| Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy DX | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Release Date | Gameplay & Story | Pre-Order & DLC | Review |
The Atelier Ryza trilogy is getting a definitive edition combining all three games, all of their DLCs, and exclusive content! Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.
Atelier Ryza Secret Trilogy DX Review
Is the Price Worth the Content?
The Ryza series, better known as the Secret Trilogy, stands as the most popular and commercially successful era of the Atelier franchise. It’s been featured in countless collaborations, merch drops, and marketing pushes from Gust and Koei Tecmo; efforts that have finally propelled Atelier out of its niche status. With its striking character designs, modern visuals, and a perfectly tuned synthesis system that balances accessibility and depth, it’s no wonder the trilogy captured such a wide audience.
So, perhaps it’s not too surprising that the series is getting its definitive editions, or rather the DX releases, so soon after the originals, even as many (read: me) expected an Atelier Judie remake to take the next slot. But that raises an important question: are the DX versions worth buying, especially if you already own the originals? And if not, what are your best alternatives, if any?
That’s exactly what we’re here to find out.
Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout DX
The DX version’s biggest additions include two new short stories and three additional playable characters, all bundled with the complete set of the original’s DLCs at a price that’s actually lower than the base game alone.
While two of the new characters come from relatively minor parts of the story, the third one is an important addition, as she has a big role in the development of one of the major characters across the trilogy. The same holds true for the new story content: the one centered around that character is essential for appreciating one of the overarching narratives of the series, while the post-game episode involving Ryza and the locals is more of a pleasant, if ultimately skippable, side story.
From a usability standpoint, the DX release delivers some excellent quality-of-life upgrades. Your base inventory size has been raised from roughly 60 to 200 slots, expandable through higher-tier backpacks you can synthesize later on. The container, which serves as your primary item storage, has also been upgraded from a max 999-slot cap to a massive 9,999, effectively granting infinite space for your needs. The graphical improvements, on the other hand, like better anti-aliasing and smoother performance, are minor enough that you’ll probably miss them unless you’re nitpicking.
Still, even with the modest visual upgrades, the new characters and story additions easily make this the definitive edition of the first game. It’s a must-have for anyone planning to dive into the series. That said, players who already own the first release might want to wait for a discount, since you’ll essentially be repurchasing the same game for just a few hours of new story content and a handful of additional characters.
But for those interested, especially players planning on getting into the game, the original release goes for $60, with all of its DLCs adding up to nearly that much again. Meanwhile, Ryza 1 DX gives you all of those, plus new content, for just $40. Conservatively, you're saving a whopping 80 USD by just opting for the new release. There is simply no other alternative unless you want to spend several tens of dollars more.
Simply put, if you're new and have been waiting for a reason to own the first Ryza game permanently, this is the version to get. There’s really no contest; buy it when you can. But, if you've already finished the original game, feel free to wait for a sale; just get it when you're able to.
Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy DX
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.
The DX edition introduces one new short story and two additional playable characters as its main attractions. However, unlike Ryza 1 DX, these additions don’t make nearly as significant an impact on either the narrative or team-building experience. Still, for the purposes of first-time players, they’re a compelling enough addition to make the DX version even more worthwhile.
Instead, the highlight this time is the rework of Fi, the game’s controversial mascot, who now provides genuinely useful functions such as gathering materials and boosting synthesis yields... finally giving him a reason to exist outside of the story. See, in the original release, he served absolutely no purpose outside of the story aside from floating by your side like a balloon. So it’s no surprise that, for many players (myself included), he felt completely useless.
Another rather significant change are the requirements and flow of the various character episodes meant to unlock their passives, learn even more recipes, and generally open more of the game’s narrative up to players. Back then, it mostly involved running around waiting for exclamation marks to appear on their heads before you could interact with them and proceed. But now… well, suffice to say that you don’t need to keep running around anymore, so that’s good.
That aside, the basket was also expanded such that you start out with the maximum of 200. The container, of course, is now basically endless, with 9,999 slots available for all your hoarding needs. On the other hand, the graphical improvements are even less noticeable here, which is understandable given that Ryza 2 isn’t even that old.
Lastly, the price: the base Atelier Ryza 2 and its DLCs would have originally cost around $110, while the DX release is priced at about $40—a striking $70 difference. However, that gap ironically becomes more striking once you consider what’s actually new here. That's because beyond Fi’s rework, the only very notable additions are the return of Empel and Lila and their exclusive side story. Yet, both feel insignificant and lack the meaningful gameplay depth or narrative weight seen in Ryza 1 DX’s exclusive additions.
As such, the overall value proposition for Ryza 2 DX is noticeably weaker. I would even argue not to buy it if you’ve already finished the original. For newcomers, though, or those who only own the base version, you are still better off buying the DX edition, since it’s far cheaper than purchasing the original game and its expansions separately.
Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key DX
Due to the scale of Atelier Ryza 3, we're still playing through the DX version in order to deliver a proper review of its additional content and features. Please stay tuned for our review!
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Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & The Secret Hideout DX Product Information
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| Title | ATELIER RYZA SECRET TRILOGY DX |
|---|---|
| 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 |
