NieR: Automata is a critically acclaimed and popular game from Japan, considered one of the best science fiction RPGs ever made. The game takes place on a destroyed Earth now dominated by hostile machines. You play as the android 2B, tasked with taking the planet back for humanity, who have fled to the moon. While that’s the initial setup, the game offers a far more complex story than just robots battling it out.
NieR: Automata is a special game with a distinctive look and diverse gameplay that attracts a lot of players, but it often gets put off for later. I’m here to convince you to play it now – and to explain why it remains one of the best RPGs available, even nine years after it first came out.
7. Genre-Blending Gameplay
From Soulslike to Platform Puzzler
NieR: Automata isn’t easily defined by a single genre. While it looks like a third-person action game, it constantly switches things up. You’ll find yourself playing sections that feel like classic 2D platformers, top-down puzzle games, and even fast-paced shooting levels. It also includes challenging boss fights reminiscent of the Souls series, parkour sections, and arcade-style flying missions, making for a surprisingly diverse experience.
Even though the game combines a lot of different ideas, it’s still easy to pick up and play. It actually feels like a throwback to older games, where you dodge simple, slow-moving attacks and then launch impressive counter-attacks.
6. Timeless Art Style
Still Stands Out Today
It’s hard to put a name to it, but the art style in NieR: Automata feels like ‘Cyber-Goth.’ It mixes classic Gothic designs – you see it in the characters’ clothing and weapons – with futuristic cyberpunk elements like drones and robots. This combination creates a really distinct and memorable look that stands out from typical sci-fi games.
Even after almost a decade since its release, NieR: Automata’s unique visual style remains striking and is easily identifiable. The game successfully blends two different genres, finding a good balance between them so neither one overwhelms the other.
5. An Increasingly Relevant Narrative
A Prophetic Foretelling?
When the story for NieR: Automata was originally created, artificial intelligence was mostly something you only encountered in games. The developers, however, were ahead of their time and used their understanding of how AI works to build the game’s sci-fi world. While robotic soldiers resembling maids might still seem like a distant idea, the kind of artificial intelligence that powers and controls them is now very real.
Beyond depicting a world facing planetary ruin and dwindling populations, the game deeply investigates artificial intelligence and what truly defines consciousness. It tackles these complex ideas in a powerful and unforgettable way, enhanced by a moving orchestral soundtrack.
4. A Top-Tier Soundtrack
Time to Make a New Playlist
While I think the soundtrack to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is currently unmatched, NieR: Automata’s music remains one of the best ever. The game’s music isn’t just background sound—it truly elevates every moment, and many scenes and locations wouldn’t have the same impact without their specific tracks.
As a huge fan, I think the music in this game is incredible. It doesn’t just hit all the emotional moments perfectly, but even the background music in each area really makes those places feel special and different from each other. What’s amazing is that it never feels like it’s getting in the way – it just enhances everything. It really shows how important balance is to what makes NieR: Automata so great.
3. Global Appeal
It’s Not Going Anywhere
NieR: Automata’s beautiful anime-inspired visuals weren’t just popular in Japan – it was a major hit in Western countries too. By February 2026, the game had sold over 10 million copies globally, with the United States and Europe accounting for around 35% of those sales. This is a greater proportion than many games originally created in Japan typically achieve.
It’s rare for any game to achieve such high sales, especially one from a relatively unknown series. The fact that this game continues to sell well year after year proves how enduringly popular it is.
2. Replay Value
Layer Upon Layer
NieR: Automata tells a story that mostly unfolds in a straightforward way, though it’s known for its surprising twists. What keeps players coming back is the game’s design and choices. It features a large world structured like a ‘Souls’ game, where enemies reappear, allowing you to easily gain experience. Plus, the game has multiple endings, and the one you get depends on the choices you make while playing – even something as simple as whether you choose to fight or spare certain enemies.
Plus, the game’s story encourages multiple playthroughs, similar to games like Clair Obscur and BioShock Infinite. You’ll discover new details each time you play that weren’t obvious before, but will click into place on later runs.
1. Franchise Potential
The Moon is the Limit
As a huge NieR fan, it wasn’t shocking to me that NieR: Automata really put the series on the map. It was amazing to see Square Enix follow that up with NieR: Replicant in 2021, and things just kept getting better! Then, in 2023, A-1 Pictures – a seriously talented studio – created the NieR: Automata Ver1.1a anime. Honestly, with how deep and fascinating the game’s story and characters are, it makes perfect sense that the world of NieR: Automata works so well in different formats. It’s just a fantastic universe to experience!
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The Nier universe extends beyond video games with novels and novellas co-created by Yoko Taro and Jun Eishima. Adding to this, a stage play called YoRHa Pearl Harbor Descent Record was later turned into a manga. The franchise has become well-known worldwide and has even appeared in collaborations with other popular titles like Overwatch, Stellar Blade, and Rainbow Six: Siege.
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2026-05-09 17:40