NieR Reincarnation, stylized as NieR Re[in]carnation, was a free-to-play mobile game supported by microtransactions and marks one of the many projects commemorating the tenth anniversary of the NieR series. It was first announced during the March 29, 2020 Niconico livestream along with NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139....^[3]

Kazuma Koda was the main concept artist (Replicant v1.22) while Akihiko Yoshida was the main character designer (NieR:Automata).

Reincarnation released in Japan on February 18, 2021, and globally on July 28, 2021. The game's scheduled end of service date was April 29, 2024.^[2]

Story

Reincarnation takes place in an area simply known as "The Cage" (檻)—a series of intertwined towers and dungeons, sometime in the far future. A girl awakens on a stone floor with no voice and no memories, and is greeted by a strange being calling itself Mama. In order to restore what she has lost and to redeem herself from a past sin, the girl and Mama travel to reawaken fragments of a forgotten world.^[4]

The first arc, The Girl and the Monster, follows the Girl of Light and the Dark Monster.

The second arc, The Sun and the Moon, follows high school students Hina Akagi and Yuzuki Kurezome.

The third arc, The People and the World, brings together all characters of The Cage and follows their return to Earth with the help of a dedicated YoRHa unit and her Pod.

Characters

Variations of characters and weapons can be unlocked through the in-game gacha system.

Main Characters

	Name	Description	Voice
	Girl of Light Fio	A kind, amnesic girl who awakens within The Cage. Suffers from mysterious nightmares every night.	[JP] Rika Nagae [EN] Cassandra Lee Morris
	Mama	The Girl of Light's companion. Mother figure who appears to be familiar with The Cage.	[JP] Yumi Hara [EN] Emily O'Brien
	Dark Monster Levania	A being that appears to be a black armored knight with insect-like traits. Driven by unknown motives.	[JP] Motoyuki Kawahara [EN] Jason Nuzzo
	Carrier	The Dark Monster's companion. While he has a similar shape to Mama, his personality and appearance are different.	[JP] Ichitaro Ai [EN] Ian James Corlett
	Hina Akagi 明城 陽那	A high school honor student that was transported into The Cage.	[JP] Kana Ichinose [EN] Allegra Clark
	Papa	Hina's companion. Father figure who appears to be familiar with The Cage. While he has a similar shape to Mama, his personality is different.	[JP] Masaki Terasoma [EN] Lloyd Sherr
	Yuzuki Kurezome 暮染 佑月	An ordinary high school student that was transported into The Cage.	[JP] Kōki Uchiyama [EN] Aleks Le
	Dark Mama and Babe	Yuzuki's companions. A mother figure and her child who appear to be familiar with The Cage. While Dark Mama has a similar shape to Mama, her personality and appearance are different.	[JP] Yui Horie and Ryōta Takeuchi [EN] Erin Yvette and Keith Silverstein
	Savior 10H	A YoRHa healer-type android tasked with protecting the server containing humanity's data on the Moon.	[JP] Shion Wakayama [EN] N/A
	Pod 006	10H's companion. Hides an important secret about the fate of humanity.	[JP] Yumi Hara [EN] N/A
	Her	The lone Administrator watching over Earth.	[JP] Yui Ishikawa [EN] N/A

Memory Characters

	Name	Description	Voice
	Exile Rion	A gentle and wise vagrant who travels with a mechanical Clockwork Soldier. He travels from country to country to fulfill a particular oath.	[JP] Junko Minagawa [EN] Zeno Robinson
	Hunter Gayle	A recluse hunter who hails from a forest country. Her prosthetic arm and leg carry a tale of profound anger and sorrow.	[JP] Ayaka Fukuhara [EN] Dana Powers
	Gunman Dimos	An ancient warrior found slumbering underneath castle ruins. Thanks to the Wanderer, his dormant will is activated once more.	[JP] Takuya Satou [EN] Alejandro Saab
	Assassin Akeha	A talented member of a renowned assassin's guild. She has the favor of its current leader, to whom she is deeply loyal.	[JP] Eri Kitamura [EN] Laura Post
	Traveler Argo	An adventurer who has conquered many famous peaks. Throws himself head-first into danger with no regard for the family he leaves behind.	[JP] Kazuhiro Yamaji [EN] Andrew Morgado
	Prisoner 063y	A quiet man who is forced to fight alongside his wife against monstrous flowers who claimed the life of their son. Lives for revenge.	[JP] Kenyū Horiuchi [EN] Emerson Brooks
	Captive F66x	A kind, calm woman who is forced to fight alongside her husband against monstrous flowers who claimed the life of their son.	[JP] Satomi Satō [EN] Suzie Yeung
	Soldier Lars	A boy involved in an endless war since he was a child. More than anything wants to become strong and exact revenge as a soldier.	[JP] Kenshō Ono [EN] Griffin Puatu
	Captain Griff	A young man who leads a unit as a captain. Is called a coward by his comrades in arms due to his fearful personality.	[JP] Shirai Yūsuke [EN] Conrad Haynes
	Weapon Noelle	A girl who awakens in a collapsed research facility. Not knowing who or where she is, she wanders forward following a voice in her head.	[JP] Yukana [EN] Faye Mata
	Witch Saryu	A young girl who's started her education in a wizarding school to become a full-fledged witch.	[JP] Himika Akaneya [EN] Alejandra Reynoso
	Werebeast Priyet	A strange beast clothed in a white sheet. Wishes to become human.	[JP] Hitomi Ōwada [EN] Tessa Netting
	Songstress Marie	A young singer who does virtual performances amidst an unending war.	[JP] Azusa Tadokoro [EN] Baraka May
	Ruler Yurie	An artificial intelligence that leads a scientifically advanced country.	[JP] Haruka Tomatsu [EN] Dawn Bennett
	Boor Yudil	A young sailor who lives as he pleases. Hates when people try and take what's his.	[JP] Ryōhei Kimura [EN] Kaiji Tang
	Belle Sarafa	A princess who disguises as a fortune teller in the night to escape her daily routine.	[JP] Chika Anzai [EN] Anairis Quiñones

Event Characters

These characters are crossover characters from other games obtainable through limited time events.

	Name	Description	Voice
	Battler 2B (NieR:Automata)	A standard YoRHa combat android. This model uses swords to engage machine lifeforms at close range. Relatively cool and collected.	[JP] Yui Ishikawa [EN] Kira Buckland
	Scanner 9S (NieR:Automata)	A YoRHa scanner-type android. Scanners specialize in survey missions, and can gather information and intel via hacking.	[JP] Natsuki Hanae [EN] Kyle McCarley
	Attacker A2 (NieR:Automata)	An attacker-type android that deserted YoRHa. Mainly specializes in close-quarters combat.	[JP] Ayaka Suwa [EN] Cherami Leigh
	Mock Machine 2P (NieR:Automata)	A machine copy of 2B.	[JP] Yui Ishikawa [EN] Kira Buckland
	Lad The World-Ender (NieR Replicant)	A young man on a journey to save his sister, Yonah. He cares deeply for his friends and would do anything to save those he cherishes.	[JP] Kōji Yusa [EN] Ray Chase
	Warrior Kainé (NieR Replicant)	A silver-haired woman who lives in a remote village called The Aerie. The left side of her body is possessed by a Shade.	[JP] Atsuko Tanaka [EN] Laura Bailey
	Oddity Emil (NieR Replicant)	A strange creature that looks like a floating skeleton. He used to be a handsome young boy who lived in a manor.	[JP] Mai Kadowaki [EN] Julie Ann Taylor
	Sister Zero (Drakengard 3)	A beautiful white-haired woman with a flower growing from her eye. Her elegant appearance hides superhuman power and violent temper. An Intoner.	[JP] Maaya Uchida [EN] Tara Platt
	Rebel Joker (Persona 5 Royal)		[JP] Jun Fukuyama [EN] N/A
	Priestess Queen (Persona 5 Royal)		[JP] Rina Satō [EN] N/A
	Emperor Fox (Persona 5 Royal)		[JP] Tomokazu Sugita [EN] N/A
	Justice Crow (Persona 5 Royal)		[JP] Sōichirō Hoshi [EN] N/A

Gameplay

Gameplay is broken up into three main categories: exploration within the 3D environment of The Cage, 2D story quests that are explored with memory characters, and a 3D battle system.

World exploration is similar to other mobile games; tap or hold on the touch screen to move and tap to interact with various objects. The Cage is linear, the player character's objective being restoring memories within "Dark Scarecrows," black statues that block the player's path. While wandering, character dialogue may occur, and there are collectables that can be found in the forms of black birds and white orbs. In-game cinematics retain the letter box effect from previous titles.

2D story quests and certain pre-rendered cutscenes have a 2D style reminiscent of Automata's picture books.

Battles can be manual or automated. Its visual set up resembles many JRPG games, with player characters and enemies lined in parallel rows on the screen. Fast-forward and skip functions are also included.

Players can assemble an up to three-man party whose actions are dictated by cool down timers. Characters may attack, use a unique character skill, or use a skill from their currently equipped weapon. Each character has their own stats and health points, which can be customized by equipment earned through the story or gacha. Strategy is reliant on the player's command input timing and the player characters' equipment setup, represented by an in-game power level called force. There is also an element system that factors in resistances and weaknesses. Additional support can come from Companions, tiny creatures that can be individually leveled up from the main party. Each Companion has distinct buffs and effects that may be used only once per battle. They must be equipped on a character prior to combat.

Individual character equipment includes their main weapon, two sub weapons, three Memoirs, and one Companion, assembled in the game's Loadout menu. Auto-building is available. Each character specializes in a unique weapon type, but can also equip non-compatible weapons.

Characters, weapons and other equipment can be leveled up from the game's Enhance menu. New characters and weapons can be obtained from quests, in-game events, and the gacha system.

Exploration

Exploration is a set of two minigames that can be played to regain stamina, found under the Quests menu. It can be played once for free every eight hours or paid for with an Explorer's Ticket. Both minigames are played by Mama.

Shooting

A shoot 'em up Exploration minigame resembling games such as Space Invaders and Asteroids, similar to the shmup sections found in NieR:Automata. The player must avoid magic orbs also seen in many Automata and NieR boss fights. Score is determined by how many enemies are defeated within the time limit.

Flying Mama

An Exploration minigame resembling Flappy Bird. Score is determined by distance traveled as well as collectable coins obtained within the time limit. Other items, including Emil heads, can be collected to move faster and gain invincibility for a short time.

Arena

The Arena is a separate mode where a three-person party can be assembled to face other player's teams for rewards.

Subjugation Battles

Subjugation Battles are a separate mode where a nine-person party can be assembled to face off against large bosses dubbed "Cursed Gods". Battles are fought in three waves with three of the nine characters in each wave, with score based on total damage and other various bonuses.

Side Stories

By playing the game, you unlock different side stories connected to the characters and in-game lore.

• Character Stories: Learn more about the characters through short anecdotes. Unlocked by ranking up with each character.
• EX Character Stories: Backstories or afterstories for memory characters. Unlocked by evolving each character's dark weapon.
• Event Stories (Records): Limited-time events with stories revolving around specific characters.
• Card Stories: Time-limited short texts unlocked by completing specified quests (panel missions).
• Hidden Stories: Excerpts based on the characters ranging from trivial lore to short stories. Unlocked by doing specified quests found on the map.

The World of Nier

A series of entries detailing NieR history released during NieR Reincarnation's launch.

Development

Reincarnation was written by Yoko Taro and Saito Yosuke. Saito remarked that this NieR entry will be "story heavy" with more text than other social games in the market. Yoko remarked that it's tied to its predecessors, yet is "definitely its own title, not a spin-off of Gestalt/Replicant or Automata." As the story unfolds, its ties to NieR will become more apparent.^[13]

In response to fans being uneasy about playing a new series entry on smartphones, Yoko commented that it's his aspiration to have this title appeal to anyone who likes smartphone games, not just NieR fans. Saito chimed his hopes that "Yoko World" and NieR fans will appreciate this new entry. They plan to keep the story alive with ongoing updates, so long as game sales allow.

When asked if Reincarnation will share any ties to SINoALICE, Yoko stated that the only similarities they share is the gacha found in social games as a whole.^[14]

Saito and Yoko have faith that the young, active team of developers will surprise players; the "elders' roles" aren't as involved as older titles. Continuing his ongoing joke in interviews of Yoko disdaining "good looking, popular guys," he notes it's impossible for him to get along with Applibot's director.

Koda noted that stone-built and unified towers form the world's aesthetic. His goal is to capture a particular ethnic theme for the setting, which was censored by Dengeki post interview.

Okabe composed a new soundtrack. Out of the decade or so working with his colleague, Yoko particularly praised him for Reincarnation's main theme. Keeping in tone with Yoko's requests to include a feeling close to NieR with vocals in the songs, Okabe also played around with several music genres. He hopes to leave listeners with a different resonance than previous entries.

Trivia

• Reincarnation takes place after NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139... Ending E.
  • Sotaro Hiroe stated that if one were to connect NieR:Automata and Reincarnation, it would be connected through Ending E.^[15]
• According to Yoko's commentary, he stated "to begin with, I don't think you can even call it a RPG," and "we tried to do our own thing with the gacha, but thinking about it now, it's a gacha that's pretty much like Puzzle & Dragons."
• NieR Reincarnation was awarded "Best Game Changers" by Google Play's Best Of 2021 in multiple regions.^[16]

Media

Livestreams

Gallery

See Also

• NieR
• NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139...
• NieR:Automata

External Links

• Official Website (JP)
• Official Website (EN)
• Official Twitter (JP)
• Official Twitter (EN)
• NieR Blog
• NieR Re[in] Guide

Notes

References