Nier Replicant and the Bittersweet Weight of Memory

Why This Game Broke Me (And Why I'm Grateful)

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I found myself scrolling through the PlayStation Store, looking for something new to lose myself in. You know that feeling—you’re not just looking for entertainment; you’re looking for something that might mean something. Nier: Automata had been sitting in the back of my mind for years. It had this reputation for being different.

People didn’t just say it was good; they spoke about it like it was art, like it could hit you somewhere deeper than most games even attempt.

I was ready to finally see what that was about. But then something strange happened.

Scrolling through the bundles and sales, I noticed another title tucked alongside Automata: Nier Replicant ver.1.22474487139…. The name alone made me pause. It wasn’t slick or self-explanatory—it was cryptic, mathematical, almost aggressively uninterested in explaining itself. It felt like a challenge.

The art, too, was different. Bleaker. More wistful. And although the visuals didn’t look as sharp or modern as Automata's, there was something magnetic about them. Something I couldn’t define. I clicked through and found out it was part of the same universe, its story set thousands of years before Automata—not exactly a traditional prequel, but deeply connected. A hidden beginning to a story I hadn't even started yet.

On a gut feeling, I bought it. No expectations. No preparation. Just instinct.

It turned out to be one of the best decisions I've made.

RID OF YOU: REQUIEM - A 460+ page anime fantasy graphic novel. Think. Spirited Away x Your Name. Releasing end of May 2025. Click here to follow the prelaunch.

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Gameplay: Simple, and That's Exactly the Point

Replicant doesn’t overwhelm you with systems or mechanics. It keeps things straightforward: light attacks, heavy attacks, dodges, parries, and a handful of magic abilities tied to Grimoire Weiss, your sardonic magical companion.

And yet, despite the simplicity, the feel of playing Nier Replicant is immediately satisfying.