7 Reasons NieR: Automata Still Holds Up as One of the Most Memorable RPGs

NieR: Automata is undoubtedly one of the most recognizable and highly acclaimed games to come out of Japan in the last decade, and it still stands out today among the best sci-fi RPGs of all time. Set on a ruined Earth which has become overrun with aggressive and seemingly sentient machines, you take on the role of android 2B as you set about reclaiming the Earth for human masters who have retreated to the moon. That's the basic premise, anyway, but the game is much more than a simple robot fighting story.

From its unique art style to its varied gameplay mechanics, NieR: Automata has a far-reaching appeal, but it's one of those games that often ends up in people's backlogs. I'm here to tell you that not only should you play NieR: Automata as soon as possible, but also why it holds up as one of the greatest RPGs on the market today, nine years after its original release.

7 Genre-Blending Gameplay

From Soulslike to Platform Puzzler

NieR: Automata might present itself as a third person action/adventure game, but in reality, it achieves far more than that. Some sequences play like 2D platformers, while others are like isometric puzzle games. There are parkour elements, arcade-style flying missions, Soulslike boss combat, and even some shooter mechanics thrown in for good measure.

Despite this mishmash of elements, the game is still very accessible and pretty easy to get to grips with. In some ways, it almost feels like a homage to early game mechanics as you dodge comically slow floating projectiles and string together spectacular counter-attacks after dodging.

6 Timeless Art Style

Still Stands Out Today

I don't know if the term has been coined yet, but I think the best way to describe NieR: Automata's art style is a 'Cyber-Goth' aesthetic. Blending together elements of classical Gothic style, such as the outfits and weaponry, with more futuristic cyberpunk elements like drones and mechs, really creates quite a unique atmosphere which manages to separate itself from more generic sci-fi visuals.

Even nearly 10 year after its initial release, NieR: Automata's visual style still holds up very well and is instantly recognizable from just a couple of screenshots. The combination of two distinct and varied genres works well thanks to the way it is balanced and doesn't lean too heavily one way or the other.

5 An Increasingly Relevant Narrative

A Prophetic Foretelling?

When NieR: Automata's story was first written, AI was still something largely confined to video games. Perhaps unsurprisingly, developers could see ahead of the curve and implemented their knowledge of how AI systems operate in this sci-fi narrative. Though the idea of maid-like robot soldiers might still seem a little farfetched, the disembodied pseudo-sentience which animates and directs them is very much a reality today.

In addition to themes of planetary destruction and population collapse, the game puts a heavy emphasis on machine intelligence and explores the boundaries between true authentic consciousness and artificial intelligence. Not only that, but it does so in a way that is both memorable and hard-hitting, complete with an orchestral score which is sure to stir the emotions.

4 A Top-Tier Soundtrack

Time to Make a New Playlist

Although I personally feel that nothing can hold a candle to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's Grammy-quality soundtrack these days, NieR: Automata's OST still holds a high spot on the list of all-time greats. The music in this game is far more than simple background noise; it is an enhancer at every possible opportunity, and many of the game's levels, locations, and cutscenes just wouldn't feel the same without their respective tracks.

The songs not only help to deliver on the main emotional story beats, but even ambient tracks in different areas give them a unique vibe and atmosphere, which further helps to differentiate each location. The soundtrack never feels intrusive or overpowering either, proving that, once again, balance is one of the keys to NieR: Automata's success.

3 Global Appeal

It's Not Going Anywhere

NieR: Automata's high-fidelity anime style doesn't just appeal to Japanese audiences; the game was a huge success in the west as well. As of February 2026, the game has officially sold over 10 million copies worldwide, with the USA and Europe making up an estimated 35% of sales — a far higher percentage than most Japanese-made games achieve.

Very few games, particularly one from a franchise that wasn't very well known at time, are able to pull off such numbers, and the fact that the game is still selling significant copies each year is a testament to its longevity.

2 Replay Value

Layer Upon Layer

Although it may follow a relatively linear narrative (with its famous twists), NieR: Automata has plenty of replay value. First of all, the semi-open world level design is structured in a Soulslike manner with lower-level enemies respawning to enable you to farm XP easily. Then there's the fact that there are multiple different endings to the story, the outcomes of which depend upon decisions you have made throughout the game, such as whether or not to attack passive enemies.

On top of that, the story itself actually lends itself to multiple playthroughs much in the same vein as Clair Obscur and BioShock Infinite. Each subsequent playthrough reveals further details which you didn't notice the first time around, but which make perfect sense on a second playthrough.

1 Franchise Potential

The Moon is the Limit

It should come as little surprise that NieR: Automata set the series on a massive upward trajectory. Square Enix followed up with NieR: Replicant in 2021, but the title has managed to expand even beyond the video game medium. In 2023, the anime series NieR: Automata Ver1.1a was developed by the prestigious A-1 Pictures. It's no surprise, given the lore-rich game world, that NieR: Automata's characters and universe translate so well across different mediums.

There are also a number of novels and novellas set in the Nier universe written by Yoko Taro and Jun Eishima. As if that wasn't enough, there is even a stage production called YoRHa Pearl Harbor Descent Record, which was later adapted into a Manga. The franchise has now become globally recognizable and even featured in crossovers with other popular games like Overwatch, Stellar Blade, and Rainbow Six: Siege.