Choose NieR:Automata™
Choose NieR:Automata™ if you want the Custom Volume Controls, Stereo Sound, and Playable without Timed Input side of the pairing. 49,162 Steam reviews back the pick.
NieR:Automata™ vs Draconic Route
NieR:Automata™ and Draconic Route both land in Action, RPG on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Action, RPG on Steam. NieR:Automata™ (2017) is 2 years older than Draconic Route (2019). Draconic Route is currently ~81% cheaper on Steam than NieR:Automata™ (2.99 USD vs. 15.99 USD). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Draconic Route
Choose Draconic Route if it's currently about 81% cheaper on the Steam Store. Draconic Route launched in 2019.
Both NieR:Automata™ and Draconic Route sit in Action and RPG on Steam, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 NieR:Automata™ |  Draconic Route | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2017 | 2019 |
| Genres | Action, RPG | Action, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Unrated |
| Price | 15.99 USD | 2.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 90.1% positive (49,162 reviews) | — |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Square Enix, PlatinumGames Inc. | 727 Not Hound |
Side by side
- Both share Action, RPG on Steam.
- NieR:Automata™ (2017) is 2 years older than Draconic Route (2019).
- Draconic Route is currently ~81% cheaper on Steam than NieR:Automata™ (2.99 USD vs. 15.99 USD).
- NieR:Automata™ is Deck Playable on Steam Deck; Draconic Route has no Deck rating yet.
NieR:Automata™ vs Draconic Route — FAQ
- Should I play NieR:Automata™ or Draconic Route first?
- If you want chronology, NieR:Automata™ (2017) came out before Draconic Route (2019). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are NieR:Automata™ and Draconic Route similar?
- They overlap on Action, RPG on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Does NieR:Automata™ run on Steam Deck?
- Yes — NieR:Automata™ is rated Deck Playable by Valve. Draconic Route doesn't have a Deck rating yet, so its Deck behaviour is currently unverified.