NieR: Automata
NieR: Automata tells the story of androids 2B, 9S and A2 and their battle to reclaim the machine-driven dystopia overrun by powerful machines.
What it feels like
A pervasive wistful sadness and quiet beauty in loss permeates the narrative as androids confront extinction and existential despair. Joy and sorrow coexist throughout—moments of connection and triumph are undercut by inevitable loss and the futility of endless cycles. The game invites reflection on meaning, free will, and the nature of existence rather than demanding constant action.
What it's about
Humanity is extinct and androids fight to reclaim a dystopia overrun by machines in the ruins of Earth—a core post-apocalyptic setting. A distant future with advanced android technology, alien machine lifeforms, and speculative world-building anchors the entire premise. The narrative deeply explores questions of meaning, purpose, and what it means to exist as synthetic beings in a dying world.
How it plays
Deep combo-driven melee combat with stylish, expressive execution is the core moment-to-moment gameplay, a hallmark of PlatinumGames design. Fast melee combat against waves of machine enemies with flashy chained attacks and seamless weapon switching defines the combat loop. Dense, patterned projectile barrages appear frequently in combat encounters, especially against certain boss machines, requiring pattern reading and evasion.
How it looks and sounds
The score adapts in real time to player action and game state, intensifying during combat and shifting between exploration and battle. A sweeping, emotional orchestral soundtrack carries the narrative weight and drives the cinematic tone throughout. Realistic proportions and environments are pushed toward an exaggerated, dramatic visual style rather than full photorealism.
How it's structured
The game is designed exclusively for solo play with no multiplayer component whatsoever. Player choices, particularly which playable character is selected and when, fork the narrative into meaningfully different story paths and perspectives. The game famously branches into multiple distinct story endings (five major ones) based on player choices and completion sequence.
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