Initially, I was quite hesitant about games that emphasize crafting as a central element since they usually do not appeal to me at all; therefore, when it came to this game, my skepticism was significant. Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories and the Imagined Realm concentrate on it. Whether it be in survival games like Minecraft or Sons of the Forest, Or even other role-playing games like Final Fantasy 14 Online, I typically struggle to stay interested in crafting systems because they tend to become monotonous too fast for my liking, leaving me quite keen to return to playstyles that offer a tad more excitement.
Surprisingly, this hasn’t been the experience with developer Gust. Atelier Yumia. In this RPG, a significant portion of the gameplay focuses on its alchemy-based crafting system, which encompasses everything from gear and accessories to useful items and placable furnishings.
However, that turned out to be precisely why I came to adore the game. Atelier Yumia, What you're doing isn’t merely about making temporary improvements; each creation contributes significantly to both gameplay advancement and character development. This could mean enhancing the effectiveness of health-restoring items through superior resources or developing weapons that allow additional abilities to be integrated. There are numerous ways to personalize and equip your team members with gear tailored to how you like to play.
Combine this with an exceptionally sleek and stylish combat system and an open world that strongly encourages exploration, and you get Atelier Yumia, You've got a game that could readily be labeled as one of the top RPGs of 2025. Despite some presentation flaws and somewhat confusing map layouts at times, the gameplay remains an almost unending delight.
The not-so-wicked witch
Although certainly not entirely somber in its storytelling, Atelier Yumia sets events in a realm where alchemy is deeply dreaded and avoided, due to its significant role in numerous historical mishaps.
Our main character, Yumia, who is an alchemist herself, often faces mistrust even though her intentions are solely good for both the world and its inhabitants. This holds true even as she employs alchemy for the welfare of others.
Thus, Yumia sets out on a journey of truth and discovery with a party of trusted comrades. With the goal of discovering the secrets of the fallen land that once thrived beforehand, Yumia aims to prove that alchemy can be used for good and doesn’t have to be something that’s inherently destructive.
From start to finish, Atelier Yumia’s The story follows a simple path yet remains engaging throughout. It showcases moments of depth, particularly through revelations about Yumia’s background. However, the narrative frequently maintains a lighthearted atmosphere with abundant cheerful conversations and comedic elements to savor. In summary, it's a relaxed and sometimes warm narrative that doesn't shy away from adopting a more solemn tone whenever necessary.
Taking a stroll through the park
What Atelier Yumia manages to maintain strong pacing throughout most of its playtime, which is quite uncommon for an open-world title. The narrative seldom feels slow, enabling players to proceed at their desired speed.
That pace, between all the game’s systems and mechanics, is usually very brisk. That’s especially true of exploration in Atelier Yumia. While you might initially balk at the abundance of Ubisoft-style question marks dotting the map, in reality, these are almost all extremely quick diversions. Optional points of interest like this include small ruins to explore, monster breeding grounds or hubs for particular materials, caves containing treasures, and boxes you can quickly nab skill points from.
While there’s certainly much to do in each of Yumia’s four main regions, you’re able to explore it at a relatively quick pace. Darting between undiscovered points of interest on the way to the next story objective always felt natural, and never like I had to seriously go out of my way unless I expressly wanted to.
That same snappiness applies to Atelier Yumia’s Similar to alchemy, the battle system has many layers, yet it remains simple to grasp and master. In essence, your group of three characters can launch combination strikes against foes using the four face buttons assigned to these moves. By executing these combinations, enemies become vulnerable, allowing you to utilize battle items and cooperative skills from teammates to target their elemental susceptibilities, thereby inflicting substantial harm.
Battle items now play a significantly larger role in the gameplay and have been refined for smoother use. These items can be permanently added to your battle setup but come with a cool-down period before they can be used again. The only time you would need to swap them out is if you want to create enhanced versions with additional attributes and greater offensive or defensive capabilities.
Consequently, even though party members come equipped with their individual weapons and basic attributes, the customization options available are remarkably versatile. For instance, outfitting Yumia with elemental combat items can transform her into a formidable mage, whereas Viktor, who wields a shield, could carry an assortment of stat-enhancing items, effectively turning him into a sturdy support character. This setup offers quite the flexibility. Xenoblade- In that aspect, providing you with the tools needed to construct and arm your characters according to your preferences.
I need your most potent potions.
As I stated initially, alchemy is the system that brings all elements together. Atelier Yumia. When you're at your studio—or in a specified crafting area around the globe—you have the freedom to conduct syntheses to produce everything from combat gear to furniture. Of course, you'll require resources for these creations, yet abundant gathering locations can be found across the land, and as you explore, you'll effortlessly amass a wealth of components.
Every synthesis project starts with choosing an Alchemy Core as your foundation; these cores come in different varieties—some offer a general enhancement in quality, whereas others allow you to insert traits for extra modifications. Next, you incorporate materials aimed at enlarging the core’s resonance field. A bigger field means capturing more wandering mana inside its reach. Collecting ample mana enhances the item's quality and increases its effectiveness. Furthermore, utilizing high-grade materials raises the upper limit of each item’s possible strength.
The brilliance of alchemy lies in its flexibility; you decide how to mold these creations. Each material possesses distinct attributes, and selecting certain materials can confer additional advantages. Thus, a powerful combat tool might also offer supplementary benefits like restoration or different enhancements. Alternatively, you could focus entirely on maximizing strength, crafting items designed for maximum impact.
As you advance in the game, you'll progressively uncover new formulas for crafting completely new objects. Known as 'recollection blueprints,' these can be developed and enhanced at your workshop with various kinds of Memory Flasks discovered throughout the environment. Enhancing these blueprints may boost their potency, like extending how many times they can be used prior to needing a recharge or augmenting their inherent effectiveness.
As I mentioned earlier, you're not restricted only to combat-related gear. You can also synthesize various things like potions, armor, accessories, and so forth. If you prefer to avoid getting overly complicated, there are convenient quick synthesis choices available; these allow the game to intelligently pick out materials for you according to your desired outcome—be it keeping it simple with minimal resources or aiming for top-tier quality.
The synthesis process goes even further. With workbenches, you'll have the ability to craft various household items such as benches, plants, or archways. You can place these elements at specific construction sites around the environment, enabling you to build personalized bases or settlements. The range of possibilities is vast, and it's incredibly satisfying to customize the world according to your preferences with high individuality. Of course, this level of customization isn't entirely new, but it still stands out. Minecraft degrees of liberty, yet there’s ample opportunity for you to immerse yourself in countless hours of creative exploration.
A brave new frontier
In my Atelier Yumia During my playthrough, the main issue for me was the game’s overall visual style and presentation. While they're not poor per se, Gust seems to have sometimes leaned too heavily into using post-process effects. For instance, bloom added at dawn and dusk tends to be excessively bright, which can make parts of the scene uncomfortably glaring. Additionally, weather conditions such as rain appear somewhat unrealistic; everything becomes unnaturally drenched and glistening almost instantly after precipitation begins.
In better news, performance in Atelier Yumia It’s excellent. On my PC, I managed to sustain a steady 60 frames per second, and the loading times are incredibly quick—even when teleporting across the map from one side to the other. This proved essential due to the game's fairly rapid pace, and I appreciate that Gust put significant effort into optimizing their world for smoother gameplay experiences.
Is it worth playing Atelier Yumia?
Play it if...
You're looking for a detailed and appealing crafting system. Synthesizing items in Atelier Yumia is immensely entertaining, with numerous options available to craft items suitable for every gameplay style and event.
You appreciate a game that values your time. Though it could be a long RPG, Atelier Yumia Doesn't overwhelm you with a lengthy introduction. At the same time, battles and exploration are impressively quick-paced, resulting in a gameplay experience that is simple and satisfying even if you only have limited free time available.
Don't play it if...
You dislike badly executed post-processing. Atelier Yumia’s The primary concern is its heavy dependence on overly intrusive effects such as excessive bloom and unrealistic weather phenomena. Although these elements aren’t significant enough to deter me completely, they can be rather disruptive when navigating through the game world.
Accessibility
A good number of accessibility features can be found within this. Atelier Yumia’s The options menu allows you to adjust the text size and background opacity. Additionally, it offers three colorblind modes (deuteranopia, tritanopia, and protanopia).
There are several battle options available that simplify executing specific commands. Included among these are an auto-guard feature designed to block incoming assaults and an 'ease precise parry' mode which switches your control to a randomly chosen fighter when you manage to guard or dodge correctly.
How I reviewed Atelier Yumia
My playthrough of Atelier Yumia lasted around 35 hours, taking me through the main quest line, a ton of optional map exploration, and a handful of side quests.
I devoted most of my playtime to mastering item synthesis, which I considered the pinnacle of the game. It motivated me to invest significant hours crafting top-notch battle items and equipment. I enjoyed the game on PC through Steam. Nvidia RTX GeForce 3060 Ti graphic card, along with an AOC Gaming 24G2SP monitor, and the Razer Wolverine V3 Pro controller.
First reviewed March 2025
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