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

“Despite the permanence of typical Atelier quirks, Atelier Ryza 3 is a wonderful conclusion to the trilogy featuring some of the best the series has to offer. While this marks the end of Ryza’s journey as the heroine, her influence to this unique and charming franchise will be felt long after the credits have rolled.”

“Atelier Ryza 3 is a great conclusion to a great trilogy, bringing back our beloved characters for one last adventure.”

“Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key marks the end of the wonderful journey of Reisalin Stout and friends, and what a fitting send-off it is. From its larger maps to its new key-based mechanics, Atelier Ryza 3 certainly goes big for its last hurrah. Combat, while fun, can use a bit of balancing and ally AI could be more consistent. Overall, though, Atelier Ryza 3 neatly ties up the series’ narrative into a nice bow and will especially make longtime fans look back fondly on their adventures.”

“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 adjusts the JRPG series' gameplay formula in numerous ways-some subtle and some dramatic. Not all of the changes work, but the end result is still a very fun and satisfying conclusion to Ryza's summer adventures.”

“The Gust Corporation team managed to surprise us again, completing the phenomenal process of evolution that their IP had undergone since 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 production, giving the player a decidedly more engaging rhythm.”

“Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key is a fantastic blend of turn-based and action RPG combat with an engrossing storyline.”

“Credit where credit is due, this is a charming game with a lot of love poured into it. When I got into the flow, it gave me a unique experience I’ve never quite found anywhere else. But I don’t recommend it to anyone who isn’t already a fan of the Atelier franchise. At least, not until people start putting their item crafting spreadsheets online.”

“Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key has to be one of the most straightforward and beautiful RPGs in the series as a whole while also being way friendlier to new players than other installments in the series. This is a game that even non Atelier fans will be able to sink their teeth into easily while being able to fully customize their experience through the game's new Synthesis system and its Secret Key mechanic.”

“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 the biggest Atelier game to date. Ryza and her friends are just as charming as ever and this is a fantastic way to end the trilogy. The vibrant open-world areas are a joy to explore, and the slick combat and engaging alchemy system will keep you entertained throughout.”

“Atelier Ryza 3 is the perfect sequel to the previous chapters. Without big news, the developers work on the best aspects and optimize them from all points of view, giving a third chapter in line with the previous ones, fresh, fun and exciting.”

“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.”

“Atelier Ryza 3: The Alchemist of the End and the Secret Key is a wonderful sequel with great pacing, but the Switch version does have issues.”

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

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

“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 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.”