"Atelier" series ranked
A simple ranking of all the Atelier games I've played to date based on my personal enjoyment as well as a loose evaluation of various criteria such as gameplay, writing, graphics, and sound.
11 Games
- brilliant ensemble cast with solid character development
- satisfying gameplay loop
- satisfying gameplay loop
1
- bright setting filled with many likable characters of past entries
- appropriate finale to the most narratively driven trilogy
- appropriate finale to the most narratively driven trilogy
2
- heartwarming story centered around family
- stacked cast of alchemists with strong personalities
- bright setting with an elegant solution for diverse maps
- stacked cast of alchemists with strong personalities
- bright setting with an elegant solution for diverse maps
3
- more traditional JRPG featuring one of the best turn-based combat systems in any game, period
- enjoyable school simulation with a peculiar group of friends
- enjoyable school simulation with a peculiar group of friends
4
- wonderful dual protagonists
- good gameplay with nice quality of life
- overly rigid structure
- good gameplay with nice quality of life
- overly rigid structure
5
- best story in the series with a rather open progression
- beautiful soundtrack
- uniquely sombre atmosphere
- beautiful soundtrack
- uniquely sombre atmosphere
6
- streamlined sequel that got a little lost in lightening the tone
- very unlikable characters that almost all do some bad things
- very unlikable characters that almost all do some bad things
7
- adventurous entry with a high degree of freedom
- endearing protagonist
- unpolished user experience
- most difficult main story without a guide
- endearing protagonist
- unpolished user experience
- most difficult main story without a guide
8
- charming introduction to the modern Atelier games
- homely atmosphere created by the small scope and mechanical simplicity
- homely atmosphere created by the small scope and mechanical simplicity
9
- enjoyable new alchemy system and lack of time limits
- almost nonexistent plot
- clunky combat system
- frequent uneventful periods with little direction
- almost nonexistent plot
- clunky combat system
- frequent uneventful periods with little direction
10
- unexpectedly well-realized open world
- my least favorite cast in the series
- few incentives to keep involved with the game for long
- my least favorite cast in the series
- few incentives to keep involved with the game for long
11