Nier Reincarnation is a 2021 free-to-play role-playing video game developed by Applibot and published by Square Enix. It was released for Android and iOS devices in Japan in February 2021, and worldwide in July 2021. The game is the third installment in the Nier universe, and the sixth installment in the Drakengard series. Set in a pocket dimension called the Cage, the game follows the story arcs of multiple characters, each exploring their own troubled pasts. Gameplay is split between narrative-driven exploration within the Cage and Weapon Stories, and turn-based battles against monsters infesting the Cage.
Production began following the success of Nier: Automata, with the aim of making an accessible mobile entry in the Nier universe. Series creator Yoko Taro acted as creative director, and contributed to the scenario. Other returning staff included producer Yosuke Saito, artists Akihiko Yoshida and Kazuma Koda, and co-composer Keiichi Okabe.
Gameplay
Nier Reincarnation is a role-playing video game set in the same universe as Nier and its sequel Nier: Automata, taking place at an unspecified time within an infinite area of towers dubbed the Cage. The game covers multiple story arcs of varying length following different characters within the Cage. The player navigates different areas of the Cage in the company of ghost-like companions, entering statues called Scarecrows and reliving memories which play out as storybook-like narratives.
The gameplay is split into three types. The first is the current protagonist exploring different areas of the Cage with their companion. During this exploration, they come across Scarecrows which grant and upgrade weapons used to fight enemies within unlocked memories. In these memories, dubbed Weapon Stories, players experience the memories of those related to a weapon from a side-scrolling painting-like perspective, entering battles to correct errors in the memories. Battles play out in real-time inside the memories with a party of three characters against enemies, with special attacks utilized by tapping icons on-screen when they have charged. Battles can be performed manually or completed through an auto-battle function.
At launch, Nier Reincarnation included a minigame where the player shoots at targets within a time limit. The shooter is locked to a horizontal axis, and being hit by projectiles from the targets will freeze them temporarily. The player is ranked based on points gained from defeating targets, impacting their reward. An alternate minigame was added post-launch which has players controlling the supporting character Mama in an autoscrolling side-scroller. The goal is to avoid obstacles and find coins within the time limit, with items granting buffs and enemies which will decrease the player score if Mama is hit. An Arena mode added post-launch allowed a player's party to fight an opposing party created by another player, granting weapon and character enhancement rewards.
While the storyline characters are present in-game from the outset, other character variations and weapons are obtained through a gacha mechanic. Storyline quests, when completed, unlock optional harder versions of their battles. The player also has a strength statistic for their party members dubbed "Force", with the party's Force needing to be a certain threshold to progress the story. The Force requirements were adjusted following the initial story arc.
Plot
The Girl and the Monster
The first story arc follows the exploits of two individuals exploring the Cage; Fio, a young girl who endures great suffering in the real world and finds solace in the Cage, and the dream-eating monster Levania. The story initially shows Levania in Fio's body after a body swap orchestrated by a ghost-like being dubbed the "Carrier", with a similar being called "Mama" guiding him to gain the power needed to reverse the body swap. Fio and Levania ultimately revealed to be weapons whose stories were being corrupted, with Mama saying more stories must be found.
The Sun and the Moon
The second story arc follows high school students Yuzuki Kurezome and Hina Akagi. Both are transported to the Cage from the real world and guided by Mama and "Papa", another ghost-like being, each recovering fragments of the broken sun and moon. The story reveals them to be siblings separated by their parents' divorce following a turbulent marriage, ultimately showing that each sibling kill the other's parent out of hatred; their wishes to revive their parents come into conflict. The default ending has one sibling killing the other, while replaying the final chapter unlocks an option where Hina and Yuzuki forgive each other and remain in the Cage.