《萊莎的鍊金工房～常闇女王與秘密藏身處～》是光榮特庫摩旗下Gust團隊推出的經典RPG系列新篇章，也是「鍊金工房」主系列的第21款作品。於2019年在Nintendo Switch、PlayStation 4與Steam平台同步登場，同時支援中文，是系列近年來最受注目的轉折之作。遊戲提出「少年少女的小小成長」作為核心概念，圍繞著一群即將邁向成年邊緣的主角群，描繪他們在夏季中迎來的冒險旅程、友情羈絆，以及對未知世界的渴望與追尋。

相較於過往系列最大的變革，在於美術與光影表現全面升級，採用自然陰影技術營造出更真實的環境氛圍。無論是森林中搖曳的光影、草原上的微風吹拂，還是湖畔的反射與色彩變化，都讓這個世界呈現出近乎能呼吸的生命感。Gust 也以更鮮豔的色彩與強化的景深效果描繪出日常與冒險交錯的世界，讓玩家沉浸在萊莎與友人們共同探索的嶄新旅程中。

遊戲中最具代表性的系統仍然是鍊金術，但《萊莎的鍊金工房》對過去複雜的配方結構進行全面刷新，變得更直覺、更容易理解，也讓素材投入後產生的效果變化一目瞭然。能在調合中逐步解鎖配方的更多可能性，並享受研究、試驗、創造的樂趣，而「採集地調合」更是本作的新亮點。這個系統讓玩家能透過鍊金術「創造」一個專屬的採集地，並依其屬性產生不同素材與物品，使採集與調合之間的連動性變得更深刻。

採集本身也充滿細節。不同的採集工具，例如斧頭、杖、鐮刀等，會在同一個採集點得到截然不同的素材。這讓玩家能根據需求選擇合適的工具，並以更自由的方式管理素材來源，採集過程也因為工具選擇而變得更具策略性。

戰鬥系統則融合回合制與即時指令操作，形成一種既具有節奏感又需要思考的混合模式。隊友間的指令連動、行動時機的掌握、技能連鎖的觸發，都會直接影響戰鬥的成敗。這種戰鬥方式不但保留系列策略的深度，也呈現出角色之間的默契與情感。

劇情方面，從極為日常的角度出發。主角萊莎琳·斯托特（萊莎）是個住在拉森博登村的普通少女，對平淡無奇的生活充滿不安與厭倦。她的日子雖然單調，卻因與青梅竹馬蘭托與塔奧的友誼而不至於無聊。他們三人都渴望離開村子的框架，找尋真正屬於自己的未來。某日，他們鼓起勇氣跨越平日禁止前往的「島的對岸」，也在那裡遇見徘徊於遺跡與旅途中、神秘且身受傷痛的鍊金術士安佩爾，以及沉靜冷峻、身手高強的女戰士莉拉。萊莎在與兩人相遇後首次接觸到鍊金術，而這份未知世界的震撼，也成為她改變命運的起點。

萊莎開始在日常與冒險之間摸索鍊金術的奧秘，並試著運用這門學問改善生活、突破困境、克服冒險中的挑戰。她與伙伴們共同在這個夏天成長、受挫、學習，最後迎向屬於他們的「一個永生難忘的夏季冒險」。以萊莎為中心的「萊莎三部曲」也在此作正式揭開序幕，而角色設計由插畫家Toridamono操刀，其明亮的筆觸與獨特的人物塑形更使萊莎的形象深入玩家心中。

秘密藏身處是故事與系統整合的象徵性舞台。萊莎與同伴在探索一段時間後，便能將這個小屋改造成屬於小隊的私人基地。玩家可以在其中進行鍊金術調合，也能自由改造室內外裝飾，而不同的裝飾甚至能影響角色能力，使藏身處真正成為成長與創造的基地。

角色陣容方面，萊莎的個性帶有些許男孩子氣，行動自由奔放，正因為她「普通卻充滿好奇」的設定，更讓玩家容易投射自身情感。科洛蒂婭作為商人千金溫柔又堅定，蘭托渴望洗脫家族的陰影而追求力量，塔奧沉迷於古書並在知識中找尋自己的價值。安佩爾與莉拉則以成熟者的視角帶領這群青少年走向更大世界，每個角色都有鮮明定位與成長曲線，使故事的推進更加立體。

市場反應方面，《萊莎的鍊金工房》在推出後迅速成為系列銷量最佳的作品之一。萊莎的角色設計引起玩家大量討論，遊戲畫面進步明顯，故事節奏也比以往更易於新手接受，使本作吸引大量新玩家進入系列。鍊金系統的革新獲得好評，素材採集更有樂趣，戰鬥節奏更具爽快感。總體而言，市場普遍認為本作是系列的重新起飛，也讓萊莎的高人氣促成後續續作，包括《萊莎 2》、《萊莎 3》等作品。

Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness & the Secret Hideout is a role-playing game developed by Gust, a studio under Koei Tecmo, and represents a major turning point for the long-running “Atelier” franchise. Released in 2019 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Steam—with full Chinese language support—the game marks the beginning of a new sub-series built around the concept of “a small tale of youth,” focusing on the bittersweet moments of adolescence and the emotional growth that accompanies the transition to adulthood.

The most striking first impression of Atelier Ryza comes from its visual overhaul. Gust rebuilt the lighting and shading system to create a world filled with natural shadows, rich color layers, and a sense of “breathable realism.” Sunlight slipping through the trees, the glimmer of water reflecting against the sky, and the shifting hues of fields and forests all work together to make the game world feel alive. This strengthened art direction gives Ryza’s everyday life and summer adventure a vivid charm that distinguishes it from previous Atelier titles.

Alchemy remains the core system of the franchise, but Ryza’s installment redesigns it from the ground up. The once-complex synthesis mechanics have been refined into a more intuitive and visually transparent system where players can understand the effects of each material as they place them. Experimentation feels more rewarding, and discovering new recipes becomes a natural, enjoyable progression. The introduction of “Gathering Synthesis” adds another layer of creativity, allowing players to create custom gathering fields whose characteristics affect the types of materials found there, forming a deeper loop between exploring, collecting, and crafting.

Gathering itself feels more dynamic because different tools used at the same resource point produce different materials. This tool-dependent system encourages players to prepare strategically and gives resource collection a sense of agency and intent. Meanwhile, the combat system blends turn-based commands with real-time decision-making, resulting in battles that require timing, rapid judgment, and team coordination. Chain actions, support requests, and skill timing all play a crucial role, making combat more exciting than in previous entries while still retaining the tactical depth fans expect.

The story begins in the peaceful village of Rasenboden, where the protagonist Reisalin “Ryza” Stout lives a quiet but suffocatingly ordinary life. Restless and bored, she spends her days with her childhood friends Lent and Tao, dreaming of something beyond the boundaries of their small home. One summer day, the trio secretly crosses to the “forbidden island across the shore,” unaware that this impulsive act will change their lives forever. There they encounter two mysterious travelers: Empel, an alchemist with a wounded past, and Lila, a disciplined warrior with formidable combat skills. Their arrival introduces Ryza to alchemy for the first time and ignites an inner spark that drives her to explore, learn, and grow.

Ryza’s journey becomes a season of discovery as she studies alchemy to solve problems, support her village, and overcome dangers found in ruins and wilderness. Her friends face their own struggles—Klaudia’s longing for friendship, Lent’s desire to prove himself after years of being judged, and Tao’s determination to understand ancient texts that everyone else ignores. Together they create unforgettable memories during this one precious summer, marking the beginning of the “Ryza trilogy,” which would go on to become the most popular sub-series in the franchise. The character designs, created by illustrator Toridamono, also contributed greatly to the game's success, giving the cast a warm, modern, and highly iconic appeal.

The “Secret Hideout,” mentioned in the game's subtitle, becomes a symbol of their bond. As the story progresses, the hideout turns into the party’s base of operations. Players can perform alchemy there, customize both the interior and exterior, and modify it to reflect their preferred style. Certain decorations even influence character stats, making the hideout both meaningful in the narrative and useful in gameplay.

The cast adds depth to the story through contrasting personalities and backgrounds. Ryza is straightforward, impulsive, and full of curiosity. Klaudia, a merchant’s daughter, is gentle yet strong-willed. Lent seeks strength to change how others view him, while Tao is shy but loyal, with a passion for deciphering ancient documents. Empel and Lila act as mentors who broaden the young group’s perspective. Each character undergoes believable growth, making their journey feel intimate and emotionally grounded.

Upon release, Atelier Ryza received overwhelmingly positive reception and revitalized the franchise. Critics praised its approachable systems, the vibrant world, and the relatable coming-of-age story. The redesigned synthesis process won new fans, the improved combat system was widely welcomed, and Ryza herself became one of the most iconic characters in modern JRPGs. Strong sales and the enthusiastic fan response solidified the game as a milestone entry, leading directly to Atelier Ryza 2 and Atelier Ryza 3, forming the series’ first full trilogy centered on a single protagonist.