NieR:Automata™ similar games & best alternatives
NieR:Automata™
2017
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Quick resume
NieR: Automata tells the story of androids 2B, 9S and A2 and their battle to reclaim the machine-driven dystopia overrun by powerful machines.
Global score
87/100
Genres
Action, Role-playing (RPG)
Similar games
Pros
- Deep and emotional story
- Smooth and varied combat
- Exceptional soundtrack
- Multiple endings and replayability
- Unique philosophical themes
Cons
- Poor keyboard and mouse controls
- Some repetitive environments and side quests
- Mandatory multiple playthroughs for full story
- Technical issues in pc port
- Some players find story pacing uneven
Motivations
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Autonomy
Game with the same Autonomy vibe
4"Players can choose from multiple characters with unique playstyles, customize builds with attributes, elements, and weapons, and decide their own approach to combat and progression."
Dragon Marked For Death
"Players can choose different characters, customize combat styles, and explore multiple endings with varied playthroughs."
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Competence
Game with the same Competence vibe
4"Combat is tactical and challenging with skill checks and character progression; players feel effective overcoming tough encounters."
SKALD: Against the Black Priory
"Combat is described as smooth, fun, and challenging with a high skill ceiling; players engage in varied gameplay mechanics including hack-and-slash and bullet hell."
-
Competition
Game with the same Competition vibe
-4"Focus is on personal story experience and exploration rather than competing against others."
In Stars And Time
"Focus is on personal story experience and exploration rather than competing against others."
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Continuation
Game with the same Continuation vibe
5"Players report long playtimes, habitual engagement, multiple routes and endings encourage repeated playthroughs."
Third Crisis
"Multiple playthroughs and endings encourage long-term engagement and repeated sessions."
-
Cooperation
Game with the same Cooperation vibe
-5"Single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative elements."
Blasphemous
"Single-player experience with no multiplayer or cooperative elements."
-
Creativity
Game with the same Creativity vibe
3"Players can customize builds, switch weapons and skills, and experiment with different combat styles."
Black Myth: Wukong
"Players can customize combat chips and weapon loadouts, allowing for experimentation with play styles."
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Domination
Game with the same Domination vibe
-5"No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; focus is on personal narrative."
The Walking Dead: The Telltale Definitive Series
"No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; focus is on personal narrative."
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Escapism
Game with the same Escapism vibe
5"Strong psychological and emotional immersion providing escape from real life through story and atmosphere."
Lucid9: Inciting Incident
"Strong themes of existentialism and emotional immersion provide deep escape from reality."
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Expectation
Game with the same Expectation vibe
-4"Players engage out of personal interest and intrinsic motivation to experience story and world."
South of Midnight
"Players engage out of intrinsic interest and personal desire to experience story and gameplay."
-
Experimenting
Game with the same Experimenting vibe
4"Many game modes, modifiers, and custom matches encourage trying new gameplay styles and strategies."
Robot Roller-Derby Disco Dodgeball
"Varied gameplay styles, multiple characters, and chip customization encourage trying new approaches."
-
Exploration
Game with the same Exploration vibe
3"Open world with multiple locations, side quests, and hidden areas encourage discovery."
7,62 High Calibre
"Open world with side quests and secrets encourages discovery, though some environments are noted as sparse."
-
Expression
Game with the same Expression vibe
2"Customization of weapons, loadouts, and base layouts allows some degree of self-expression."
The Riftbreaker
"Customization of weapons and combat chips allows some degree of self-expression."
-
Fantasy
Game with the same Fantasy vibe
5"Set in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi world with android protagonist and fantastical enemies; strong imaginative fiction."
Stellar Blade™
"Set in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi world with androids and machines, featuring imaginative fiction and philosophical themes."
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Fellowship
Game with the same Fellowship vibe
-5"Single-player game with minimal social interaction or community involvement."
The Excavation of Hob's Barrow
"Single-player game with minimal social interaction or community involvement."
-
Growth
Game with the same Growth vibe
4"Players develop combat skills and puzzle-solving abilities, and gain deeper understanding of story through multiple playthroughs."
SILENT HILL f
"Players develop skills in combat and understanding of complex story through multiple playthroughs."
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Health
Game with the same Health vibe
-5"Typical sedentary gaming experience with no physical activity elements."
Assassin's Creed® Odyssey
"Typical sedentary gaming experience with no physical activity elements."
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Idle
Game with the same Idle vibe
-4"Requires focused attention due to strategic combat and story engagement; not casual or background play."
YIIK Nameless Psychosis
"Requires focused attention due to combat and story engagement; not a casual or idle game."
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Intimacy
Game with the same Intimacy vibe
-4"Limited social or emotional connections beyond narrative; no multiplayer or social features."
Lucy Dreaming
"Limited social or emotional connections beyond narrative; no multiplayer or social features."
-
Leadership
Game with the same Leadership vibe
-5"No leadership or group management roles; single-player experience."
Five Nights at Freddy's: Security Breach
"No leadership or group management roles; single-player experience."
-
Progression
Game with the same Progression vibe
4"Players accumulate weapons, upgrades, and unlock new endings through repeated playthroughs."
SILENT HILL f
"Players accumulate weapons, upgrades, and unlock multiple endings through progression."
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Relaxation
Game with the same Relaxation vibe
2"Generally relaxing with pleasant music and art, though some levels induce frustration and tension."
Blocks That Matter
"While some find it relaxing, others note emotional intensity and existential themes that create tension."
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Sensation
Game with the same Sensation vibe
4"Highly praised soundtrack and visuals provide strong sensory stimulation and emotional engagement."
*NEW* SCUFFED EPIC BHOP SIMULATOR 2023 (POG CHAMP)
"Highly praised soundtrack, visuals, and combat provide strong sensory and emotional stimulation."
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Status
Game with the same Status vibe
-5"No social status or recognition mechanics; focus is on personal experience."
Layers of Fear (2016)
"No social status or recognition mechanics; focus is on personal experience."
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Story
Game with the same Story vibe
5"Strong narrative focus with emotional and meaningful story that engages players deeply."
Voices from the Sea
"Deep, philosophical, and emotionally impactful narrative is a core element praised by players."
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Strategy
Game with the same Strategy vibe
3"Combat and build customization require planning and tactical thinking."
The Elder Scrolls® Online
"Combat and chip customization require planning and tactical thinking."
-
Thrill
Game with the same Thrill vibe
3"Bullet-hell combat provides moments of suspense and challenge, especially on higher difficulties."
Princess Remedy in a World of Hurt
"Bullet hell segments and challenging combat provide moments of suspense and excitement."
-
Value
Game with the same Value vibe
5"Players report high satisfaction and feel the game offers excellent value for price and time invested."
Dialtown: Phone Dating Sim
"Players report high satisfaction and feel the game is worth the price and time invested."
-
Violence
Game with the same Violence vibe
4"Combat involves hack-and-slash fighting, boss battles, and destruction of enemies."
Fate/Samurai Remnant
"Combat involves defeating enemies through hack-and-slash and shooting mechanics."
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Survival
Game with the same Survival vibe
2"Players manage resources and avoid failure in challenging combat scenarios, but not a core survival game."
Honkai Impact 3rd
"Some challenge in combat and boss fights requires managing health and resources, but not a core survival game."
Analysis
Broadly representative of its motivational profile, with a few distinct shifts. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Fellowship, Cooperation, Leadership, Violence. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Story, Violence, Continuation.
How to use the graph
Similar games map
Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.
- Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
- Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
- Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
- Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.
Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.
Last update: 30/04/2026