Review · Action · PlayStation 4 · Nintendo Switch · PC
NieR:Automata
Reviewed: 30 Apr 2026
PlayStation 4 · Nintendo Switch · PC · Xbox One
Platinum Games · 2017
Ludograph rating
A
Recommended
69 /100
NieR:Automata is an action RPG that builds spatial awareness, empathy, and ethical reasoning, but features frequent and intense violence.
Growth (BDS)
54
Risk (RIS)
3
Daily limit
–
Age guidance
17+
Developmental benefits
| B1 | Cognitive | 0.60 | |
| B2 | Social-emotional | 0.37 | |
| B3 | Motor | 0.65 | |
NieR: Automata offers a rich, philosophical narrative exploring themes of sentience, free will, and humanity through the eyes of androids. Its engaging action-RPG combat, open-world exploration, and character progression foster problem-solving, strategic thinking, and spatial awareness. The game encourages empathy and ethical reasoning through its compelling story.
Design risks
| R1 | Compulsion-loop pressure | 0.07 | |
| R2 | Monetization | 0.00 | |
| R3 | Social risk | 0.00 | |
The game features frequent and intense violence, consistent with its M rating. While lacking manipulative monetization or social risks, its mature themes and action-oriented gameplay may not be suitable for younger players.
Content (not in risk score)
| R4.1 | Violence Level | 1.00 | |
| R4.2 | Sexual Content | 0.33 | |
| R4.3 | Language | 0.67 | |
| R4.4 | Substance References | 0.00 | |
| R4.5 | Fear / Horror | 0.33 | |
Content risk is displayed separately and does not affect the time recommendation.
Regulatory design checks · DSA — Assessed: meets criteria·GDPR-K — Assessed: meets criteria·ODDS — Assessed: meets criteria
- DSA:What Ludograph checks: whether the game's design gives minors the transparency the EU Digital Services Act expects: plain terms, honest defaults, and clear reporting routes.: Estimated from review data. No dark pattern or child-targeting concerns found.
- GDPR-K:What Ludograph checks: whether age assurance and consent flows are designed for under-16s, in the spirit of GDPR Article 8.: Estimated from review data. No privacy or child-targeting concerns found.
- ODDS:What Ludograph checks: whether paid random-reward drop rates are disclosed, as required in China, Japan and South Korea.: Estimated from review data. No paid random-reward mechanics found, so drop-rate disclosure requirements do not apply.
These reflect Ludograph's assessment of the game's design practices against each framework's criteria, not a legal compliance determination.