| Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy DX | |||
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| Release Date | Gameplay & Story | Pre-Order & DLC | Review |
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy DX Review Overview
What is Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy DX?
The Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy DX tells the complete, interconnected coming-of-age story of Reisalin Ryza
Stout, a cheerful and ordinary girl from Kurken Island whose life changes when she discovers alchemy, marking the first time an Atelier protagonist has led a full trilogy.
It continues in Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy three years later, where Ryza travels to the Royal Capital to pursue her alchemy studies, becoming entangled in the mysteries of ancient ruins and befriending the enigmatic fairy, Fi.
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy DX features:
⚫︎ Two new playable characters
⚫︎ A new extra story
⚫︎ Added functionality to the companion character Fi
⚫︎ All DLCs and additional content from the previous release
⚫︎ Increased basket and container capacity
⚫︎ Improved Spirit Beast functions
⚫︎ Revised requirements to view events
For more gameplay details, read everything we know about Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy DX's gameplay and story.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||||
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 PlayStation |
 Steam |
 Switch |
 Switch 2 |
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| $39.99 | |||||||
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy DX Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
 Insane Value for First Timers Empel and Lila Bring More Team Options Fi Finally Becomes Useful |
Value Drops for Original Owners We Still Don’t Have a Dedicated Healer |
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy DX Story - 7/10
Unlike its prequel, the second entry in the Ryza trilogy delivers a much more balanced and engaging narrative. It features stronger pacing, better character development, and a main story with pacing that’s… slightly better than its predecessor thanks to its many, albeit loosely connected, side tales. The DX edition doesn’t alter much in that regard; its single added story only offers a bit of extra context to an otherwise minor scene.
The ending is still weird, too.
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy DX Gameplay - 9/10
Ryza 2 expands on the first game’s mechanics without sacrificing accessibility for players unfamiliar with the franchise’s usual complexity. Combat, for example, feels much more engaging and dynamic, despite still being turn-based, thanks to the introduction of guarding and position-based visuals. The DX version further refines these systems with added utility to overworld exploration and a handful of quality-of-life improvements, but at its core, it remains the same solid experience; just smoother and more convenient overall.
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy DX Visuals - 10/10
As a title that’s barely five years old at the time of this review, Gust didn’t need to change much from the original’s visuals to make it stand out. It was already gorgeous from the start, boasting a significant leap over its predecessor. Sure, the cutscene animations still have that trademark JRPG stiffness that’s practically part of the genre’s charm by now, but when paired with the excellent character and stage designs and the impressive attention to detail (like clothes getting wet under the rain or after a swim, hehe), it’s hardly something worth complaining about.
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy DX Audio - 9/10
You really can’t ask for much more from a JRPG unless you’re actively hunting for the next genre masterpiece: as expected from one of Gust’s flagship titles, Atelier Ryza 2 delivers stellar voice acting, incredible music, and excellent, if somewhat conventional, sound effects. It’s honestly impressive how much Gust elevates the entire experience through sound; even the notoriously grindy synthesis system feels rewarding, thanks to the satisfying buildup the audio creates.
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy DX Value for Money - 8/10
As expected, the DX version’s bundle, which packs all prior DLCs, added content, and exclusive extras at a price well below the original release, is a stupidly good deal. However, since there’s no upgrade path for existing owners, you’ll essentially need to buy Ryza 2 all over again, which sharply lowers its value if you’ve already played it. Still, given that this is by far the definitive version of the game, it’s absolutely worth picking up, especially if you catch it on sale.
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy DX Overall Score - 86/100
Despite the original Ryza 2 being a strict upgrade over its predecessor in almost every way, the new DX version delivers only minor overall improvements to the base game itself. It’s understandable, though; Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout is arguably the best game of the series, so Gust will be hard-pressed to improve it further without making heavy overhauls to its more glaring weaknesses such as its story.
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy DX Review: The Best of the Series Made (Slightly) Better
What Else is There to Improve? A Handful, Actually
I’m one of those believers who think the second entry in the Ryza series is the best of the trilogy—though only by a small margin over Ryza 3. So after coming out of Ryza 1 DX, which added some genuinely great content, I was really excited to see what the DX release for Ryza 2 would bring, especially since it’s my favorite of the three (again, just slightly).
Unfortunately, when it comes to story and team-building, Empel and Lila don’t bring much to the table. Unlike their importance in Ryza 1, they’ve been fully relegated to supporting roles in Ryza 2, even after receiving their own new side episode. To make matters worse, their kits either feel like downgrades or awkward shifts from their previous playstyles, which makes actually using them feel a bit off.
On the bright side, Ryza 2 DX does improve something I’ve wanted fixed since release: Fi. See, the second game introduced this mascot-like companion as part of your journey; a concept later refined in Ryza 3 with the spirit beasts. But back then, Fi was little more than a constant, irritating tagalong who did absolutely nothing outside of cutscenes. Thankfully, in the DX version, Fi’s been upgraded into a genuinely helpful ally who contributes in multiple ways, and it’s a huge improvement.
That said, outside of Fi’s newfound usefulness and the game’s surprisingly low price (especially when compared to the original release plus DLCs), there isn’t much else to get excited about. Empel and Lila’s return as playables feels underwhelming, and while the expanded basket and container capacity and minor graphical tweaks are nice, they’re not exactly game-changing.
Still, with how cheap this edition is, it’s hard not to recommend it. The only real reason to hesitate is if you already own the original Ryza 2 with all its DLCs and bonus content. Otherwise, Ryza 2 DX is well worth the purchase.
Ryza Steps Into the Outside World
Considering that this is roughly a five year old game at the time of release, and that we’re specifically reviewing the contents of the Ryza 2’s DX version and not the entire game itself, we’re only going to be briefly touching upon the game’s story, as well as its ups and downs.
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy centers around the story of Ryza three years after the events of the first game where she and her friends all went their separate ways. It opens with her getting invited to the royal capital by Tao, who was a scholar for the ancient Klint Kingdom ruins. In his studies, he found a ruin that had ties to alchemy, leading to his invitation and Ryza finally stepping out of their island and into the world at large.
Along the way, she meets back up with her old party such as Klaudia, Tao, Lent, Empel and Lila, and also takes in new friends like Patricia, Clifford, and Serri. But most importantly, she becomes bonded with Fi, a mysterious flying beast that seems to have a strange connection with mana.
Now, the first Ryza game was notable for being very short and lacking in a lot of areas in the character development department. Comparatively, Ryza 2 had the opposite problem; there’s too much character development that a great many of them didn’t feel at all related or connected to the story. Ryza 2 also had a very… contentious ending, to say the least.
But overall, it has one of the better storylines in the Ryza trilogy, or perhaps the best one if you liked it better than Ryza 3.
Empel and Lila’s Story Isn’t Very Helpful
One of the major selling points of the DX versions is the addition of exclusive story content for each title. Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout DX featured two new side stories that varied in narrative importance, but Ryza 2 DX only adds one and, well, it’s not particularly meaningful.
The extra episode focuses on Empel and Lila’s adventures shortly before reuniting with Ryza and her friends at one of the ancient ruins that first drew their attention. It extends slightly into the early midgame, too, as they explore another ruin exclusive to their story.
Narratively, though, it doesn’t add much beyond providing a bit more context for the duo, who otherwise appear only intermittently throughout the main game. In a way, it seems like its true purpose was to give more context on why they were able to handle things the way they did in the original instead of making it appear as if they were pulling things out of thin air.
It’s hard to describe the narrative weight of the extra episode without going into spoiler territory, but to be frank, the entire subplot feels feather-light. Its events could have been conveyed just as effectively with a few added dialogue lines in the main story. Unlike Kilo and Bos’ side story in Ryza 1 DX, which fleshed out an important point that spanned the entire trilogy, Empel and Lila’s episode had a significance that expired barely an hour after it was featured in the main story.
Ultimately, it comes off less as a substantial new chapter and more as a formality; a brief warm-up before unlocking the duo as playable characters. It’s story-driven gameplay, sure, but one that’s entirely skippable without losing anything of value.
Bigger Goals, Same Accessibility
In terms of gameplay, Atelier Ryza 2 is a straight-up improvement over the first game in almost every way. The maps are now vastly more open and less linear, encouraging real exploration instead of funneling you through narrow paths. Gathering and exploration items have also been divided into two distinct categories in tools and gear, allowing you to equip up to ten items at once instead of having to mash them together just to fit within the old five-slot limit.
Combat, too, has seen a complete overhaul. It still uses the same pseudo–turn-based real-time system from the first game, but it now allows you to change positions dynamically based on your target. In exchange, though, the old role system where you could freely specialize as an attacker, defender, support, or item user has been removed. As a result, battles now lean more into the action side of things rather than their turn-based roots, and while it’s a bit of a trade-off, the flow of combat feels significantly smoother and more engaging overall.
The series’ signature Synthesis system also got a major revamp. Recipe acquisition no longer relies solely on quests or purchased tomes; instead, you can unlock and “recall” recipes (even from the first game) through a new skill tree system by spending SP earned from combat and exploration. There’s even a new Overflow mechanic, letting you craft absurdly high-quality items if you’re willing to pour a mountain of materials into your synthesis slots.
On the exploration side, Ryza 2 introduces the Spirit Beast Whistle, which lets you summon a companion to dig up hidden treasures, rare materials, and even gold coins scattered across open fields. It’s a small addition that adds a surprising layer of satisfaction to gathering runs.
Yet for all its expansions and refinements, Ryza 2 remains just as approachable as its predecessor. The synthesis system is still easy enough for newcomers to learn (and master by the post-game), and once you’ve wrapped your head around it, the rest of the game’s systems are easy pickings.
Fi is Less Annoying Now
Considering how much of Ryza 2’s story revolved around Fi, you’d expect him to actually do something outside of the cutscenes where he just wouldn’t shut up. Like, maybe fly toward gathering spots with higher chances of rare drops instead of following you around like an annoying firefly? But no—in the original game, Fi’s presence outside the story amounted to little more than visual décor.
Practically useless, just like in the story where all he does is spam “Fii” for his dialogue and distract everyone from conversing with each other properly. Honestly, even Genshin Impact’s Paimon is less annoying than him… okay, maybe not.
Maybe I’m being a bit too harsh. I just genuinely didn’t like him and felt that every scene featuring the little twerp could’ve been better spent developing more interesting characters like Bos, Clifford, or Serri.
Thankfully, Ryza 2 DX fixes, uhh, half of my frustrations by giving Fi some genuinely helpful utility beyond being a floating waste of hard drive space. And honestly? It’s a fantastic improvement. I actually look forward to seeing him work his magic now.
Basically, Gust added several assist functions for Fi, from occasionally adding extra materials to your gathering efforts, to boosting synthesis yields, to restoring health after battles. You can probably see where this is going already: those abilities alone are absurdly helpful, and that’s not even the full list.
This is especially useful for those who tend to go on extended material gathering sprees, regardless of whether it’s to farm fodder to exchange for gems, which is the currency to further strengthen items after synthesis or to duplicate them, or to look for powerful traits to stuff into their creations. Although this may just be a drop in the ocean when it comes to the amount needed for endgame preparations, any help matters.
Unfortunately, though, I do believe they really can’t fix the narrative issues regarding Fi, as that may require effort at a scale where they might as well produce a remake while they’re at it. And that’s fine, I guess.
The Return of Empel and Lila as Playable Characters, But…
As a big (cough) fan of Lila, I’d always been disappointed that she wasn’t playable in my favorite entry of the series. Thankfully, Ryza 2 DX fixes that by reintroducing the Oren pair (yes, Empel is only half-Oren) as playable characters.
Let’s start with Empel, since he’s the one who’s changed the least. In the first Ryza game, where he was part of the original cast, Empel filled the role of a mage with great utility, boasting similar flexibility to Ryza, if not better, thanks to his varied skill effects and naturally high base speed. The main difference between the two often boiled down to what you wanted from your team composition: more damage per action (Ryza) or a supportive backline option (Empel)?
In Ryza 2, however, he… well, hasn’t really changed much in terms of role. The issue is that since every character can now equip the same number of items, his value as a multi-functional backline support has diminished significantly. Add to that the fact that his speed now needs time to ramp up, similar to how Lila worked in the first game, and Ryza’s new kit granting her more utility and item opportunities, and Empel ends up feeling a bit redundant. At least in my experience, he’s been reduced to a sort of oddball mage whose main niche is using high-quality items efficiently as an alchemist who generates AP slightly faster than Ryza.
Lila, on the other hand, underwent some pretty major changes. For one, she’s no longer a pure damage dealer and instead now functions more like a totem-style support who boosts her allies’ offensive and defensive capabilities… and yes, that also means we still don’t have a proper dedicated support character to finally replace the cope that is Ryza and stuffing her pack full of potions and buffing items.
Don’t get me wrong; Lila can still hit like a truck. But, her new defensive utility is hard to ignore; her defense now scales with those same spirit stacks, she can reduce the physical damage allies take when targeting the same enemy as her, and her trademark evasion remains big (among other things that are).
Of course, you can still build her purely for offense if that’s your thing. In fact, she’s even received a buff on that front thanks to her new ramping critical rate that scales with longer attack chains.
That said, unlike in Ryza 1, she’s no longer a mixed attacker capable of exploiting enemy weaknesses on both ends. She now deals strictly physical damage, despite retaining her excellent elemental coverage for triggering effects… which kind of sucks.
Interestingly enough, though, whether by design or coincidence, Lila’s new kit synergizes incredibly well with her fellow Oren, Serri, who also relies on spirit stacking mechanics. That is, Lila can fully capitalize on Serri’s omniboost now that she no longer sacrifices defense for damage, while her own ally-protecting passives give Serri the breathing room to build up her wood-element stacks for stronger skills.
Plus, since Serri deals pure magic damage, she fills the gap in Lila’s offense almost perfectly, minus the elemental coverage. Toss Ryza into the mix as a glue, and you’ve basically got a team that can bulldoze the entire game… if you’re not having Patricia do so for you already.
Is Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy DX Worth It?
It’s Worth It for the DLCs and Features
Unlike Ryza 1 DX, which added stories and characters with great narrative and gameplay value, Ryza 2 DX’s extra episode and the reintroduction of Empel and Lila as playables feel quite insignificant. On the other hand, Fi gaining use outside of being an annoyance in the story is a massive change to the way you can experience gathering materials and synthesizing items. That alone is enough to warrant some consideration in purchasing Ryza 2 DX, even if you already have the original game, beyond the insanely cheap package deal of getting the entire game plus the DLCs at a fraction of the price.
What I’m saying is: if you have the game and the DLCs already, you're free to skip this release. But if you don't, this is where your money should go.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PlayStation |
Steam |
Switch |
Switch 2 |
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| $39.99 | |||||||
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy DX FAQ
Do you save file carry over from the original Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy?
No, this is an entirely separate game. You can, however, link it to receive bonus items.
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Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy DX Product Information
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| Title | ATELIER RYZA 2: LOST LEGENDS & THE SECRET FAIRY |
|---|---|
| Release Date | November 13, 2025 |
| Developer | Gust |
| Publisher | Koei Tecmo |
| Supported Platforms | PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, PC |
| Genre | RPG, Adventure, Action |
| Number of Players | 1 |
| ESRB Rating | T |
| Official Website | Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy DX Website |
