NieR:Automata follows androids 2B, 9S and A2 as they fight to reclaim Earth from machine lifeforms, after humanity has been driven from the planet. The conflict sets up a story-led action RPG in which battles against mechanical foes sit alongside a wider mystery about the world. Its bleak setting is not just a backdrop: the game’s open-field environments connect haunting vistas and locations without area loading, and include side events alongside the main story.
Combat blends melee and ranged attacks, with players able to chain light and heavy strikes, switch weapons and evade enemies at speed. Encounters range from groups of machines to challenging bosses, while RPG systems let players level up, learn combat skills and customize a loadout. The Pod support system adds another layer: Pods can attack manually or through lock-on, help outside combat by letting the player glide, and gain upgrades that add attack methods and variations. Auto Mode offers easier attacks and evasions for newcomers, while the listed adjustable difficulty gives players another way to tailor the challenge.
Its appeal, as described here, lies in how fast-paced encounters and customizable systems are set within a connected, desolate world.
