Atelier followers have it good on Switch. The launch of Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key, the newest sport within the sprawling RPG collection, is sort of upon us, and looking out again over the collection entries which have come to Nintendo’s console, there are properly over a dozen out there to play on Switch.
That’s a bumper set of high quality RPG-ing from Gust and Koei Tecmo, and with compilation bundles out there for a few the sub-series (the Dusk Trilogy and Mysterious Trilogy), it is doubtless that any Atelier fan with a passing curiosity has a number of entries sitting on their Switch. With Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist Of Salburg lined up for a July launch and bringing every thing full circle with a remake of the primary sport within the collection, there’s a lot extra alchemy in Switch players’ futures, too.
But which Atelier video games is greatest? It’s a tricky query to reply given all of the totally different flavours, so we requested Nintendo Life readers to weigh in and assist us rank each Atelier title on Switch — and the rating beneath is the consequence!
Remember, much like our different reader-ranked lists, it is a dynamic ordering that may change in real-time relying on every sport’s User Rating on the location. Registered Nintendo Life customers who have not but rated the Atelier video games they’ve performed can click on on the celebs beneath, price any them out of 10, and doubtlessly affect the ordering even now.
If you have beforehand rated these video games in our database, properly, you are the loveliest of individuals and we thanks! If not, you’ll be able to add your rating to the sport at any time, current or future, and it’ll nonetheless rely and doubtlessly affect the order. We say once more, the sport at present sitting at #1 does not have to stay there — the rating is solely as much as you pretty folks!
Okay, sufficient waffle. Let’s check out the rundown of the Best Atelier Games on Switch, beginning on the backside…
Publisher: Koei Tecmo / Developer: Koei Tecmo
An Atelier spin-off sport which launched again in 2019, Nelke & the Legendary Alchemists: Ateliers of the New World was launched to rejoice the collection’ twentieth anniversary and encompasses a bunch of characters from previous video games. It added a hearty dose of city administration and life sim to the franchise’s RPG system whereas scaling again the fight. As such, it was certain to rub a number of the collection trustworthy the flawed manner. It is not excellent, nevertheless it was good to get a change of tempo from the primary collection, and to onboard potential newcomers with the extra sedate town-management angle.
Publisher: Koei Tecmo / Developer: Gust Corporation
Originally launched on the PS3 in 2011 (in Japan, elsewhere the next yr) with a ‘Plus’ model following on PS Vita in 2013, this third entry within the Arland sub-series revolved round Merurulince Rede Arls — Meruru to her buddies — a beansy princess who’s after a lifetime of journey somewhat than opening libraries, waving limply at loyal topics, and having to place up with the questionable behaviour of prolonged relations.
Atelier Meruru: The Apprentice of Arland DX is a strong entry, although its protagonist wasn’t to everybody’s style, and a weak story leaves it within the mid-to-lower tier of Atelier adventures.
Publisher: KOEI TECMO AMERICA / Developer: KOEI TECMO GAMES
Atelier Lulua: The Scion of Arland proved to be a terrific entry in Gust’s long-running collection. Much like the various concoctions made by the eponymous Lulua, this was a refined product that displays a number of of the most effective traits of its predecessors. If you will get previous the ho-hum storytelling and study to grasp the intimidating crafting system, you’ll discover that the sport has a lot to supply in its surprisingly concerned fight system, beautiful locales, and rewarding gameplay loops.
Publisher: Koei Tecmo / Developer: Koei Tecmo
Atelier Escha and Logy: Alchemists of the Dusk Sky DX will get off to a fairly turgid begin with exposition-heavy scenes punctuated with a lot of tutorials. However, as soon as it will get its bearings, it is one other satisfying story with two robust lead characters to select from, a terrific forged of supporting characters, and that deep alchemy sat proper on the centre of all of it, pulling the weaker strands of its gameplay collectively right into a satisfyingly unified complete.
Publisher: Koei Tecmo / Developer: Gust
First launched on PS3 in 2012/13, Atelier Ayesha: The Alchemist of Dusk DX is a welcoming begin to the Dusk trilogy which hits the bottom working while dialling again the normal time restrict side of the sport, gently easing gamers into its core alchemy in addition to firmly establishing the gameplay loops and techniques that are carried on all through the 2 follow-up video games. It’s by no means actually going to fulfill probably the most ardent RPG fan as its exploration is just too contained and managed, and its fight not ferocious or participating sufficient for battle-hardened gamers.
For everybody else, although, its alchemy is a factor of depth and sweetness which creates a satisfying core across the lesser components. With a powerful – if somewhat small-scale – story backing the entire thing up and time-saving quality-of-life options added to the DX model, Atelier Ayesha is ideal for these trying to dip their tow into the sunshine and breezy, warm-hearted collection.
Publisher: KOEI TECMO AMERICA / Developer: Gust
2022’s Atelier Sophie 2 stands as an exquisite achievement; an entry that looks like the right fusion of the outdated and the brand new. Sophie’s journey might not have a lot to supply up within the story division, nevertheless it greater than makes up for this with its streamlined design, thrilling fight, expansive world, and addictive alchemy system — all stalwart pillars of the collection. It’s a winner for each longtime followers and newcomers, and top-of-the-line Atelier releases but.
Publisher: Koei Tecmo / Developer: Gust Corporation
The first within the Arland lineage, Atelier Rorona: The Alchemists of Arland launched on PS3 in 2009 in Japan, with a ‘Plus’ model arriving 4 years in a while each PS3 and Vita (and on 3DS in 2015, though solely in Japan). Kicking off a much-loved department of the collection in model, its successors might have streamlined numerous components, however Rorona nonetheless delivers the products in the case of cute characters, easy but participating fight, the requisite useful resource gathering and time administration, and a story to match. Solid stuff.
Publisher: Koei Tecmo / Developer: Koei Tecmo
The last entry within the Dusk trilogy, and arguably the strongest, Atelier Shallie: Alchemists of the Dusk Sea DX provides a pleasant new digital camera, spices up the alchemy, strengthens the turn-based fight system, and offers you two heroines to play via as, every with a journey distinctive sufficient that it is greater than value your whereas taking part in via the entire thing twice. World exploration is simply as tightly managed as in earlier Atelier video games and will not maybe go well with these hoping for a bigger sense of journey or the need to get utterly misplaced within the wilds of the world however, that is one other strong entry that performs excellently on Switch and fits moveable play completely.
Publisher: Koei Tecmo / Developer: Gust
This 2015 launch arrived on Switch in 2021 in DX kind. Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book has you discovering the mysterious speaking e book of the title and dealing to unlock recollections inside and enhance as an alchemist. With glorious artwork and the brand new Dollmake characteristic, which allow you to customise the e book (named Plachta), Sophie gave the Mysterious collection a strong begin and the DX model added some welcome QoL choices — who desires to walk when you’ll be able to dash? Sophie was in style sufficient as a personality to get one other sport to her identify in 2022.
Publisher: Koei Tecmo / Developer: Gust
The first sport because the begin of the Arland collection to not launch on PlayStation 3, protagonist Firis learns alchemy from the earlier sport’s star, Sophie, and follows the titular character’s quest to discover the world past the cave she was raised in, and to hopefully move an examination that may certify her as an alchemist. It’s definitely nothing revolutionary in the case of story or mechanics (the time restrict got here again into play right here), however the introduction of an open world felt like a breath of recent air. And when you’d handed Firis’ examination, you had been free to discover Atelier Firis: The Alchemist and the Mysterious Journey at your leisure.
Publisher: Koei Tecmo / Developer: Gust
Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout lifted the collection to new heights in 2019 with a reinvigorated, newcomer-friendly alchemy system and a very good fight overhaul. The new graphics engine seems superb and runs superbly on Switch, the story is thoughtfully paced and heartfelt, and the historically sluggish early hours do a incredible job of detailing Ryza’s journey from full newbie to grasp alchemist. Gust did an excellent job of taking this long-running franchise and making it enchantment to the mainstream greater than ever right here, and Ryza shortly turned a agency fan favorite.
Publisher: Koei Tecmo / Developer: Gust
Atelier Lydie & Suelle in its non-DX kind was a somewhat commonplace entry to the Atelier collection. Content with counting on a fairly commonplace setup, the sport didn’t innovate or transfer forwards, though because the third entry within the Mysterious collection, followers of the collection are capable of get pleasure from seeing the comparatively free plot threads tied to the opposite entries in a manner newcomers may wrestle with. The DX model added a Nelke & the Legendary Alchemists tie-in, a fast-forward for battles, and a photograph mode — all welcome additions that enhance the expertise. As Atelier video games go, although, that is merely strong, workaday fare.
Publisher: Koei Tecmo / Developer: Gust
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends and the Secret Fairy took every thing good about its predecessor and additional refined it, leading to what we’d say is the most effective entry within the franchise to this point. This should be a comparatively small-scale, old school JRPG expertise, nevertheless it’s one which’s filled with coronary heart, nice characters, slick fight, and a few glorious ruin-based dungeons. Anyone on the lookout for a relaxed and enchanting JRPG to sink their time into want look no additional than this second entry within the Secret trilogy.
Publisher: Koei Tecmo / Developer: Gust Corporation
Debuting on PS3 in 2010 or 2011 relying in your territory, Atelier Totori: The Adventurer of Arland is the second within the Arland quadrilogy (oof, what a phrase! Our apologies for that one) collection. Set 5 years after the primary within the collection, it sees titular protagonist Totori studying alchemy from the earlier sport’s principal character, Rorona, and setting out on an journey (after all) to seek for her (Totori’s) mom, who everybody else in her village thinks has handed on. Debate rages over which of the Arland collection stands above the remaining, however Totori is a good protagonist and it is a robust contender.
And there we have now it! We’ll be updating this record with future releases, and it will be fascinating to see how they slot into the rating. Let us know beneath if this ordering matches your individual, and spotlight your private favourites within the collection.
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