The Atelier series (アトリエシリーズ) is a series of role-playing video games developed by the Gust Corporation since 1997, primarily for the PlayStation consoles. The game series, based on the definition of "atelier" as an artist's workshop, draws heavily on the pseudo-science of alchemy, requiring the player to find and collect items and combine them in recipes to create better items with which to progress further in the game.
Players control the game's character, roaming the game world to collect objects to use in alchemy recipes to create new objects, including cooking ingredients, recovery items, tools, weapons, armor, and accessories. The games generally feature a turn-based combat system, in which the items made through alchemy come into play, either to boost the character's abilities, or for offensive, defensive, or support items.
The games' stories are typically light-hearted and humorous, often deriving conflict from a source other than an antagonist and the player ends up with a large group of characters to explore the world with.
Games
As of 2019 there have been twenty main games in the Atelier series which are subdivided into seven sub-series that play in different universums. Most games are named after the main character with an added sub-title, for example Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Book.
- Salburg series: Marie (1997), Elie (1998), Lilie (2001)
- Gramnad series: Judie (2002), Viorate (2003)
- Iris series: Iris (2004), Iris 2 (2005), Iris 3 (2006)
- Mana series: Mana Khemia (2007), Mana Khemia 2 (2007)
- Arland series: Rorona (2009), Totori (2010), Meruru (2011), Lulua (2019)
- Dusk series: Ayesha (2012), Esha & Logy (2013), Shallie (2014)
- Mystery series: Sophie (2015), Firs (2016), Lydie & Suelle (2017)
Characters
Most main characters are female and develop deep relationships with other female characters.
Arland series: Totooria Helmold, Mimi Houllier von Schwarzlang
Dusk series: Shallotte Elminus, Shallistera Argo
Mystery series: Sophie Neuenmuller, Plachta, Tess Heitzmann, Firis Mistlud, Ilmeria Von Leinweber, Liane Mistlud