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Discover the Diverse Cast of Playable Characters in NieR: Automata

by Blake Feb 13,2025

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NieR: Automata's narrative unfolds across three distinct playthroughs. While the first two playthroughs share significant overlap, the third playthrough reveals a substantial amount of additional story content beyond the initial credits.

Although the game features three main playthroughs leading to multiple endings, some endings are more developed than others, requiring specific character choices and actions. Below, we detail the three playable characters and the process of switching between them.

All Playable Characters In NieR: Automata

The core of NieR: Automata's story centers around 2B, 9S, and A2. 2B and 9S are partners, and their screen time varies depending on the playthrough. Each character possesses a unique combat style, offering a fresh experience even with identical plugin chips equipped. While all three are playable, switching isn't always straightforward.

How To Switch Characters In NieR: Automata

Character selection is fixed during the initial playthrough:

  • Playthrough 1: 2B
  • Playthrough 2: 9S
  • Playthrough 3: 2B/9S/A2, with the story dictating character switching.

Completing a main ending unlocks Chapter Select mode, enabling character selection. This mode allows revisiting any of the game's 17 chapters. Numbers displayed to the right of the screen indicate completed/incomplete side quests. If a character shows numbers for a chapter, that chapter can be replayed as that character.

Note that later chapters, particularly in playthrough 3, restrict character selection. While Chapter Select allows character changes, it also necessitates navigating to story points where that character was originally playable. Saving before changing chapters ensures progress carries over, allowing for leveling all three characters' shared levels to the maximum.

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