Gust and Koei Tecmo’s combination crafting and role-playing game franchise continues with Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key, announced this week at Tokyo Game Show and during the September 13 Nintendo Direct event. The game, which has been confirmed as the third and final entry in the adventures of alchemist Reisalin “Ryza” Stout, will debut in early 2023 for a number of consoles as well as PC.
Atelier Ryza 3 picks up following the events of the first two games in the series – Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout, which debuted in 2019, and its 2020 sequel Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy. Although the Atelier series has been ongoing since the late 1990s, with games releasing nearly every year, the Ryza trilogy is the first to feature the same protagonist across multiple games. The popularity of Ryza and its sequel led to another previous protagonist, Sophie Neuenmuller, receiving a second game, Atelier Sophie 2: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Dream, earlier in 2022.
The third Ryza game sees the titular character once again enjoying her peaceful life on Kurken Island, where she serves as the island’s primary alchemist. However, Ryza is once again called to adventure when the mysterious Kark Islands suddenly appear in the nearby waters. When Ryza and her friends discover a strange gate surrounded by ruins, a voice in Ryza’s head compels her to pass through it. According to a spokesperson from Gust, the game will focus on Ryza’s future as an alchemist and will include the theme of “the end of adolescence.”
The game will feature eleven playable characters, including a mix of new characters and returnees from the previous two games. The “First Look” trailer for Ryza 3 confirmed the return of Klaudia Valentz, Tao Mongarten, and Lent Marslink. Like previous Atelier titles, Ryza 3 will focus on a mix of crafting alchemical recipes and exploring the world. The game will reportedly include a larger open world compared to previous titles in the Ryza trilogy.
Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key will release on February 24, 2023 for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. Players who preorder the game will receive a set of bonus “Summer Look” costumes for the playable characters. A special edition of the game will come with additional bonuses including an art book, a cloth poster, acrylic charms featuring the characters, and a “Marine Look” costume for Ryza.
