Nier often gets praised for its story and music, but another one of its strengths is the environments you get to see and explore. The world of Nier Replicant ver.1.22474487139… can be truly astonishing to take in.
There are many areas present in Nier Replicant, and most of them will stop you in your tracks and have you observe the scenery in awe. With Nier’s gorgeous art direction, even the harsh deserts and rusty factories can look truly incredible, which is why fans of the series will never forget the first time they stepped foot in any of these locations.
10 Manor
The Manor is when Nier Replicant starts going from a weird and sad game to a totally insane and depressing one. But the Manor is one of the best locations in the entire game for many reasons.
On its own, the Manor is a visually striking place. Even if the Manor’s interior is displayed in black and white, for the most part, however, this location is where you first meet Emil, one of the game’s best characters, and where you later learn what exactly his purpose is and learn his background. The Manor is easily one of the best locations in the entire game.
9 The Village
The Village is Nier Replicant’s main hub area and is where players will spend most of their time in the game. Here, you can accept side quests, visit many shops, and do many crucial objects to drive the main story forward. You can also cultivate plants outside of your house for additional resources.
Even though the Village isn’t exactly what you would call pristine, it has a charm. The Village is peaceful and will give you a sense of security after experiencing truly tragic moments. With children and dogs running around, Devola singing in front of the town’s fountain, and many other happy people in the village. How can you not like it?
8 Seafront
The Seafront is home to one of the best sceneries in the entire game and home to the most bizarre side characters and missions. The Seafront is a small yet dense fishing town that is visually striking with its endless sea, white buildings, and sense of community. You also learn the ability to fish in Seafront, which can be challenging but rewarding!
The events that transpire in Seafront, however, range from comical to downright horrifying. This town has got it all, from a grumpy old lady to a constantly bickering couple and true devastation. At least there’s a gorgeous lighthouse with an even better view of the sea.
7 Forest Of Myth
Although it is one of the smallest areas in the entire game, the Forest of Myth is undoubtedly one of the coolest. How the story gets presented in a text-based adventure style, to the ominous feeling you get as soon as you enter, this forest will keep you on your toes.
The Forest of Myth is a fog-covered forest that has the player enter residents’ dreams in the hope of breaking them out. The forest is mysterious and has a sense of dread along with it. However, with that being said, it is incredibly fascinating how the story unfolds in the Forest of Myth.
6 Facade
Facade, an isolated town located deep in the desert, is home to one of the best locations in Nier Replicant. Everything that transpires in Facade is vital to the game’s overall story and the message it’s trying to convey.
The inhabitants of this small desert town follow hundreds of thousands of rules and speak an unknown language. However, even with that, the characters you meet in Facade are genuinely excellent and make you understand their society and their beliefs. The town is also stunning, especially when you first enter it, and will remain in player’s minds forever.
5 Lost Shrine
The Lost Shrine, where everything seemingly kicks off and ultimately comes back to, is a genuinely fascinating place. This shrine is where you first meet your snarky yet brilliant book companion Grimoire Weiss.
Visually, the Lost Shrine is isolated with a lonely bridge connecting it to a path that eventually leads to the main village. Inside is a Great Tree with a giant spiral ramp that leads to the top. The inside of the shrine is stunning and will get explored thoroughly and many times throughout your journey. The moments that also transpire in the Lost Shrine will also get seared into player’s minds for eternity.
4 Wrecked Ship
After players progress a certain way through Nier Replicant, an enormous wrecked ship will be located on the western beach of the town of Seafront.
Once players gain access to search the ship, they will discover its many dark secrets. The vessel is a truly haunting experience, filled with many twists and turns, but is easily one of the best settings in the game.
3 The Aerie
The only good thing to come out of The Aerie is Kainé as it is a genuinely horrible place. Still, in terms of its layout, story moments, and overall appearance, it is amongst the best locations in NieR Replicant. The Aerie is also an incredible spot to gather Eagle Eggs, which will be needed to complete quests and upgrade several weapons.
The Aerie is a small town that has a more vertical take on its structure. However, the town consists mainly of fear-mongering citizens that stay shut into their homes for large portions of their daily lives. Many disturbing and heart-wrenching moments happen in The Aerie, but everything about it is fascinating from its layout and story moments.
2 Library
Located within the main Village of the protagonist sits a small library elevated on a cliff. The Library is where many storylines start and end, but also where many things get revealed.
Without spoiling too much, the Library has many moments that will leave players with their jaw on the floor. The design of the Library is also quite stunning and fills the player with a sense of wonder each time they enter.
1 Shadowlord’s Castle
The Shadowlord’s Castle is what everything starts building towards in the final moments of the main route (and others). Located past the Lost Shrine awaits this mysterious castle.
The castle itself is a beautiful greenhouse with some of the best scenery in Nier Replicant. Along with the gorgeous view comes incredible story beats, twists, and despair. The Shadowlord’s Castle is truly remarkable in every way and may very well be Replicant’s overall best area.
NEXT: Nier Replicant Complete Guide And Walkthrough
