NieR Automata stands as a masterful achievement in modern video game storytelling, blending philosophical themes with a highly unconventional narrative structure. Players diving into this dystopian world often find themselves wondering how much time they need to invest to witness the full experience. Understanding the game's actual length requires looking past the initial credits, as the journey is uniquely divided into multiple layers and distinct outcomes.
Average Playtime for Main Story and Side Content
For players focusing strictly on the initial main storyline, a single playthrough typically takes around 15 hours to complete. However, reaching the first set of credits only scratches the surface of the overarching plot designed by director Yoko Taro. To truly finish the core narrative across the primary narrative paths, gamers should expect to spend roughly 30 to 40 hours.
Engaging with the game's diverse side quests adds significant value and depth to the world building while expanding your total clock time. Enthusiasts who aim to experience every optional mission, upgrade all weapons, and maximize character levels will easily push their playtime past the 60-hour mark. The investment is highly rewarding for those captivated by the bleak yet beautiful mechanical ecosystem.
Understanding the Core Canonical Endings
The game famously features five primary canonical endings, which are labeled alphabetically as endings A through E. Rather than functioning as traditional alternate branches based on choices, these paths serve as sequential chapters of a continuous story. Viewing the subsequent segments requires reloading your completed save file to experience the world from different perspectives.
Route A introduces the foundational conflict, while Route B offers essential context through the eyes of a companion android. The narrative fully opens up during the third playthrough, which delivers completely new content that leads directly into the emotional finales. Experiencing all five of these main conclusions is absolutely mandatory to comprehend the true message of the game.
The Alphabet of Secret and Joke Conclusions
Beyond the main plot line, the title contains a staggering total of 26 distinct endings, matching every single letter of the English alphabet. The conclusions spanning from letter F to letter Z function as humorous joke endings or sudden game-over scenarios. These are triggered by specific, often counter-intuitive player actions that disrupt the intended flow of the mission.
For instance, abandoning a critical battlefield to explore a different region or eating a specific piece of toxic fish will immediately trigger a unique text scroll. These scenarios instantly return you to the main menu but preserve your completion progress on the save file. Hunting down these eccentric scenarios provides a lighthearted break from the otherwise heavy and melancholic themes of the main campaign.
Tips for Finding Every Ending Efficiently
To witness every possible conclusion without repeating hours of gameplay, players should prioritize unlocking the chapter select feature. This incredibly convenient tool becomes permanently available immediately after successfully finishing the third major story route. It allows you to jump directly into specific scenarios to trigger missed joke events or alternate choices.
Maintaining a few separate save files can also prevent accidental progress blocks during critical narrative turning points. Focusing on upgrading your standard dynamic chips will grant the mechanical advantages needed to clear specialized combat trials quickly. By utilizing these practical features, fully completing the massive checklist becomes a smooth and highly enjoyable endeavor.
