Square Enix has always been known for popular RPGs like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, but one video game series that has only gotten popular in recent years is NieR. A spin-off to the Drakengard games, the original NieR installment released in 2010 but wasn't received that well. However, seven years later, a sequel called NieR: Automata came out and is considered to be one of the greatest games of all time by many players.

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Just recently, a new version of the first game was made, known as NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139..., and came with a lot of improvements. But is this remastered first entry better than the sequel that was a success to begin with, or is NieR: Automata still the best game in the franchise?

10 Replicant: Fantasy

Both NieR games have a lot of fantasy and science fiction elements, making the franchise a great example of what a science fantasy series should be. However, when it comes to the original installment and its new remake, the plot is more enjoyable to fantasy fans.

The story follows a boy and his friends as he tries to save his sister from the illness that harms her. To do so, they go on an epic quest, fighting mysterious creatures called shades and searching for a cure that could save the world. Not only does this plot tell the type of adventure that fantasy fans have always enjoyed, but the magic and quests the game provides make it much closer to this genre than sci-fi.

9 Automata: Sci-Fi

On the other hand, science fiction fans will probably like NieR: Automata more than its predecessor. The story takes place far into the future in a time where aliens and androids battle against each other for control on Earth.

This game has a lot of sci-fi elements and tropes, while also twisting them around to make one of the most unique stories in the genre. It also makes sense for this installment to have a lot more similarities to sci-fi than fantasy as it takes place long after NieR Replicant.

8 Replicant: Likeable Characters

One of the most important things needed to tell an interesting story is enjoyable characters, and NieR Replicant easily has more likable ones than its sequel. Nier (though players can change his name to whatever they'd like), the main protagonist of the game, is everything a hero should be. He's kind, strong, and determined, without any of these character traits being overwhelming, which is a problem that many main characters in other stories have.

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It's also very hard to not like other characters like Yonah, Weiss, and Emil, all of which play an important part in the story. In the new version of the game, Kainé plays a bigger role than she did in the original, making it so fans can enjoy her arc even more than before. Though there are also likable characters in NieR: Automata, they can't compete with the original protagonists and antagonists.

7 Automata: Playable Characters

While NieR: Automata's characters aren't as well written as those from NieR Replicant, the game does allow people to play as three of them. Throughout the majority of NieR Replicant, players only control the titular character. In NieR: Automata, players get to control three androids: 2B, 9S, and A2.

2B is the main character during the beginning of the installment, with 9S being a party member that is with her for the majority of the first half. After beating that, players will get to control 9S, going through almost all the same levels they went through with 2B, before getting to learn what happens after that by playing as him more, and later A2.

6 Replicant: Soundtrack

Both NieR games have phenomenal music. Their soundtracks are some of the best in any media. For the new version of NieR Replicant, the soundtrack was rerecorded, making it even better. On top of that, players can decide whether to listen to these improved versions of the songs while playing the game or listen to the music from NieR: Automata instead.

Even those that prefer the soundtrack of the sequel can't deny that being able to choose between the two is better than only having one. Consequently, NieR Replicant is the best installment in the franchise when it comes to beautiful music.

5 Automata: Enemies

The shades in NieR Replicant aren't anything unique to gaming. In fact, Square Enix has made similar enemies in their other properties. On the other hand, the machines in NieR: Automata are different and incredibly fun to fight.

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It's hard to make an enemy that actually feels good to defeat, but NieR: Automata achieves this with even its most basic threats. Though there are also some machines in NieR Replicant, they can't compete with those in its sequel, as some are terrifying while others can actually make players feel bad for attacking before they even do so.

4 Replicant: Bosses

Though the machines are fun to fight, the same can't be said for the bosses in NieR: Automata. There are definitely some intense bosses in the game, especially the main antagonists, but the ones that are simply large machines are rather boring.

Some of NieR Replicant's bosses are as unique as the machines in NieR: Automata, while others have a lot of similarities to bosses from some of the most important video games throughout history. This makes nearly all of them feel fun or may potentially give players nostalgia for past experiences.

3 Automata: Settings

The world of NieR Replicant isn't anything special, at least not until towards the end of the game. NieR: Automata's setting, however, is a place that players absolutely want to explore. The amusement park and the Copied City are two great examples of this. They are unexpected areas to go to in a post-apocalyptic world, making them memorable even after beating the game, which unfortunately can't be said about the original installment.

Even with the remake, it is actually harder to remember the areas in NieR Replicant than it is to forget those from NieR: Automata.

2 Replicant: Gameplay

Both games are great for fans of shoot 'em up as well as hack and slash games, with NieR: Automata being the better one in many ways. However, NieR Replicant is a game that can easily be enjoyed even by those who aren't used to fast-paced combat because the title incorporates other gaming genres.

There are times where NieR Replicant is more similar to a side scroller, a visual novel, and even an old horror game. These moments make the game feel more special than NieR: Automata and are a wonderful way to add elements from one genre to another.

1 Automata: Post-Game Content

Seeing the credits roll and beating the game are two completely different things in this series. In both titles, there are multiple endings to unlock. Unfortunately, the majority of the post-game content in NieR Replicant is simply replaying parts of the game, which can get quite annoying despite there being some new cutscenes.

NieR: Automata, while also forcing players to do everything they had done all over again, also has a lot of new things to do. Though most of them aren't as good as the first route of the game, containing mostly predictable plot points and even going so far as to ruin some of the characters, it's not as repetitive as NieR Replicant and does have some great things that weren't in the first route, such as the true final battle.

Both of these games have good and bad things about them, and it all comes down to what a player is looking for in a title.

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