Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key

Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key is the best-looking game in the franchise and it's so full of heart and wonder that anyone with a soft spot for delightful adventures will easily fall in love with it. I can't wait to see what Gust has in store next.

Every Atelier Ryza entry has been the best Atelier game yet, and Atelier Ryza 3 is no exception. It's the perfect final chapter for fans of Ryza and her story, but it's also the most polished and expansive exploration of the core ideals of the franchise we've seen yet – alchemy feels natural, exploration feels natural, and combat is a delightful adrenaline rush. It's sad to see my favourite tomboy alchemist go away, but if this game is any indication, the Atelier series will only get even better from here.

Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key is the best entry in the series, hands down. Every system has been enhanced and perfected, with the additional Key feature melded expertly into the core narrative. Sometimes the world can feel a lot bigger than it is, causing some pacing issues within the story, and there are a few characters who could have received more of the spotlight, but I can’t stress enough how memorable this experience is. As sad as it is to say goodbye, GUST did right by Ryza with this finale.

The Gust Corporation team managed to surprise us again, completing the phenomenal evolution process to which its IP had undergone starting from the first Atelier Ryza. Despite having inherited most of the mechanics from the second episode, the last fundamental piece of the trilogy has the merit of having speeded up and streamlined every single aspect of the production, giving the player a decidedly more engaging rhythm. Both the narrative and the gameplay boast a depth never touched before by the Atelier series, which however continues to sin from a graphic point of view. Although the title is the result of cross-generational development, at least on PlayStation 5 we would have expected something more. Overall, however, Ryza's last summer is confirmed as a fun JRPG capable of giving rather strong emotions.

Ryza 3 takes the well-known, loving Atelier formula, expands it with many new elements and turns it into a huge JRPG that is not perfect - but one of the best games in the entire franchise.

Despite some annoyances, Atelier Ryza 3 wraps up Ryza’s journey in a fantastic way, while introducing new elements for both new and returning fans.

Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist Of The End & The Secret Key closes out the final chapter of Ryza’s trilogy with a powerful send-off. The addictive gameplay loop and fine-tuned crafting system will keep you entertained for dozens of hours. It expands upon what worked well in the first two entries while setting the standard for future Atelier games to come.

Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key follows in the footsteps of its predecessors with some interesting new features. The game is set after the events of the second game. Combat remains just as dynamic and even more so with new key crafting options. This one is much more open and dynamic.

Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key is the last chapter of the trilogy, and it's also the best of all.

From here there is no going back: Atelier Ryza 3 takes Gust's RPG series into the future.

Building an entire series around a single character was a bit of a risky choice, but I’m happy to say that Ryza, as a character, held up as someone who’s worth checking back in on over and over again. In ten years will we be looking back at Ryza as an iconic-level character the way we do Sophie and Platcha? Probably not – but that’s an impossibly high bar. Ryza had an incredible adventure to go on, and now that it’s done, I’m glad we got the chance to go on it with her.

Even though Atelier Ryza 3 hasn't changed much compared to the previous entries in the series, it is still an emotional experience that gives the fans a memorable ending.

It’s hard not to be enamoured with Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key as a whole. Being back in the fold of Ryza and her friends feels like sinking back into a warm, cosy blanket – and anyone already acquainted with the series will instantly hit the ground running. There’s a new, engaging story to become engrossed in, and alongside familiar areas, there’s a whole new world to explore – which feels larger and more varied than ever. Sure, some changes don’t quite land – we’re not the biggest fans of the key mechanic – but it’s not enough to sour us from the experience. What a trilogy this has been, and this final serving might be the best part yet.

Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End and The Secret Key bids a fond farewell to arguably the franchise's most beloved alchemist. With it comes a series-encompassing narrative and engaging yet imperfect combat. To boot, you can dig into the systems as much or as little as you want and still succeed. Ryza 3 truly sets the bar for the Atelier franchise.

Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key is another great entry in a criminally underrated series from an overlooked developer. It builds upon the previous games to deliver one of the year’s most satisfying RPG conclusions.

Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key is a well-earned conclusion to Reisalin “Ryza” Stout’s story, with its improvements upon the previous titles and systems that provide endless amounts of customization.

The third chapter of Atelier Ryza is a pleasant adventure to say goodbye to Reisalin Stout and all her friends, until we figure out what the future of the gaming franchise will be.

The shift to an open world mostly works, though the rest can feel a little lacking compared to other entries. But the cosy questing will hook you. [Issue#27, p.86]

It will be interesting to see what will happen to the Atelier series going forward, now that Ryza’s chapter comes to an end after this entry. The increased presentation and improvements following the first two titles really demonstrated how the trilogy resonated with its audience. Hopefully more care can be put into better streamlining the mechanics and UI elements, as this series just needs a few more polished ingredients to produce a truly high grade experience. In the meantime, this flawed trilogy of games is still worth the appraisal for both old and new school fans of RPGs, or any enthusiast of watching the numbers go up.

The best chapter of the trilogy arrives to the delight of fans, but there are still a few things to improve.