Atelier Yumia Review – Fullmetal Alchemist Vibes, But Make It Sad

Was the wait for this new JRPG worth it? Short answer: kinda yes, kinda no.

Every time there's a Nintendo Direct, I jot down a bunch of games that seem interesting… then promptly forget about half of them. But not Atelier Yumia. This game stood out from the start—and after waiting for its release for months, I finally dove in.

Even if you’re unfamiliar with the Atelier series, don’t worry. While it has tons of entries and tangled timelines, Yumia is a totally new story—no need for backtracking or lore-crawling. That made this the perfect jumping-on point for me… and maybe for you too.

Let’s break it down.

A World Where Alchemy Is Taboo

In Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land, alchemy isn’t just a rare skill—it’s taboo, feared, and often outright hated. Unlike earlier Atelier titles where alchemy was celebrated or at least accepted, Yumia’s world treats it as a dangerous remnant of a dark past. After a massive disaster blamed on alchemic misuse, society turned its back on the practice, outlawing it and branding those who practice it as outcasts.

That’s what makes Yumia’s journey so compelling. She's a descendant of a long line of alchemists, and after losing her mother—herself a skilled practitioner—in a mysterious accident, Yumia begins a heartfelt quest to uncover the truth about her death and her own place in the world. Alchemy may be forbidden, but to Yumia, it’s also a connection to her heritage and a possible key to restoring balance to the broken land.

As she travels, she joins a research team where she meets Isla and Viktor. Initially tasked with watching over Yumia, the duo evolves into a found family of sorts. Their relationships deepen over the course of the game, enriched by the narrative's focus on trust, trauma, and healing. It’s a story steeped in sorrow, but not without hope.

The world itself is harsh and unwelcoming, filled with people who distrust Yumia’s power. It’s a stark contrast from the cheerful villages and colorful characters of older Atelier entries, but this tonal shift gives Yumia a distinct identity. It’s more serious, more emotionally resonant, and unafraid to show the burden of wielding forbidden knowledge.

The Characters Steal the Show

While Atelier Yumia boasts an ambitious world and real-time combat system, it’s the characters that truly carry the emotional weight of the game. Every party member you meet throughout Yumia’s journey feels like they belong—not just as allies in battle, but as individuals with rich stories, personal motivations, and genuine emotional depth.

Yumia herself is a standout. Her evolution from a sheltered, slightly unsure alchemist into a determined truth-seeker is paced beautifully. She's not perfect—she doubts herself, she fumbles—but her courage and kindness are infectious. Her bond with Isla and Viktor develops organically, starting off with awkward tension and gradually deepening into heartfelt camaraderie. It’s not just “anime friends for the sake of a trope”—it feels earned.

The supporting cast is equally memorable. Rutger brings a stoic charm, while Nina adds energetic determination. Lenja, with her quiet intensity, rounds out a party that somehow blends fantasy archetypes with fresh personality quirks. And the best part? The side quests. They aren’t filler—they’re deeply personal character studies that allow players to understand each party member’s fears, dreams, and reasons for fighting alongside Yumia.

From a performance standpoint, the Japanese voice acting is excellent. Yumia’s VA especially brings warmth and resilience to the character, adding an emotional undercurrent to even the quietest scenes. And of course, it wouldn’t be an Atelier game without striking visuals. The character designs are absolutely gorgeous—from flowing robes to detailed armor, every character looks like they stepped out of a high-budget anime film.

Yes, the game includes optional costume DLC, and while it's not exploitative (yet), your fashion-loving side might want to prepare your credit card. You've been warned.

Real-Time Battles & Tactical Flow

One of the biggest changes in Yumia? The combat system. It ditches the traditional turn-based structure for real-time action. Your party (up to three members) fights in circular battle zones, with melee and ranged attacks, four unique abilities, and four elemental items per character.

The addition of an outer support ring lets you swap in extra help during tougher fights, and pre-emptive strikes in the field grant bonuses. No random encounters—just enemies roaming around the map, waiting for a staff-smack to the face.

The system flows well, but movement can feel a bit clunky, especially when navigating tight spaces. The camera occasionally struggles to keep up during combat dodges or when enemies corner you. Yumia’s multipurpose staff is a real MVP though—it doubles as a blaster and makes exploration and combat feel more connected.

Open World, But Sluggish Performance

This is Gust’s most ambitious Atelier yet, and it shows. The open world is beautiful, filled with items, monsters, and atmospheric touches that enhance immersion. But the game engine? It needs help.

On stronger systems, it runs at 60 FPS without issue. On Steam Deck or mid-tier laptops? You’re looking at 30 FPS at best—and that’s with settings dialed down. Add in some animation hitches, model stutters, and camera weirdness, and it’s clear: optimization wasn’t the top priority.

Also, this Atelier breaks a long-standing tradition: no calendar system. Instead of time-limited tasks and calendar-based story progression, time now flows naturally—day shifts into night, and monster spawns change accordingly. Some quests still require specific times of day, but there’s no pressure to rush. It’s a welcome change that encourages exploration without the anxiety.

And Let's Talk Alchemy…

It’s an Atelier game, after all.

Alchemy is split between "field alchemy" and studio-based synthesis. The former lets you craft basic items on the go using minimal ingredients, while the latter (done in your atelier) involves deeper crafting, stat manipulation, and resource balancing. It’s classic Atelier fare with a slightly simplified interface—and it works well.

The Music Deserves Its Own Paragraph

The soundtrack is incredible. Think Final Fantasy meets Genshin Impact. You’ve got calming exploration music, energetic battle themes, and—yes—actual songs. The opening theme is a certified bop, and there’s a ballad called “Remember” that’s been stuck in my head for days.

It’s everything I love about JRPG music, with zero skips.

Verdict: A Beautiful, Flawed, Emotional Adventure

Atelier Yumia is a big leap forward for the series in terms of tone, scale, and gameplay systems. The emotional weight of the story hits harder than previous entries, and the open world feels alive and complex.

That said, the game’s performance issues and some rough edges in combat prevent it from reaching masterpiece status. But if you can look past the flaws, there’s a heartfelt, rich, and deeply rewarding experience waiting here.

It might not be the Atelier we expected—but it might just be the one we needed.

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