So, you want to get into the Atelier series, but then you find out there are over 20 games and have absolutely no idea where to start?

Don’t worry, this guide is here to help.

After Atelier Karia was announced during a Nintendo Direct, I noticed a lot of people saying the exact same thing:

“Atelier looks really fun, but I have no idea where to start.”

I’ve been playing the series for about two years now, and while I haven’t finished every single game yet, I’ve played enough of them to put together this guide for anyone interested in giving Atelier a chance.

So… What Exactly Is Atelier?

If I had to describe Atelier in one sentence, it would be this:

It’s like watching a slice-of-life anime… except you’re playing a JRPG.

In most games, you play as a girl who either is—or is training to become—an alchemist. Throughout the adventure, you’ll talk to townspeople, accept requests, gather materials, and craft items through alchemy.

That’s the heart of the series.

But does that mean Atelier has no story? No villains? No “save the world” plot?

Well… it depends on the game.

Personally, I think the series can be divided into three different categories (this is just my own way of looking at it).

1. Pure Slice-of-Life Atelier

These games focus almost entirely on the daily lives of the characters. There’s no evil villain trying to destroy the world.

Your goal is simply to improve as an alchemist, help the people around you, and enjoy the characters’ everyday lives.

The best example is Atelier Rorona.

You play as Rorona, an apprentice alchemist who needs to prove her skills. The kingdom begins testing her by giving her assignments that must be completed before specific deadlines.

To finish these requests, you’ll explore the world, collect materials, and craft the required items through alchemy.

On top of that, the townspeople also ask for your help, and how well you perform influences which ending you’ll receive.

2. Mostly Slice of Life… Until a Villain Shows Up and You Have to Save the World!

This is probably the formula most people associate with Atelier.

For most of the game, you’re living the peaceful life of an alchemist: learning new recipes, exploring the world, gathering materials, and helping people around town.

Then, near the end of the story, a much bigger threat appears and the game shifts into a more traditional JRPG.

The best example is Atelier Ryza.

Ryza begins the adventure knowing nothing about alchemy. As the story progresses, she learns new recipes, makes new friends, explores the world, and spends most of the game helping people.

But during the final third of the game, dangerous enemies appear, threatening the world, and the atmosphere changes dramatically.

I actually found that shift pretty surprising because the game had been incredibly relaxing for almost the entire adventure.

3. A Traditional JRPG From Start to Finish

The third type almost completely leaves the slice-of-life formula behind and focuses on an ongoing story filled with mysteries, exploration, and villains.

The best example is Atelier Yumia.

In this game, alchemy is viewed as something dangerous because it supposedly destroyed an ancient kingdom. Yumia joins an expedition team determined to uncover the truth behind that catastrophe.

Unlike the previous examples, the story is constantly moving forward. New mysteries appear, new enemies show up, and the narrative takes center stage.

I barely did any alchemy in this game!

Now that you understand how the series works, choosing your first Atelier becomes much easier.

What’s the Best Atelier Game to Start With?

In my opinion, there are only three truly great entry points for newcomers

Atelier Sophie

If you want to experience what Atelier is really about, Atelier Sophie is my number one recommendation.

It has a relaxing pace, an incredibly lovable protagonist (still my favorite in the series), and perfectly represents the core of Atelier.

The only downside is that its graphics have aged a bit. They’re not nearly as impressive as Ryza’s.

Still, it’s an excellent first Atelier.

Atelier Ryza

Simple. Thighs. Slice of life for most of the game. More thighs. Great graphics. Even more thighs because… seriously, those thighs are HUGE.

Technically, Sophie was my first Atelier, but I lost my save file and never felt like starting over. Years later, I played Ryza, and it became the first Atelier game I actually finished. After that, I went back and finally completed Sophie.

Ryza is an excellent introduction to the series

Atelier Marie Remake

If you’d rather start with something short, go with Atelier Marie Remake.

Since it’s a remake of the very first Atelier game, it does a fantastic job introducing the series, and you can finish it in just a few hours.

You play as Marie, an alchemy student who must create a high-quality item before graduation.

The biggest difference is that Marie has a time limit, while Sophie and Ryza don’t.

Why I Don’t Recommend Starting With Atelier Yumia (Or Some of the Older Games)

“But Yumia looks amazing.”, “It’s the newest one.”, “The graphics are incredible.”

All of that is true. And if you really want to start there, go for it. Just keep this in mind:

Yumia is VERY different from the rest of the series.

Think about your favorite game franchise.

There’s usually that one “black sheep”—the game that changes so much that it no longer represents what the series is usually like.

In my opinion, that’s Atelier Yumia.

While most Atelier games revolve around alchemy, charming characters, and a relaxing slice-of-life atmosphere, Yumia puts much more emphasis on story, exploration, and action.

That surprised me quite a bit. Does that make it a bad game? Not at all. I actually enjoyed Yumia a lot (although plenty of fans weren’t happy with the changes). The problem is that if Yumia is your first Atelier, you’ll probably expect the rest of the series to be similar…

They aren’t. So why not start with Rorona, Totori, or Ayesha instead? Because most of those older games (I’ve only personally played Rorona) have strict time limits.

You’ll receive requests and have to complete them before certain deadlines. Yes, the older Atelier games use a calendar system somewhat similar to Persona, and that can intimidate new players.

That’s why I recommend Marie instead—its remake includes an option to disable the time limit entirely

Understanding Atelier’s Different Series

One important thing to know is that Atelier doesn’t work like Final Fantasy or Persona.

You can’t just pick any game and expect everything to make sense.

The franchise is divided into different subseries, and each one has its own chronological order.

Characters grow older, return in later games, and their stories continue.

Because of that, you should always play each subseries in release order.

The good news is that each subseries is completely independent, so you can start with whichever one interests you the most.

Arland

The Arland series consists of four games:

Atelier Rorona → Atelier Totori → Atelier Meruru → Atelier Lulua

Dusk

The Dusk series includes three games:

Atelier Ayesha → Atelier Escha & Logy → Atelier Shallie

Atelier Escha & Logy is one of the few games in the series where you can choose between a female and a male protagonist.

Mysterious

The Mysterious series has four games:

Atelier Sophie → Atelier Sophie 2 → Atelier Firis → Atelier Lydie & Suelle

Sophie is actually the most beloved Atelier heroine among Japanese fans, which is why she received a second game

Secret

Ryza became so popular that Gust decided to keep her as the protagonist for the entire trilogy.

Simply play them in order:

Atelier Ryza → Atelier Ryza 2 → Atelier Ryza 3

Memories

For now, this series only has two games:

Atelier Yumia → Atelier Karia

There’s a good chance a third game will be released in the future, but that’s the current order.

What About Atelier Resleriana?

There’s also a mobile gacha game called Atelier Resleriana, which is different from the game below.

Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian takes place in the same world as the gacha, but it’s actually a classic Atelier game.

The heroine discovers alchemy, begins training, helps the people in her town, explores the world collecting materials, and crafts items to solve problems.

Yes, there is an overarching story, but the gameplay is classic Atelier from beginning to end.

So why don’t I recommend it as your first game?

Because it’s basically a celebration of the entire franchise.

Characters from previous games constantly appear—Sophie is there, Ryza is there, and many other familiar faces show up.

I think you’ll enjoy it much more after you’ve already played several Atelier games.

That way, every time a familiar character appears, you’ll probably react like this:

“HOLY CRAP! It’s the protagonist from my favorite Atelier!”

That’s it!

I hope this guide helps you get into the Atelier series. Enjoy!