Deal | "Bold, ambitious, and surprising"—Hack-and-slash RPG with gut-wrenching story and haunting soundtrack gets 60% discount on Steam

With the Steam Summer Sale ending in a couple of hours, here's your last chance to grab one of the best games that launched in 2017 at a hefty discount. While its Metacritic rating of 84 isn't much to write home about, a significant portion of the criticism stems from its underwhelming PC port, which, to this day, has only been partially addressed. Sadly, NieR: Automata didn't win Game of the Year because it had to contend with the likes of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

PC performance quirks notwithstanding, NieR: Automata is a one-of-a-kind game. At its core, it is a hack-and-slash RPG that breaks up the monotony with some bullet hell and 2D sections. Platinum Games is no stranger to the genre, and it mixes things up with ranged options via your trusty Pod companion. Unlike most RPGs that come with a fleshed-out skill tree, NieR: Automata relies on a chip system that lets you add/remove various abilities from your repertoire.

However, NieR: Automata's greatest strength lies in its story. It is simple enough in the beginning. You start as an Android called 2B, who, at this point, has made countless appearances in multiple game franchises, tasked with retaking Earth from the rival faction of robots. 9S, your trusty companion, joins you shortly after. You need to beat the game three times to experience its 'true’ ending. If that wasn’t enough, the game has 26 unique endings, most of which require creative forms of self-sabotage.

NieR: Automata's plot is a profoundly philosophical one riddled with thought-provoking questions. To top it off, it has a haunting soundtrack that perfectly complements the on-screen action. Its composers created an entire language just for it, and it is, frankly, one of the best video game music pieces ever made. You can stream it via Spotify, Apple Music, and other services.

NieR: Automata can be purchased on Steam for just $15.99, which is 60% off its original asking price. The promotion ends soon, so it's best if you grab the deal while you can. $21.08 will get you its DLC titled "3C3C1D119440927". Honestly, you're better off without it, unless you want to get into a boss fight with the CEO of Platinum Games (yes, really).

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