The NieR games in order of release are NIER (2010, sold in Japan as NieR Gestalt and NieR Replicant), NieR:Automata (2017), NieR Re[in]carnation (2021) and NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… (2021).
Below you will find every release date by platform, the story order, each Automata edition up to the 2022 Switch version, where the games are sold today and how Drakengard fits in.
Every NieR game in order
Square Enix has released four NieR games, plus three later editions of NieR:Automata. The list runs from the first launch of each release.
| Order | Game | First release | Platforms at launch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NieR Gestalt and NieR Replicant (released in the West as NIER) | April 22, 2010 in Japan | Gestalt on Xbox 360, Replicant on PS3 in Japan; NIER on PS3 and Xbox 360 in the West |
| 2 | NieR:Automata | February 2017 in Japan; March 7, 2017 on PS4 in North America; March 17, 2017 on Steam | PS4, PC |
| 3 | NieR:Automata Become as Gods Edition | June 2018 | Xbox One |
| 4 | NieR:Automata Game of the YoRHa Edition | February 26, 2019 on PS4 | PS4, PC (Steam) |
| 5 | NieR Re[in]carnation | February 18, 2021 (service start in Japan) | Live-service game; service ended in April 2024 |
| 6 | NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… | April 22, 2021 on Xbox; April 23, 2021 on PS4 and Steam | PS4, Xbox One, PC |
| 7 | NieR:Automata The End of YoRHa Edition | October 6, 2022 | Nintendo Switch |
Rows 3, 4 and 7 are the same NieR:Automata story with its DLC bundled in, and row 6 updates the 2010 Replicant, so the series tells three stories: the original NieR, Automata and Re[in]carnation.
The NieR series
NieR is an action RPG series published by Square Enix and led by director Yoko Taro, producer Yosuke Saito and composer Keiichi Okabe. Its world began as a spin-off from the fifth ending of the PS2 game Drakengard.
| Game | Publisher / co-developer | Lead character | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| NieR Gestalt / NIER (2010) | Square Enix | Nier, a father trying to save his daughter Yonah | The version made for North America and Europe |
| NieR Replicant (2010) | Square Enix | Nier, a young man trying to save his younger sister Yonah | The Japan-only PS3 version of the same story |
| NieR:Automata (2017) | Square Enix / PlatinumGames | Androids 2B, 9S and A2 of the YoRHa unit | A sequel set thousands of years after the first game |
| NieR Re[in]carnation (2021) | Square Enix | A separate story set in a tower world called the Cage | A live-service game that ran from February 2021 to April 2024 |
| NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… (2021) | Square Enix / Toylogic | The young brother from the 2010 Replicant | An updated version of Replicant with modern visuals and a re-recorded soundtrack |
The Switch release of Automata, The End of YoRHa Edition, was ported by Virtuos. Square Enix marked the series' 15th anniversary in 2025 with a livestream and announced a collector's BOX.
Every NieR game in chronological order
Story order differs from release order because Replicant ver.1.22 came out four years after Automata but takes place long before it. Unlike the Dark Souls trilogy, where release order and story order match, NieR's timeline jumps thousands of years between games.
| Story order | Game | When it is set | How it connects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Background | Drakengard (fifth ending) | Modern-day Tokyo, 2003 | The Queen Beast dies in Tokyo and releases White Chlorination Syndrome, the disease that leads to Project Gestalt |
| 1 | NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… or NieR Gestalt / NIER | Around the year 3361 | Nier's journey to save Yonah from the Black Scrawl; a prequel to Automata |
| 2 | NieR:Automata | The year 11,945 | Follows on from Ending D of NieR, after machine lifeforms invade Earth and humanity retreats to the Moon |
NieR Re[in]carnation tells a separate story inside the Cage, and its service has ended, so it sits outside this two-game reading order.
What is Drakengard?
Drakengard is the earlier series that NieR spun off from, and its third game is sold in Japan as Drag-On Dragoon 3. NieR exists because one Drakengard ending sends the story into our own world.
| Game | Platform | Link to NieR |
|---|---|---|
| Drakengard | PS2 | Its fifth ending sends the Queen Beast to modern-day Tokyo, and the disease its death unleashes sets up NieR's world |
| Drakengard 3 (Drag-On Dragoon 3 in Japan) | PS3, 2014 | Sound director Keiichi Okabe, who also composed NieR's soundtrack |
None of the NieR games requires Drakengard. The connection explains where the Black Scrawl and the White Chlorination Syndrome come from, nothing more.
NieR Gestalt vs NieR Replicant
The 2010 game shipped in two versions with the same story and a different hero. Yoko Taro has said the project was first called simply NIER.
| Detail | NieR Gestalt | NieR Replicant |
|---|---|---|
| Hero | A father | A young man, Yonah's older brother |
| Platform in Japan | Xbox 360 | PS3 |
| Release in Japan | April 22, 2010 | April 22, 2010 |
| Western release | Yes, as NIER in North America and Europe | No, Japan only in 2010 |
| Modern version | None | NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… (2021) on PS4, Xbox One and Steam |
Square Enix calls ver.1.22 a version-up of Replicant, not a new game. It keeps the brother as the hero, so Western players met that version of Nier for the first time in 2021.
Should I play NieR games in order?
You do not have to. NieR:Automata is written so that you do not need to have played the first game, though returning players will recognise some places and characters.
| Your situation | Play this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You want the whole story in sequence | NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…, then NieR:Automata | Replicant is the prequel, and Automata follows on from its Ending D |
| You only have time for one game | NieR:Automata | It stands alone and is on PC, PS4, Xbox One and Switch |
| You play on Nintendo Switch | NieR:Automata The End of YoRHa Edition | It is the only NieR game sold on the Switch eShop |
| You already finished Automata | NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… | It fills in the world, the Black Scrawl and the events that Automata builds on |
| You want the father version of Nier | NIER (2010) | The Gestalt hero only exists in the original release; the Xbox store still lists NIER |
Yoko Taro has noted that Replicant was not designed with Automata players in mind. By his account it has fewer gameplay and story twists than Automata, so set expectations if you play it second.
NieR:Automata editions and what each one includes
| Edition | Platform | What it adds to the base game |
|---|---|---|
| Day One Edition (2017) | PS4 | Six pieces of digital content, including the Machine Mask accessory and Pod skins, plus reversible box art |
| Black Box Edition (2017) | PS4 | A YoRHa 2B figurine, a 64-page artbook, a steelbook, the soundtrack and the Day One content; sold only through the Square Enix Online Store |
| Become as Gods Edition (2018) | Xbox One | The 3C3C1D119440927 DLC, the White Book Pod, cardboard, Retro Red and Retro Grey Pod skins and a machine lifeform head accessory |
| Game of the YoRHa Edition (2019) | PS4, PC (Steam) | The 3C3C1D119440927 DLC, the Grimoire Weiss Pod, Pod skins and the Machine Mask accessory; PS4 adds a dynamic theme and avatars |
| The End of YoRHa Edition (2022) | Nintendo Switch | The Switch port by Virtuos, with the 3C3C1D119440927 DLC and the free 6C2P4A118680823 add-on |
The 3C3C1D119440927 DLC adds three colosseums, an amazarashi music video and costumes for 2B, 9S and A2 inspired by NieR Replicant characters. Access requires progress in the main story.
Where to play NieR games on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch
| Game | PC | PlayStation | Xbox | Nintendo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NIER (2010) | Not available | PS3 | Xbox 360; still listed on the Xbox store | Not available |
| NieR:Automata | Steam (Game of the YoRHa Edition) | PS4 (Game of the YoRHa Edition), playable on PS5 | Xbox One (Become as Gods Edition) | Switch (The End of YoRHa Edition) |
| NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… | Steam | PS4 | Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S | Not available |
| NieR Re[in]carnation | Not available | Not available | Not available | Service ended in April 2024 |
On Steam, NieR:Automata's 3C3C1D119440927 DLC is also sold on its own for owners of the base game, and Replicant ver.1.22 has a free 4 YoRHa add-on with four costumes and four weapons from NieR:Automata.
NieR Re[in]carnation release date and end of service
NieR Re[in]carnation is the one NieR game you can no longer play. Square Enix's official site now opens with a notice that the service ended in April 2024.
| Detail | NieR Re[in]carnation |
|---|---|
| Service start in Japan | February 18, 2021 |
| Launch collaboration | A NieR:Automata event from day one, with 2B, 9S and A2 as collaboration characters |
| Setting | The Cage, a tower covered in black, above an endless sea of clouds |
| End of service | April 2024 |
| Where it lives on | Its weapon stories are collected in the Weapon Story book of the announced NieR 15th anniversary BOX, alongside Replicant ver.1.22 and Automata |
NieR:Automata crossovers in Final Fantasy XIV and Stellar Blade
2B and the YoRHa androids also appear outside the NieR games. These are the official collaborations, with the game you need to own.
| Crossover | Game | Release | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| YoRHa: Dark Apocalypse | Final Fantasy XIV (Shadowbringers) | Three chapters: October 2019, August 2020 and April 2021 | An alliance raid series with 2B, 9S and 2P, made with Yoko Taro and Yosuke Saito; needs level 80 and the finished Shadowbringers story |
| NieR:Automata collaboration | Stellar Blade | November 20, 2024 on PS5 | Emil's Shop with eleven collaboration items |
| NieR Pack and NieR Pack Vol. 2 | Theatrhythm Final Bar Line | March 29, 2023 and April 26, 2023 on Switch | Paid NieR DLC packs, $3.99 and $4.49 |
| NieR:Automata collaboration | NieR Re[in]carnation | February 18, 2021 | 2B, 9S and A2 as characters (service ended in April 2024) |
Is there a new NieR game coming?
No new NieR game has been announced, so the 2022 Switch edition of NieR:Automata is the latest release and Replicant ver.1.22 (2021) the latest updated game. Square Enix's official NieR blog lists no new game; its most recent posts, from April 2025, announce the 15th anniversary BOX and the NieR:Orchestra Concert re:12024 [ the end of data ].
NieR games in order FAQs
How many NieR games are there?
There are four NieR games: the 2010 original (NieR Gestalt and NieR Replicant), NieR:Automata (2017), NieR Re[in]carnation (2021) and NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… (2021). Become as Gods, Game of the YoRHa and The End of YoRHa are editions of Automata.
What is the first NieR game?
The first NieR game came out on April 22, 2010 in Japan as two versions, NieR Gestalt on Xbox 360 and NieR Replicant on PS3. North America and Europe received the Gestalt version under the name NIER.
Do you need to play NieR Replicant before Automata?
No. NieR:Automata is written so that new players do not need the first game. Playing Replicant ver.1.22 first adds context, because Automata follows on from the first game's Ending D, about 8,500 years later.
Is NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… a remake?
Square Enix calls it a version-up of the 2010 NieR Replicant rather than a remake. It updates the visuals, re-records Keiichi Okabe's soundtrack and brings the brother version of the story to the West for the first time.
Can you still play NieR Re[in]carnation?
No. NieR Re[in]carnation ended its service in April 2024, about three years after it launched in Japan on February 18, 2021. Square Enix's official site now shows only the end-of-service notice.
Is NieR:Automata on Nintendo Switch?
Yes. NieR:Automata The End of YoRHa Edition came out on Nintendo Switch on October 6, 2022. Virtuos handled the port, and the free 6C2P4A118680823 add-on is on the eShop alongside it.
What year is NieR:Automata set in?
NieR:Automata is set in the year 11,945. The first NieR takes place around the year 3361, so roughly 8,500 years separate the two stories.
Which NieR game has the father?
The father appears only in NieR Gestalt, the 2010 version sold in the West as NIER on PS3 and Xbox 360. NieR Replicant and the 2021 ver.1.22 update use the young brother instead.
Is there a NieR anime?
Yes. NieR:Automata Ver1.1a is a TV anime based on NieR:Automata, and Square Enix links to it from the official NieR:Automata site. It is an adaptation, not a new game in the series.
