When the first trailers for Stellar Blade dropped, the internet collectively did a double-take. It was like looking at a high-definition mirror of Nier Automata. You had the ruined Earth, the sleek female protagonist with a sword, and a floating robot companion. Naturally, the "Nier-clone" labels started flying before the game even had a release date.
Honestly, though? After spending dozens of hours in both, the surface-level stuff is where the similarities mostly end.
If you’re trying to decide which one to play, or you’re wondering if Stellar Blade is just "Nier at home," you’ve come to the right place. These two games are like distant cousins who share a last name but have completely different personalities. One wants to make you cry and question the nature of existence; the other wants to test your reflexes and make you feel like a god-tier action hero.
The Combat Divide: Hack-and-Slash vs. Precision Parrying
Let's get into the meat of it. Nier Automata, developed by PlatinumGames, is a classic hack-and-slash. It’s fluid. It’s fast. It’s basically "diet Bayonetta." You can dodge-cancel almost anything, and the difficulty usually comes from the sheer number of projectiles on screen—basically turning the game into a 3D bullet hell.
The combat is fun, but it’s rarely hard once you get the right chips installed. You can basically automate the game if you want to.
Stellar Blade is a different beast entirely. It’s much more "Diet Sekiro."
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While Eve looks like she should be flipping around like 2B, her movements are heavier. You can't just mash buttons. If you try to play Stellar Blade like Nier, you’re going to get flattened by the first boss. The game is built around Perfect Parries and Perfect Dodges. It’s about rhythm and timing.
- Nier Automata: Focuses on crowd control, weapon switching, and movement.
- Stellar Blade: Focuses on 1v1 duels, posture breaking, and punishing enemy windows.
The boss fights in Stellar Blade are objectively more complex. Each Naytiba (the monsters you fight) has a specific rhythm you have to learn. In Nier, bosses are often spectacles—giant machines that look cool but don't require much more than "dodge when the red circle appears."
Story and Themes: Philosophy vs. Spectacle
This is where the comparison gets spicy.
Yoko Taro, the mind behind Nier, is a mad scientist of storytelling. Nier Automata isn't just a game; it's a multi-layered existential crisis. It uses the medium of gaming to tell a story that wouldn't work as a movie. You have to play it three times (Route A, B, and C) to even see the "real" ending. It touches on nihilism, the cycle of war, and what it means to have a soul.
It’s heavy stuff.
Stellar Blade, directed by Kim Hyung-tae, is way more straightforward. The plot is basically: "Earth is gone, monsters took it, go get it back." There are twists, sure—some of which feel very similar to Nier’s big reveals—but the emotional weight just isn't there in the same way. Eve is a bit more of a blank slate than 2B.
Actually, even Yoko Taro admitted in an interview with IGN Japan that he thinks Stellar Blade is better in terms of graphics and character design. But the fans know the truth: you go to Nier for the "soul" and Stellar Blade for the "spectacle."
That Soundtrack Energy
You can’t talk about these games without mentioning the music.
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Keiichi Okabe and his studio, MONACA, defined the sound of Nier Automata. It’s haunting, ethereal, and uses a made-up "Chaos Language" that makes the world feel ancient and sad.
Interestingly, MONACA actually contributed to the Stellar Blade soundtrack as well. This is why you’ll hear those familiar vocal swells while exploring the Wasteland. However, Stellar Blade mixes in a lot more K-pop-inspired tracks and upbeat electronic music. It feels more "modern" and less "depressing."
If you want music that makes you feel like you're exploring a graveyard of gods, it's Nier. If you want a vibe that makes you want to go out and buy a designer outfit after killing a mutant, it's Stellar Blade.
Which One Should You Buy First?
It really comes down to what you're in the mood for right now.
If you want a game that will stay with you for years, making you think about the ending while you’re trying to fall asleep, Nier Automata is a mandatory experience. It’s a masterpiece of the genre and arguably one of the best games ever made.
If you’ve already played Nier or you’re just craving high-fidelity action, Stellar Blade is the move. It’s technically superior in almost every way—the graphics are gorgeous, the performance is rock-solid on PS5, and the combat has way more depth for players who like a challenge.
Actionable Next Steps
- Check the sales: Nier Automata is often on sale for under $20. It’s a steal.
- Try the demo: Stellar Blade has a meaty demo on the PlayStation Store. Play it to see if the parry-heavy combat clicks for you before dropping $70.
- DLC alert: If you already own Stellar Blade, look for the Nier Automata DLC. It adds 2B’s outfit and some music, which is the perfect way to bridge the gap between these two worlds.
- Order matters: If you plan on playing both, start with Nier Automata. Stellar Blade’s graphics and combat are so refined that going backward might make Nier feel a bit "janky" by comparison, even though its story is superior.
At the end of the day, we’re lucky to have both. One proved that games could be high art; the other proved that the "sexy-cyborg-slashing-monsters" sub-genre still has plenty of life—and technical grit—left in it.