8. Atelier Lydie & Suelle: The Alchemists and the Mysterious Paintings DX (Switch eShop)

Atelier Lydie & Suelle followed the familiar-yet-cosy format of the Atelier series, but the DX version on Switch brought about a whole slate of updates and upgrades that make this a bit of a standout. The DX version added a Nelke & the Legendary Alchemists tie-in, a fast-forward for battles, and a photo mode — all welcome additions that improve the experience. As Atelier games go, though, this is simply solid, workaday fare. As the third entry in the Mysterious series, however, this might not be the best place for newcomers to jump in, but it's one of the most rewarding for fans as it ties many of the series' plot threads together. Otherwise, while it's content with relying on what the Mysterious games have done so far, Lydie & Suelle makes for a rather lovely adventure all the same.

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7. Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book DX (Switch eShop)

This 2015 release arrived on Switch in 2021 in DX form. Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book has you finding the mysterious talking book of the title and working to unlock memories within and improve as an alchemist. With excellent art and the new Dollmake feature, which let you customise the book (named Plachta), Sophie gave the Mysterious series a solid start and the DX version added some welcome QoL options — who wants to stroll when you can sprint? Sophie was also popular enough to get a sequel in 2022, but the first game stands on its own as a series highlight.

6. 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 lovable 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.

5. Atelier Firis: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Journey DX (Switch eShop)

The first game since the start of the Arland series not to release on PlayStation 3, Mysterious Journey stars Firis, who learns alchemy from the previous game's star, Sophie. Firis' adventure sees her embark on a quest to explore the world beyond the cave she was raised in, and to hopefully pass an exam that will certify her as an alchemist. It's certainly nothing revolutionary when it comes to story or mechanics — and Firis also reintroduced the time mechanics — but the brand-new open world felt like a breath of fresh air. And once you'd passed Firis' exam, you were free to explore Atelier Firis: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Journey at your leisure.

4. Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea DX (Switch eShop)

The final entry in the Dusk trilogy, and arguably the strongest, Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea DX adds a nice new camera, spices up the alchemy, strengthens the turn-based combat system, and gives you two heroines to play through as, each with a journey unique enough that it's more than worth your while playing through the whole thing twice. World exploration is just as tightly controlled as in previous Atelier games and won't perhaps suit those hoping for a larger sense of adventure or the desire to get completely lost in the wilds of the world but, this is another solid entry that performs excellently on Switch and suits portable play perfectly.

3. Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key (Switch)

Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key ends Ryza's three-game run on a high note, serving up a heady mix of exploration, crafting, and combat that benefits greatly from a narrative arc that's had time to develop and grow. The new key mechanics add more depth to combat, synthesis, and exploration, the world is more seamless and diverse than ever before and the whole thing comes together to form a satisfying end for this hugely popular protagonist. We did have some issues with small text, no English dub, and a little fussiness in how information is relayed, but overall this is Gust's finest adventure to date and a JRPG experience that long-term fans and newcomers alike will find plenty to delight in.

2. Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout (Switch)

Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout lifted the series to new heights in 2019 with a reinvigorated, newcomer-friendly alchemy system and an excellent combat overhaul. The new graphics engine looks glorious and runs beautifully on Switch, the story is thoughtfully paced and heartfelt, and the traditionally slow early hours do a fantastic job of detailing Ryza’s journey from complete beginner to master alchemist. Gust did a brilliant job of taking this long-running franchise and making it appeal to the mainstream more than ever here, and Ryza quickly became a firm fan favourite.

1. Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & The Secret Fairy (Switch)

Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends and the Secret Fairy took everything good about its predecessor and further refined it, resulting in what we would say is the best entry in the franchise to date. This may still be a relatively small-scale, old-fashioned JRPG experience, but it's one that's full of heart, great characters, slick combat, and some excellent ruin-based dungeons. Anyone looking for a relaxed and enchanting JRPG to sink their time into need look no further than this second entry in the Secret trilogy.

And there we have it! We'll be updating this list with future releases, and it'll be fascinating to see how they slot into the ranking. Let us know below if this ordering matches your own, and highlight your personal favourites in the series.