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Start on Normal if you’re new to NieR:Automata or unsure which setting suits you. It gives you room to learn the game’s combat without Easy-mode automation. Choose Easy if you’d like selected actions automated, or pick a higher setting if you want a more demanding fight. You can change the difficulty while playing, so your opening choice isn’t permanent.
What are the difficulty settings in NieR:Automata?
The game has four settings: Easy, Normal, Hard, and Very Hard. They primarily help you choose the kind of combat experience you want: assistance with some actions, a straightforward starting point, or a tougher action challenge.
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| 1 |
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Nier, Automata Game of the Yorha Edition - PlayStation 4 | $24.70 | Buy on Amazon |
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Nier Replicant Ver.1.22474487139... - PlayStation 4 | $26.89 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Nier Automata: Standard Edition (PS4) | $29.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Nier: Automata (Game Soundtrack) | $30.96 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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NieR: Automata Game of the YoRHa Edition (PS4) | $23.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Square Enix’s official PC Game Hub says difficulty can be changed during play. You can try a setting and switch if it isn’t working for you.
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Easy: for help with combat actions
Easy is the option to consider if you want help executing some combat actions. With Auto Chips, the game can automate actions such as attacking and evading. The chip choices let you adjust which behaviors are automated, rather than making Easy a single fixed control scheme. Choose the actions you want help with and keep the rest manual if that suits you better.
#1 Best Overall
- Game of the YoRHa Edition includes the game along with DLC and bonus content for the full experience of the award winning post-apocalyptic action RPG; See description below for complete details
- Action packed battles and fluid combat perfect for both newcomers and experienced action gamers
- Includes RPG elements such as leveling, different weapon types, combat skills, and customizable load outs
- The desolate open world features beautiful vistas and a wealth of sidequests in addition to the main storyline
- Pods assist in and outside of battle and can be upgraded with new attack variations and abilities
Normal: the best starting point for most first-time players
Normal is a sensible first choice if you want to learn the combat yourself but aren’t specifically looking for a tougher challenge. You’ll use the game’s attacks and evasion without Easy’s Auto Chip assistance. If the fights feel too demanding or too forgiving, change the setting later.
Hard: for more pressure
Try Hard if you’re comfortable with action games and want combat to feel more demanding. The official materials cited here name the setting but do not give a complete mechanical comparison between Hard and Very Hard, so it’s best to treat Hard as a higher-challenge option rather than rely on unverified damage or enemy-behavior claims.
Rank #2
- Uncover the truth behind the world of NieR and prepare to question everything in this dark, twisting tale
- Journey alongside an unlikely group of allies through a ruined world, plagued by sickness and monstrous horrors
- A mesmerizing iconic soundtrack, newly recorded by NieR:Automata composer, Keiichi
- Fight back dreadful enemies with a visceral, uniquely customizable blend of swordplay and powerful magic
Very Hard: for a severe challenge
Very Hard is the setting to consider if you want the most punishing option. A 2017 PlayStation Blog explainer characterized the hardest mode as one-hit-death play. That is a launch-era description; if that level of risk sounds unappealing, choose Normal or Hard instead.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteHow difficulty fits into the combat
NieR:Automata combines fast attacks, heavy attacks, and evasion. Its plug-in chips customize abilities, and chip choices also determine how Easy-mode automation behaves. These systems make Easy useful not only for players seeking a lower-pressure experience, but also for players who want assistance with particular actions while keeping other inputs under their control.
Rank #3
- Action-Packed Battles
- Beautifully Desolate Open-World
- Masterfully Crafted Story and Characters
- Elements of an RPG
- Utilise the Pod Support System to Assist In and Outside of Battle
Square Enix describes the attack and evasion options on its official battle page. A PlayStation Blog overview also explains that plug-in chips customize combat abilities and can be changed at any time.
A quick way to decide
- New to the game or undecided: Start with Normal.
- Want help with attacks or evasion: Choose Easy and use Auto Chips for the actions you want automated.
- Comfortable with action games and seeking more pressure: Try Hard.
- Want the most punishing documented option: Consider Very Hard, keeping its one-hit-death description in mind.
These are practical recommendations based on the settings’ documented descriptions, not a developer-prescribed ranking. Since you can change difficulty during play, you can adjust your choice as you learn what feels right.
Rank #4
- Import Game - Japanese Version
- Compatible with US systems (region free)
- Japanese language (other languages may be included)
- Manual and packaging in Japanese language
What the available descriptions don’t establish
The cited official descriptions do not provide a full mechanical breakdown of every difficulty setting or establish how difficulty affects story, endings, or rewards. Avoid assuming specific damage multipliers, enemy changes, or reward differences from informal player claims unless you have a reliable source for them.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Action-Packed Battles - Players will switch between using melee and ranged attacks in battle against hordes of enemies and challenging bosses across a variety of open field maps.
- Beautifully Desolate Open-World - The game seamlessly joins together hauntingly beautiful vistas and locations with no area loading.
- Masterfully Crafted Story and Characters - NieR: Automata tells the story of androids 2B, 9S and A2 and their ferocious battle to reclaim a machine-driven dystopia overrun by powerful weapons known as machine lifeforms.
- Elements of an RPG - Players will obtain a variety of weapon types, level up in battle, learn new combat skills, and customise a loadout that caters to their playstyle.
- Utilise the Pod Support System to Assist In and Outside of Battle - Pods can attack the enemy in both manual and lock-on modes.
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