Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key Review (PS5) | Push Square

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Reisalin “Ryza” Stout and her friends are back in another heart-warming RPG which closes out the 'Secret' sub-series. The long-running Atelier series is well known for featuring young alchemists who spend much of their adventure gathering ingredients, crafting new items, and beating up foes. Atelier Ryza 3 is no exception to that format, but what has changed is the sheer scale of the world that you'll get to explore.

Taking place just a year after the events of the last game, you'll begin in a familiar location, Ryza's home island of Kurken. However, things soon start to get strange when mysterious new islands and ruins appear nearby. As the island's only alchemist, Ryza takes it upon herself to go and investigate and it's not long before you'll be travelling far and wide.

There's a very strong sense of nostalgia in the opening hours, as you're re-introduced to many of Ryza's childhood friends. You'll end up with a huge party of 11 different people, and while some are new, many of them are familiar faces. It's great to see how the likes of Klaudia, Lent, and Tao have grown over the course of the trilogy. Of course, if you haven't played the first two games then some of these moments will be lost on you. There's a handy recap movie available from the main menu, which sums up the events of the last two games, but it's probably not detailed enough if you haven't played through them.

As you venture further through the story, new regions will be unlocked for you to explore. Each one is a large open area with a different vibrant style; there are areas filled with forests, ancient ruins, and underwater areas to discover. Sometimes large open worlds can end up feeling a bit barren and empty, but thankfully that's not the case