System: Switch
Release date: March 25, 2025
Developer: Gust
Publisher: Koei Tecmo
For over 25 years, the Atelier series has carved out a unique space in the RPG genre, blending alchemy-driven crafting, character-driven narratives, and a laid-back sense of adventure. Since its debut in 1997, the franchise has evolved through multiple generations, refining its various beloved systems while maintaining the core charm that maintains its long-lived fan base. Unlike the high-stakes, world-ending plots of traditional RPGs, Atelier games often focus on personal growth, discovery, and the joy of creation – where gathering ingredients and crafting the perfect item can be just as satisfying as toppling a powerful foe. At times you may do both in quick succession, even.
Now, with Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land, Gust and Koei Tecmo continue to push the series forward, introducing a new adorable protagonist, fresh mechanics, and yet another expansive world brimming with life. This latest entry delivers some of the most enjoyable combat the series has seen, a lovable cast of characters, and a vibrant world that begs to be explored—rewarding players with a sarcastically large trove of items that they will no doubt find valuable concerning alchemical pursuits in exchange for their troubles.
Speaking of alchemy, the Atelier series has long been beloved for its in-depth crafting systems which are integral to the game’s advancement. Various items can be synthesized at the Atelier, or the player’s base. As you collect items across the vast open world, you’ll come across materials of various types and grades. The better the items used, the better the result generally – but there is an instance where this won’t matter as much, which is when using the new automatic synthesis system.
Not too far in on Yumia’s adventure, the automatic synthesis system will be introduced. A first for the series, this will select ingredients for you and craft items automatically, which I found to be pretty beneficial early on. As you grow your list of items and start to get better graded materials, you’ll want to rely on this less in order to get the best performance and quality out of your synthesis.
While synthesis is the absolute core of the gameplay loop, players may be surprised to learn early on in their play through that being an alchemist in this world is actually looked at as a taboo, so our protagonist herself has to face quite a bit of scorn from those who learn of her abilities. That does not seem to deter Yumia Liessfeldt very much, though. Learning of her own abilities just after an accident that claimed her mother’s life, our young heroine joins the Aladiss Research Team that investigates the ruins of the once mighty Aladissian Empire. This Empire was said to widely use alchemy openly and proudly — but seems to have perished in an unknown doomsday event. This sets us up for a bit of a darker and more somber story that most Atelier games have presented to us before, but Yumia herself is so incredibly sweet and charming that her wish to learn more of her own past by being a part of this investigation shows a window into the eagerness of youth and what we can strive to do when we truly want to learn about ourselves and our place in the world. Yumia has a lot stacked against her – no real support system with the loss of her mother, an ability that makes her a social pariah. Despite that, she continues to move forward showing a level of resilience that I can only hope to emulate myself.
Where this game shines is absolutely in the writing of the characters. Each person you meet and befriend is wonderfully written and has fantastic and fitting voice talent that really sells who each person really is. Viktor and Isla von Deurer being our first two new companions on our research journey sets the stage nicely for what I saw in my first and only other Atelier experience: there sure is about to be a lot of character growth.
And that’s what you’re getting at the real heart of this experience: a story of growth and perseverance, of changing minds by living and being a good example – maybe a little redemption and self discovery for a girl who craves answers and knowledge for herself and her circumstances while still nursing the pain of loss and trying her level best to make new connections. Any of us who have been through anything traumatic, or have had something loom over us can make a very solid connection to Yumia and the way that she feels throughout this story. This all aside, there are still myriad incredible systems to explore in this adventure, too.
Combat for Atelier Yumia has a new approach from what series fans may have been used to in previous games. While a more turn-based affair is a staple, this new combat engine throws players into fights right on the overworld field and has a system that seems more akin to a real-time action affair while still blending RPG elements into the mix. To say that I was perplexed at first by the approach would be pretty fair, but as I spent time and got to know the battle system, I found that combat felt not just good, but almost cathartic. Soon I was blazing through battles on normal mode and upped myself to hard difficulty and was even more enamored with more tactical combat.
In combat the player can move in a circle around targeted enemies. Buttons will correspond with skills that the player can execute, but these commands will change depending on what range the player is from the enemy. Toggling back and forth between close and far ranges will allow Yumia to swap from physical kicks and whacks with her staff, but then also show that her staff doubles as a gun. If you kick back to further away from the enemy, you can then use that gun to fire a barrage of bullets. The gun is useful outside of combat too.
Early on in the tutorial the player will be shown how to use Yumia’s gun on the field. You can use the gun to shoot and stun monsters, shoot down ladders, and even shoot materials as you explore to collect them from afar, which is something I didn’t know until I was already five hours deep into the game. Getting used to using your gun is probably one of the best tips I can give to new players, and I will admit that at first I didn’t like the aesthetic of a skimpily-clad young gunner lass – but Yumia’s just a really well written adorable character and yeah maybe a giant magic gun is a little silly, but the utility of it works, they have the combat down in a way that showcases this gun that doesn’t kill my immersion in this world and this whole Atelier thing has maybe grown on me.
As you grow together with your party, your characters will level up. This grants you more stats to endure hits or deal more damage. In addition to the gains of leveling, at a certain point in the game you’ll get access to a skill tree with three categories: Synthesis, Combat, and Exploration. Each of these grant a variety of boons, but for new players I would invest less in combat, and more in Synthesis, and note that certain upgrades to things that benefit your adventure the most will lie in the Exploration section.
And exploration is key in more than just your skill tree. I found that the majority of the fun of the gameplay in Atelier Yumia was simply exploring, trying not to get destroyed by monsters, and crawling around on the ground for rare materials. You see, rare materials love to be in out of the way places, and the best thing you can do to keep yourself from missing them is to be diligent in looking for places to crouch and interact with. These ingredients seem to be harder to find, so this would be the time to stop using the auto synthesis and maybe go back to the Atelier to start making higher tiered gear and – oh look, we’ve fallen into a loop.
Playing Atelier Yumia on Nintendo Switch is a bit of a mixed bag. While the game is perfectly playable, it does come with some noticeable compromises. In handheld mode, the resolution is passable – clear enough to enjoy the game, but not exactly crisp. If you’re used to the sharper visuals of other platforms, you may find it a bit lacking. Docked mode improves things considerably, with a much cleaner image and a generally stable experience, but I personally preferred playing in handheld despite these drawbacks.
One of the most striking aspects of Atelier Yumia is how much it deviates from the established formula of previous Atelier games. While the core loop of gathering materials, crafting, and adventuring remains, the way these elements are structured has seen significant changes. Some of these shifts are refreshing, bringing a new sense of discovery to the series, but they may also feel jarring to longtime fans. Personally, I liked what I experienced, but as someone that hasn’t immersed myself in the wider realm of Atelier titles, I am aware that veterans may find this to be a watered down experience compared to what they are used to.
In this adventure, the emphasis on exploration is much greater, with larger, more open environments that encourage freeform adventuring. While this adds to the immersion, it also means that the game moves further away from the more structured, time-based mechanics that defined earlier titles. Likewise, the battle system that I find enjoyable leans more into action-oriented mechanics than the turn-based roots of older entries, and it’s important to note that this may turn away players that expect that sort of gameplay.
These changes don’t make Atelier Yumia a bad game by any means, but they do make it feel like a different kind of Atelier experience. Players who have been with the series for a long time may find the transition a bit difficult, especially if they preferred the more traditional approach. I would hope that they go into this with an open mind and can hopefully welcome what new series fans will inevitably come out of Yumia’s tale.
Performance-wise, the frame rate can be choppy at times, especially in busier areas or when there’s a lot happening on screen. While it’s not unplayable by any means, it’s definitely something you’ll notice, particularly if you’re sensitive to inconsistent frame pacing. There’s also a significant reduction in ground clutter compared to other versions of the game, which is likely a trade-off to keep the game running smoothly on the hardware. This, combined with some pretty frequent visual pop-in, makes the world feel a little less alive compared to its counterparts on other platforms. That said, if portability is your priority, the Nintendo Switch version still delivers a solid Atelier experience. The gameplay loop remains engaging, and while the visual downgrades are noticeable, they don’t fundamentally break the immersion or enjoyment of exploring Yumia’s vast open world.
Atelier Yumia offers a rich, emotionally resonant experience, inviting players to reflect on the weight of history and the enduring quest for truth in a world shrouded in mystery. This is an incredibly approachable title with a lot of ease of access features. While the game may overload some players with terminology, its important to note that tutorials and other information can be looked back on. I will say that even though I wasn’t crafting all S-Tier gear and items every single time, I did well as a complete beginner and really enjoyed my time with our lovely alchemist and her friends.
Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of this review.
