but Rorona has a lot of heart. Solid stuff.
14. Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist Of Salburg (Switch eShop)
Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist Of Salburg is an impressively well-realized revisit to a long-lost RPG classic. What it lacks in length or complexity, it makes up for in charm and quality; this is the kind of game that you can get sucked into for an hour or two at a time without even realising it.
Its laid-back atmosphere, open-ended gameplay, and lovely visuals all combine to make this a must-buy for fans, and a highly recommended title for those who want to see what Atelier is all about.
13. Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk DX (Switch eShop)
First released on PS3 in 2012/13, Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk DX is a welcoming start to the Dusk trilogy. It hits the ground running while gently easing new players in by dialling back the traditional time limit aspect of the alchemy. It's never really going to satisfy the most ardent RPG fan as its exploration is too contained and controlled, and its combat is not ferocious or engaging enough for battle-hardened players.
For everyone else, though, its alchemy is a thing of depth and beauty which creates a satisfying core around the lesser elements. With a strong – if rather small-scale – story backing the whole thing up and time-saving quality-of-life features added to the DX version, Atelier Ayesha is perfect for those looking to dip their toe into the light and breezy, warm-hearted series.
Comments 23
All the main series games are great in their own ways and are really hard to split so I don't think there's too much to be taken out of a list like this but if I had to rank them, my list would probably look very different. I'd probably actually have Totori last of the Arland Trilogy games and Sophie 2 first overall.
I fell in love with this series when I first got to play Atelier Lulua but it's definitely not in my top five. I'd have to go with Ryza 1 (yes, I prefer its story over 2 though the sequel is definitely excellent), Totori, Firis, and... I don't know, I can't settle on a fifth. I love them all.
Wasn't some of these only Asia physical as well.
As an Atelier fan, I can't even argue which is the best. I wanted Sophie to win, but Totori deserves it more, I think. Great protagonist, fantastic music and a somewhat lenient time limits make it a superb entry. That seaside feeling makes it a masterpiece.
Tried getting into one of these games and I just couldn't stay into it...and I'm usually into collecting stuff and using it to create new stuff, too...
Strange ranking, especially when it comes to Switch ports, but generally you can't go wrong with any of them. The first Sophie is great as an introduction.
Actually surprised to see Totori as #1 and not Ryza. But glad to see it. It's such a good game.
But as other have said, you really can't go wrong with any of the Atelier games. (Except Nelke. Avoid that if possible. Not horrible but not a proper Atelier game)
ryza games should be 1&2
I Need to try these Games soon. I've heard so much positive about them. (And also Because I like RPG Games in General.)
Been wondering about these. Thanks.
However, to go from that sterling sub-header to “which games is best”? Gavin, Gavin, Gavin. (Kidding, of course.)
I loved the two Ryza games so I definitely wanna get around to the others someday. Sophie 2 is in my backlog but with Ryza 3 releasing soon it'll have to wait awhile longer.
Wait, Sophie 1 is better than Sophie 2? I enjoyed the few hours of what I played of the first game, but the second game's mechanics and improvements "replaced" it for me.
Ok, so what I see, I didn't make the worst choice with the entries I bought.
Personally, Atelier Ayesha is my favorite, but it was the first I played so I am forever biased. I liked that it was somewhat short and contained and the combat was simple and non-distracting, although I think those two positives are negatives for some. I've quite enjoyed all the Atelier games I've played though. Ryza 2 is still on my backlog, but looking forward to playing it when I have time.
I want to give these a try buying Ryza, but they are so so so expensive. The physical is even more expensive than digital, which is odd for game this old. Must have been a limited release. I guess I wait for a sale.
@HefHughner The standard Ryza release goes on digital sale for $30 a few times a year. Not super cheap, but a decent price for a good game.
@FishyS Yeah, I will wait for a sale. There are so many and most of the games are years old, so I kinda expected to be able get them a lot cheaper.
I saw that these are highly rated games, so I wanted to give them a shot. Then I realized there are SO MANY, and a lot of pricy collections. I did some research and it seems it's best to play the games in a series in order as the story continues, and that the first Ryza is a good place to start so I bought that. I really should play it soon to see if I should continue the series or not. But I hear words like "wholesome" and "cozy" that give me pause, as I hated Animal Crossing: New Horizons.
I'm actually overwhelmed by my ignorance of how many Atelier games exist on switch
I'm really surprised that Totori is #1 and Firis to be as high as it is, I thought that a lot of fans hated it and I wasn't part of the norm. So I'm thrilled, to say the least. I'm a tad salty that Lulua is as low as it is as that's my favorite entry and my second pick is Shallie. But with all that in mind not a bad list; it'll be interesting too see how this changes in the coming months.
The only Atelier game I've played is Ayesha, which was and is one of the most singularly charming experiences I've ever had with a video game. And the soundtrack was gorgeous. The fact it's so low down the list makes me suspect I've been missing out.
I randomly bought Atelier Rorona, the original not DX version, for my PS3 in the bargain bin a lot of years ago and fell in love with the series. I had the Iris trilogy in the PS2 but those games were somewhat different. Since then I have played all the atelier games and I have the platinum trophy in all except Ayesha DX and Sophie 2. I am waiting to play Ryza 3 later this week!
@Nancyboy Don't know what you mean. Move along, nothin' to see here. 👀
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