Story, World & Core Themes
Explore the narrative, setting, and ideas that shape Nier: Automata.
Story
High-level synopsis and narrative focus.
In a post-apocalyptic world where humanity has fled to the moon, androids 2B, 9S, and A2 fight an endless war against machine lifeforms to reclaim Earth, discovering profound truths about consciousness and existence.
World
Setting, cultures, and distinctive elements.
The world of NieR: Automata is a desolate, post-apocalyptic Earth reclaimed by nature, thousands of years after humanity's extinction. Ruined cityscapes, overgrown skyscrapers, and vast deserts serve as the battleground for the endless war between androids and machine lifeforms. Key locations include the City Ruins, the sun-drenched Desert Zone, the hauntingly cheerful Amusement Park, and the orbital Bunker where YoRHa androids command their operations. The atmosphere is melancholic yet beautiful, emphasizing the passage of time and the remnants of a lost civilization.
Themes
Core ideas and recurring motifs.
Humanity vs Artificial Intelligence, Consciousness, Existentialism, Sacrifice, Memory, Identity
