It’s always exciting to see a new Atelier game release, especially since these games are light-hearted JRPGs that usually deliver a polished experience with a great cast. Atelier Ryza might have put the franchise in the spotlight and set sales records, but Atelier Yumia feels like it has everything it needs to finally make the series mainstream.
Atelier Yumia introduces a new protagonist, Yumia Liessfeldt, a young alchemist who makes her first appearance in an action-packed prologue. I was pleasantly surprised by the game’s opening since past Atelier games have been more relaxed. The developers seem to be steering the series in a more action-focused direction now. In the opening, Yumia gets separated from her friends after an explosion in a dungeon, leaving us wondering what’s going on. This also works as a tutorial, teaching players the new gameplay systems and exploration mechanics—like Yumia’s ranged weapon, a rifle hidden in her staff—along with other contextual moments. It feels like a big-budget Atelier game, closer to something like the Tales of series.
The story follows Yumia as she investigates the ruins of the Aladissian Empire, a civilization that fell after misusing alchemy. Along the way, she uncovers secrets about her past, including what happened to her mother, why alchemy is so hated in this world, and how the Aladissian Empire was destroyed. The narrative focuses on piecing together Yumia’s memories, which is why the opening starts at a later point in the story—players then work their way back to the beginning, learning more about Yumia and her friends.
One of the most exciting changes in this new game is the shift to action-based combat. Battles now happen in real time, and exploration takes place in a massive open world full of resources to gather for alchemy. The downside is that the game sometimes struggles to run smoothly on handheld systems like the Steam Deck.
The real-time combat system relies on skill cooldowns, a positioning mechanic (moving between inner and outer layers to dodge enemy attacks), and a dodge system with tight timing. Alchemy isn’t just for crafting useful items—it also helps unlock new paths in exploration and gives you an edge in battle.
Resources are everywhere in the world, and so are the monsters roaming around. Like in most action RPGs, you can hit enemies on the map before engaging them to gain an advantage. Skills are mapped to controller buttons, and chaining them dynamically during fights makes them stronger. You can also switch between party members mid-battle for seamless control.
While combat can feel a little button-mashy at times, boss fights still require strategy. The difficulty isn’t too steep, except for the sheer amount of things to learn early on. Once base-building and other sandbox elements kick in, it can get overwhelming.
Atelier Yumia might be the most complex game in the series simply because there are so many systems to keep track of—base-building, alchemy, exploration, character relationships—all of which affect the story. Character development is handled well, giving each one a distinct personality. The game takes its time fleshing out their flaws, like Lenja’s initial insecurity, which slowly turns into confidence as the story progresses.
Some of these new changes won’t sit well with longtime fans of the series. The game is noticeably easier, and the sheer amount of content crammed in leads to some rough edges. Alchemy seems deep and complex at first, but once you learn the mechanics, it becomes surprisingly easy to exploit for high-tier items. The PC version also has occasional bugs, and as mentioned earlier, performance dips after the first region can hurt the experience. The slightly darker tone is unusual for an Atelier game, which are usually known for their cheerful vibe.
That said, the soundtrack is fantastic—it perfectly complements the open-world exploration and battles. The story tries a bit too hard at times and struggles to keep a consistent tone, sticking closely to familiar JRPG tropes without many surprises. The new puzzles are a nice addition, though they’re far too simple. On the flip side, I really enjoyed the resource gathering, whether picking materials off the ground or looting treasure chests.
The developers clearly aimed for a more casual-friendly Atelier, bombarding players with back-to-back tutorials. But once you get past that, the flaws start showing. Combat often devolves into button-mashing, with only the occasional need to dodge enemy attacks. Still, it looks flashy and cool thanks to the variety of skills. Despite its issues, I found the gameplay loop satisfying—even if I couldn’t ignore the flaws.
That said, I’d still call Atelier Yumia a step in the right direction for the series. The mixed reactions from fans prove it’s not the home run the developers might have wanted, but if it brings new players to the franchise, that’s still a win. After Atelier Ryza’s huge success, the team clearly had more budget and creative freedom this time – and Yumia shows what they can do with those extra resources. If they build on this foundation, we could be looking at an even stronger sequel down the line.
Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land Game Information
- Price: $69.99
- Publisher: Koei Tecmo
- Developer: Koei Tecmo
- Platform: PC (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
