NieR: Automata follows in the oddball footsteps of its well-loved but mostly overlooked predecessor, including a ton of optional and extra endings to the mix. And these aren’t just conclusions to the story — anything that earns you the credits or a totally unique death counts toward your total endings count. There are so many endings, you can watch one right at the start of the game.
Because this article is all about dealing with endings, you can expect to find plenty of spoilers ahead. We’ll try to keep things vague, but sometimes that’s impossible.
In the original NieR, getting all the endings required multiple playthroughs, and selecting certain choices would completely wipe your save file. Don’t worry, we’ll let you know if any of these endings require a sacrifice that hardcore. With fun facts like that, NieR sounds like a Dark Souls-ian nightmare, but it’s actually very lenient in the endings department. Getting all the endings is pretty easy — restarting placed you much further into the story, meaning you wouldn’t have to replay everything from the start. Fingers crossed NieR: Automata is nice about wasting your time too.
More NieR: Automata guides on Gameranx:
- NieR: Automata – All Achievements / Trophies Guide | 100% Completion
- NieR: Automata – Original NieR Easter Egg | Lunar Tear Trophy Guide
- NieR: Automata – How to Unlock the Secret Trophy Shop | Vendor Guide
- NieR: Automata – How to Fight Lvl. 99 Emil | Secret Boss Battle Guide
- NieR: Automata – How to Get To XP Fast | Best XP Farming Methods
- NieR: Automata – How Fully Upgrade Weapons | Secret Lvl 4 Blacksmith
- NieR: Automata – How to Unlock More Weapon Slots | Pod Locations Guide
How to Unlock Every Ending | Endings Guide
[Work-in-Progress: We’re still hunting for endings. Check back soon for more incoming updates.]
Ending A
- How to Unlock: Default ending. Unlocks when you complete the story for the first time.
Ending B
- How to Unlock: Complete the story in a second playthrough.
Ending C
- How to Unlock: Complete the story for a third playthrough.
- When A2 and 9S confront one another, select A2.
- Defeat 9S.
- Watch the credits play.
Ending D
- How to Unlock: Complete the story for a third playthrough.
- When A2 and 9S confront one another, select 9S.
- Defeat A2.
- Watch the credits play.
Ending E
- How to Unlock: This is a continuation of Ending C or D. You’ll need to complete both variants to unlock this ending.
- When A2 and 9S confront one another, select 9S or A2.
- Complete the battle and watch the credits play.
- Select [Yes] for all the questions that appear.
- Complete the credits mini-game.
Ending F
- How to Unlock: This optional ending is unlocked in CH 01-03_2.
- During the battle against the Goliath, you will need to hack it one final time.
- Let the timer run out.
Ending G
- How to Unlock: Available after gaining control of 9S for the first time on your second playthrough.
- Instead of entering the Flight Unit, jump on the crane past the chest.
- Jump onto the catwalk to the right to get a new ending.
Ending H
- How to Unlock: This optional ending is unlocked in CH 05-03.
- When approaching the Goliath, don’t enter the Flight Units.
- On the bridge, retreat from the battle to escape.
Ending I
- How to Unlock: This optional ending is unlocked in CH 08-01_2.
- Following the battle against Adam, don’t approach 9S on the ground.
- Instead, go toward the Copied City exit.
Ending J
- How to Unlock: This optional ending in unlocked in CH 09-02_3.
- The machines in the factory are peaceful.
- Attack the priest that leads you through the factory.
Ending K
- How to Unlock: Fish at the coast until you catch a mackerel.
- Consume the mackerel in your item menu to immediately unlock this ending.
Ending L
- How to Unlock: This optional ending is unlocked in CH 10-02.
- As the fight begins, run into the crater in the center of the area.
Ending M
- How to Unlock: This optional ending is unlocked in CH 14-03.
- Instead of following the objective, retreat toward the bridge.
Ending N
- How to Unlock: This optional ending is unlocked in CH 07-02.
- Destroy all the machines in Pascal Village.
Ending O
- How to Unlock: This optional ending is unlocked in CH 11-04.
- After landing, don’t help the YoRHa.
- Run away toward the middle of the area.
Ending P
- How to Unlock: This optional ending is unlocked in CH 11-06.
- Allow the corruption to catch you.
Ending Q
- How to Unlock: This optional ending is unlocked in CH 11-07.
- At the start of the chapter, don’t go toward 2B.
- Retreat instead to get an alternate ending.
Ending R
- How to Unlock: This optional ending is unlocked in CH 14-05.
- Destroy the last robots at the Abandoned Factory.
- This includes attempting to destroy Pascal.
Ending S
- How to Unlock: This optional ending is unlocked in CH 17-01.
- During the battle, leave Devola and Popola.
- Run away from them until this ending unlocks.
Ending T
- How to Unlock: At any point in-game, open your menu and select the Skills tab.
- Select Plug-in Chips: Destroy Chip: Equipped Chip: OS Chip
- Select this will warn you: “An android’s central system. Removal means death.”
- Remove OS Chip to reboot and get the credits.
Ending U
- How to Unlock: Available at any point once you gain access to the Bunker.
- While inside the Bunker, self-destruct to get this ending.
Ending V
- How to Unlock: This optional ending is unlocked in CH 17-01.
- Help Devola and Popola, but do not hack the tower.
- Wait and do nothing to get this ending.
Ending W
- How to Unlock: This optional ending is unlocked in CH 01-03_02.
- Let the robots destroy 9S.
Ending X
- How to Unlock: This optional ending is unlocked in CH 11-06.
- At the end of the mission, when you control A2, ignore the YoRHa.
- Run away from the fight across the bridge.
Ending Y
- How to Unlock: Coming soon.
Ending Z
- How to Unlock: This optional ending is unlock in CH 14-01.
- After rescuing Pascal, choose to destroy it.
- The ending will unlock after destroying Pascal.
Which ending is your favorite? Need more help with one of these endings? Let us know in the comments!
