NieR: Automata Guide#
“Glory to Mankind.” — NieR: Automata
Game Overview#
NieR: Automata is an action RPG developed by PlatinumGames and published by Square Enix, the proper sequel in the NieR series. The story is set in a distant future: alien Machine Lifeforms have overrun Earth, humanity has fled to the Moon, and the android army YoRHa fights on the surface to take the planet back.
Your viewpoint shifts with each route — Route A follows 2B, Route B follows 9S, and Route C centers on A2 with some chapters playable as 9S. The three perspectives differ in combat style and in the intelligence tools they give you, which sits at the heart of the game’s multi-route design.
Game Information#
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Game | NieR: Automata |
| Developer | PlatinumGames |
| Publisher | Square Enix |
| Release Date | February 23, 2017 (PS4) |
| Platforms | PS4, PC, Xbox One, Switch |
| Genre | Action RPG |
| Routes | 3 (2B / 9S / A2 perspectives) |
| Endings | 26 |
| Trophies | 48 |
| Media Score | Metacritic 84 / OpenCritic 89 |
Release Timeline#
| Platform | Release Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 4 | February 23, 2017 | Launch platform |
| PC | March 17, 2017 | Arrived on PC the same year |
| Xbox One | June 26, 2018 | Added as a later port |
| Switch | October 6, 2022 | The End of YoRHa Edition |
The Switch release, titled NieR: Automata The End of YoRHa Edition, was ported by Virtuos and runs locked at 30fps (1920x1080 docked, 1280x720 in handheld mode). It supports HD Rumble and motion controls, and Joy-Con flick dodging can be toggled in the settings menu.
Switch 2 Backward Compatibility#
- Before November 25, 2025: the game was long flagged on Switch 2 as “unsupported: gameplay issues found,” with many players reporting crashes and an inability to finish it.
- From November 25, 2025: Switch 2 system update 21.0.1 marked the game as backward compatible, and the official patch note was a single line — “fixed issues that were previously identified.”
- Practical advice: update your Switch 2 to system version 21.0.1 or later before playing; anything older still runs into the previous compatibility problems.
No 2025 Remake Exists#
There is no 2025 remake of NieR: Automata, and there is no Xbox Series version. Online claims about a “remake,” “ver.1.2247488647,” or a “new story version” are pure rumor — Square Enix has never announced any such plans, so trust official release information only.
Sales and Reception#
| Milestone | Sales |
|---|---|
| December 2020 | Over 5 million units worldwide |
| November 2022 | Over 7 million units worldwide |
| February 2024 | Over 8 million units worldwide |
Per PCGamingWiki’s aggregation, the game holds a Metacritic score of 84 and an OpenCritic score of 89. That an action RPG keeps stacking up sales across platforms years after launch speaks directly to the replay value baked into its multi-route storytelling.
Multi-Route Story Structure#
The main story advances across three routes: Route A is the first playthrough told from 2B’s perspective; Route B requires carrying over a Route A clear save and replays the story from 9S’s angle, adding new intel and new scenes; Route C then shifts to the intertwined A2 and 9S storylines through to the final battle. The story’s core truths only truly open up after you clear Route B.
There are 26 endings in total: five main endings lettered A through E, plus twenty-one hidden or gag endings running from F to Z. Square Enix has confirmed that dialogue choices have no bearing on which ending you get — endings are decided by story checkpoints and specific player actions.
Core Systems at a Glance#
| System | Details |
|---|---|
| Weapons | Four types — small swords, large swords, spears, and combat bracers — with weapon switching mid-combo to chain cross-type attacks. Weapons can be upgraded to max level, which unlocks each weapon’s backstory. |
| Pods | A Pod support unit equips up to 3 skills, and materials upgrade its attack power, fire rate, and other stats while unlocking charge attacks. Pod 042 is assigned to 2B and Pod 153 to 9S, each with its own voice work and responsibilities — and in Ending E, it is these two Pods that defy orders together. |
| Chips | Plug-in chips are limited by Memory capacity, which determines how many you can equip; shops and vendors sell memory expansions. Chips range from combat effects like attack and defense to non-combat effects such as HUD changes, so builds are a trade-off against capacity. |
| Hacking | 9S can hack enemies for remote kills or drop into hacking minigames to crack them. Berserk mode is a high-risk powered-up state, and the trophy system counts berserk kills separately. |
Endings (26 Total)#
The five main endings are unlocked as follows:
| Ending | Name | How to Unlock |
|---|---|---|
| A | flower for m[A]chines | Clear the first playthrough |
| B | or not to [B]e | Replay the story with a Route A clear save |
| C | meaningless [C]ode | Choose A2 at the final battle |
| D | chil[D]hood’s end | Choose 9S at the final battle |
| E | the [E]nd of YoRHa | Unlocked after viewing Endings C and D; ends with a bullet-hell shooter minigame |
Ending E’s save deletion is the real thing: accept it, and every bit of progress and all weapon levels in that save are gone for good. In exchange, you receive supporting fire from other players, and when playing online on PSN, a failed attempt can draw aid from other players’ saves. Collect all 26 endings and the development team’s thank-you message is unlocked.
Gag Endings (F to Z)#
Twenty-one endings from F to Z, most of them triggered by a deliberate action — or a deliberate refusal to act — at a specific story moment:
| Ending | Trigger |
|---|---|
| F | Fail to repair 9S before time runs out |
| G | Leave the mission area the first time you control 9S |
| H | Choose to evacuate when the giant arms appear for the second time |
| I | Abandon 9S after defeating the boss in the Copied City |
| J | Kill the Machine Lifeform the first time you meet one |
| K | Eat Jackass’s mackerel |
| L | Leave the battlefield during the final battle |
| M | Decline to rescue Pascal’s village |
| N | Kill every Machine Lifeform in Pascal’s village |
| O | Turn back to the factory at the start of Route C |
| P | Become fully infected by the logic virus during Route C |
| Q | Abandon 2B while playing as 9S |
| R | Attack Pascal’s villagers with A2 |
| S | Abandon Devola and Popola during the tower sequence |
| T | Pull out the OS chip |
| U | Self-destruct inside the Bunker |
| V | Refuse to hack the tower |
| W | Get 2B killed by a laser in the prologue |
| X | Abandon 2B and leave the cleanup to A2 |
| Y | Self-destruct when facing the hidden boss |
| Z | Kill Pascal the first time A2 meets him |
Trophy System (48 Trophies)#
The list totals 48 trophies: 1 platinum, 2 gold, 13 silver, and 32 bronze. The platinum, Final Words, unlocks automatically after you finish the game; Transcendent Being requires all endings; The Minds That Emerged comes from watching the final credits; and Naughty Children is earned by defeating Emil. Four ending-related trophies map to the main and character endings: One Battle Ends (A), A New Battle Begins (B), Leaving for the New World (9S’s ending), and Beautiful World (A2’s ending).
Representative trophies:
| Trophy | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Cherish Our Resources | Collect 100 corpses |
| Mercenary | Complete 80% of all quests |
| Weapons Maniac | Obtain every Pod program |
| Information Master | Collect 80% of all archives |
| Tools of the Trade | Upgrade any weapon to max level |
| Supreme Support Weapons | Upgrade every Pod to max level |
| Machines vs. Machines | Kill 50 Machine Lifeforms via Pod remote control |
| Ruler of the Skies | Kill 255 enemies with the flight unit |
| Harvest King | Harvest at hidden gathering points 10 times |
| Pod Hunter | Find every Pod |
| Desire Without Emotion | Hold 100,000 G |
| Animal Rider | Ride any animal for 5 km |
| Chip Collector | Collect 80% of all plug-in chips |
| Inorganic Blade | Upgrade every weapon to max level |
| Fighting’s Not My Thing | Perform your first hack |
| A Scanner’s Power | Hack-kill 100 enemies |
| The Power of Hate | Kill 50 enemies in berserk mode |
| A Round by the Pond | Catch 20 different fish |
| Wait! Don’t Kill Me! | Kill 10 friendly Machine Lifeforms |
| What Are You Doing? | Discover 2B’s secret 10 times |
| Lunar Tear | Reach Emil’s House |
| Final Wish | Witness 2B’s death |
One distinction worth flagging: Wait! Don’t Kill Me! counts friendly Machine Lifeforms — peaceful individuals that don’t normally fight back — not ordinary combat kills, so don’t grind it out like a mob-kill trophy.
DLC and Collaborations#
Paid DLC: 3C3C1D119440927#
The game’s only large paid DLC, released May 2, 2017 (May 3 on Steam) and priced at 1,500 yen, with the Steam China region listed at 96 RMB. Its content centers on three arenas:
| Arena | Location and Entry | Rank S Reward |
|---|---|---|
| Desert Arena | Located in the Desert Zone | A2’s outfit |
| Flooded City Arena | Located in the Flooded City; the entrance is guarded by Resistance members, and a 1,000 G bribe is needed to get in | 2B’s outfit |
| Forest Kingdom Arena | Located in the gymnasium behind the waterfall in the Forest Kingdom; enterable only as 9S | 9S’s outfit |
Arena rules: each arena runs 6 difficulty stages plus a top-difficulty EX stage, and the DLC’s ending event only plays after you clear the 6 non-EX stages. Beat all three arenas and an ending cutscene plays in the underground of the Amusement Park ruins, closing out the DLC.
The hidden bosses are this DLC’s most famous Easter egg: Square Enix president Yosuke Matsuda — modeled on his appearance at the Final Fantasy XV pre-launch event — and PlatinumGames president Kenichi Sato both take the field as opponents.
The DLC also adds hair-color changing items, accessories, and masks, and includes a collaboration track with the band amazarashi, “Inochi ni Fusawashii.” The three outfits draw on characters from the previous game, NieR Replicant: 2B’s “Revealing Outfit” echoes Kainé’s revealing style, 9S’s “Young Man’s Outfit” the young Nier’s simple look, and A2’s “Destroyer’s Outfit” the adult Nier’s. Learn these outfits by their English names — unofficial translations only breed confusion.
Switch-Exclusive Free DLC: 6C2P4A118680823#
Owners of The End of YoRHa Edition can download this DLC free from the eShop. It adds 6 outfits, 4 accessories, and 2 Pod skins:
- Outfits: 2B’s 2P replica, 9S’s 9P replica, A2’s P2 replica, plus YoRHa Uniform 1 (for 2B), YoRHa Uniform 2 (for 9S), and YoRHa Uniform Prototype (for A2).
- Pod skins: Pod 042 in Mama form and Pod 153 in Transporter form.
- Accessories: the white fox mask, black fox mask, moonlit ornament, and withered flower ornament.
All of this cosmetic content is usable as soon as you arrive at the Bunker at the start of the game. Note that the DLC is exclusive to the Switch version — don’t confuse it with the arena content in 3C3C1D119440927, and don’t go looking for these items on other platforms.
Other Collaborations#
- Gravity Rush 2: protagonist Kat can wear 2B’s outfit, delivered free in mid-April 2017.
- In a 2021 update, Steam folded all DLC content except wallpapers into the main game depot.
World and Characters#
Key locations across the game:
| Area | Description |
|---|---|
| City Ruins | A plant-overgrown urban ruin and the area you will visit most |
| Desert Zone | A vast desert hiding weapon and chip collectibles |
| Forest Kingdom | A kingdom of forests built by the Machine Lifeforms |
| Amusement Park | A ruined park where peaceful Machine Lifeforms gather |
| Flooded City | A city submerged under the sea |
| Copied City | A pivotal story location |
| Abandoned Factory | An early-game exploration area and boss arena |
| Alien Ship | The wreck of a crashed alien vessel |
| Resistance Camp | The Resistance base, home to shops and the quest hub |
| Bunker | YoRHa’s orbital base |
| Tower | A colossal tower structure that appears in the endgame |
Main characters:
| Character | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2B | YoRHa No.2 Type B | A combat android and the main viewpoint of Route A |
| 9S | Scanner-type android | Skilled at hacking and intel analysis; Route B’s main viewpoint |
| A2 | YoRHa prototype | A deserter operating alone; playable in Route C |
| Pod 042 and Pod 153 | Support units | Assigned to 2B and 9S respectively; beyond combat support they handle communication and record-keeping |
| Pascal | Village leader | A Machine Lifeform striving to keep his people away from war |
| Emil | Returning character from NieR | Runs shops at mysterious landmarks across the world |
| Devola and Popola | Twin androids at the Resistance Camp | Also carry over from the previous game |
| Adam and Eve | Humanoid figures among the Machine Lifeforms | The main antagonists of the story’s second half |
Soundtrack#
The score was composed by MONACA with Keiichi Okabe at the helm, and it remains one of the pillars of the game’s reputation. Signature tracks include the theme “Weight of the World,” “City Ruins,” “Amusement Park,” the boss track “A Beautiful Song,” and the series-classic arrangement “Song of the Ancients.”
FAQ#
How many endings does the game have?#
26 in total — five main endings (A through E) and twenty-one hidden or gag endings (F through Z). Dialogue choices do not affect them; endings are decided by story checkpoints and specific player actions.
How many routes do I need to play?#
Three. Route A follows 2B, Route B follows 9S (carrying over a Route A clear save), and Route C runs across A2 and 9S. The story’s core truths only fully open up after clearing Route B.
Is there a 2025 remake or an Xbox Series version?#
No. Rumors about a remake, “ver.1.2247488647,” or a new story version are false, and Square Enix has never announced any such plans.
Does the game work on Switch 2?#
Yes — as of November 25, 2025, provided your Switch 2 is running system update 21.0.1 or later. Before that update, the game was flagged as unsupported due to crashes.
Is Ending E’s save deletion permanent?#
Yes, it is a genuine deletion: accepting it wipes all progress and weapon levels from that save. In exchange, you gain supporting fire from other players, and online PSN players can receive aid after a failed attempt.
How many trophies are there?#
48 — 1 platinum, 2 gold, 13 silver, and 32 bronze. The platinum unlocks automatically on completion, while Transcendent Being requires collecting all endings.
What does the paid DLC include?#
3C3C1D119440927 adds three arenas with outfit rewards at Rank S, a hidden boss fight against the real-life presidents of Square Enix and PlatinumGames, cosmetic items, and a collaboration song with amazarashi. It launched at 1,500 yen (96 RMB on Steam China).
Related Games#
- Octopath Traveler II — a pixel-art JRPG and the sequel to the Octopath series
- Baldur’s Gate 3 — the CRPG revival built on D&D 5e rules
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth — the second chapter of the Final Fantasy VII remake project
- Dave the Diver — ocean exploration mixed with sushi restaurant management
- Persona 5 Royal — a school-life themed JRPG
Related Rankings#
Best RPGs of All Time · Hardest Bosses · Best Shooters · Best Soulslike Games
Full Guides#
In-depth sub-guides — Route A, B, and C walkthroughs, side quests, weapon and Pod databases, chip builds, all 26 endings, boss strategies, fishing, hacking, the arena DLC, and the complete trophy list — are available in Chinese on NTGame’s NieR: Automata section.