Should I Play NieR Replicant or Automata First?

When It Makes Sense

• Good fit: Start with NieR: Automata if you want the most polished introduction to the series. Automata offers fast, fluid action combat, modern quality-of-life features, and a self-contained story following androids 2B, 9S, and A2. It was designed to welcome newcomers, so you can follow its main plot and thematic arc without prior knowledge of Replicant. This is usually the safest choice for players who are unsure about older JRPG design or who want a game that hooks them quickly.
• Good fit: Start with NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… if you value chronological storytelling and want every reference in Automata to land with full emotional weight. Replicant takes place more than a thousand years before Automata and introduces key concepts such as the Black Scrawl, Gestalt souls, Shades, and the character Emil. Playing Replicant first turns Automata’s offhand lore mentions into meaningful callbacks, though you should expect slower pacing, frequent backtracking, and quest design that reflects its 2010 origin.

When You Should Avoid It

• Warning sign: Avoid starting with Replicant if you have little tolerance for dated quest structure and repetitive gameplay. The remaster preserves the original game’s fetch quests, sparse travel, and comparatively simple combat, which can feel like a slog after modern action RPGs. If your first impression matters, a frustrating Replicant experience could discourage you from trying Automata at all.
• Warning sign: Avoid starting with Automata first if you already know you intend to play Replicant and you want its story to feel fresh. Automata assumes a post-Replicant world and casually references events, characters, and technologies from the earlier game. Those references can soften or spoil key emotional beats in Replicant, because you will already know how its world evolves.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Automata delivers a more accessible and polished experience with responsive combat, intuitive systems, and multiple endings that encourage replay without demanding prior series knowledge.
• Because it stands alone, you can enjoy a complete narrative arc even if you never play Replicant, making it a lower-commitment entry point.

Cons

• Starting with Automata can spoil or contextualize major lore reveals from Replicant, which may reduce the impact of later playing the earlier game.
• If you strongly prefer chronological order, Automata’s references to events set millennia earlier can feel like unexplained backstory until you return to Replicant.

Decision Checklist

• Do I care more about playing in story order, or about starting with the most modern gameplay?
• Am I committed to playing both games, or do I want a single, self-contained experience?
• Can I tolerate older quest design, backtracking, and repetitive side content for the sake of lore?

Alternatives to Consider

If you only plan to play one game, NieR: Automata is the practical choice. If you want Replicant’s lore without its dated gameplay loop, a concise story recap or summary can supply enough background before Automata. Players who own Replicant but want a smoother ride can use fan guides to skip optional filler quests and focus on the main story. You can also try Automata’s demo or watch gameplay footage to see whether its action style suits you. Finally, the Drakengard series is the deeper lore predecessor, but it is far more niche and not required for either NieR game.

Final Recommendation

For most players, NieR: Automata is the better starting point: it is more polished, more accessible, and tells a largely self-contained story that does not require Replicant. Choose NieR Replicant first only if you are committed to playing both games and you strongly prefer chronological order, accepting that its older design may feel like a step backward. Since this is an entertainment purchase rather than a high-stakes decision, let your available time, budget, and taste for dated JRPG pacing guide you.