The Lie Among the Stars: What If There Were No Aliens in Nier Automata?
Introduction
We’ve followed this story across galaxies, through ruined cities, across timelines torn apart and sewn back together again. We've been told, again and again, that aliens invaded Earth—that these faceless invaders created the machines to wipe out what remained of humanity. We believed it. The characters believed it. Even the machines believed it.
But… what if it was never true?
In *Nier Automata*, we are presented with a story about survival, memory, and purpose, but beneath the surface lies a question that lingers like a whisper in a forgotten dream: *Where did the machines really come from?*
To answer that, we have to return—to *Nier Replicant*, and the haunting depths of the Tree of Memory. There, in a space far beneath the earth, we meet machine-like Admin units centuries before the alien "arrival." There were no mentions of outer space then. Only data. Only remnants. Only forgotten humanity.
And then, we remember the Network. The duplication of Kaine. The replication of emotion, instinct, combat strategy. Nothing in that tree felt alien—it felt deeply, painfully human.
So maybe Yoko Taro, the magician behind the curtain, has once again misled us. Maybe those strange bodies we fought beneath the surface while battling Adam and Eve weren’t aliens at all. Maybe they were Relapsed Gestalts—broken echoes of humans long gone, now twisted into monstrous forms. Just like Hook. Just like the beings we faced in Replicant.
Adam once described the so-called “aliens” as plant-like, brainless lifeforms. But how could mindless creatures create machines that evolved, adapted, dreamed?
Maybe the truth is darker. Maybe machines weren’t born from the stars… but from us. From corrupted human data, buried deep in monstrous forms we no longer recognize. We didn’t meet our destroyers from above. We made them, piece by piece, line by line of abandoned code.
And maybe—just maybe—we told ourselves it was aliens... because the truth hurt too much.
The Alien Lie: What Nier Automata Never Wanted Us to Question
Alright, alright…
You didn’t think we were done, did you?
Let’s talk about the so-called “aliens” in *Nier Automata*. You know, the ones who supposedly invaded Earth and created the machines? The narrative goes that before their arrival, machines simply didn’t exist. But I want to take you back—not just to another game, but to the roots of this deception. Remember *Ending E* of *Nier Replicant*? The section where you play as Kaine?
There’s a part where you explore the “Sleeping Beauty” tree—also known as *The Tree of Memory*. That massive, ancient thing had an underground core, and within it, we met the Admin Storage units. They were machines too, existing long before any mention of alien invasions. And yet… there was no trace of aliens back then. Not even a whisper.
That tree didn’t just store memories. It held copies. Entire replications of people, personalities, even Kaine herself. The network? The machine consciousness? It was already there, alive and functioning centuries before the aliens were ever said to appear.
And here’s where the magic trick starts to show. Yoko Taro—our favorite illusionist—pulled a fast one. Again. Just like always.
I can already hear you thinking, “Wait, that doesn’t make sense. The machines fought aliens. YoRHa battled them. How could they not have existed?” Fair question. But there's a hidden layer, revealed in one of the chapters from *Nier Re\[in]carnation*—the continuation of that tragic story about the couple who lost their child in a flower outbreak at a shopping mall.
As I was piecing all this together, stomach growling (yes, I’m hungry too—sandwich? Pizza? No? Okay, moving on…), I realized something even stranger. Remember those eerie, unnatural corpses in the underground chamber where we fought Adam and Eve? Creepy, right? You probably thought, “Yeah, those *have* to be aliens.”
But no. They weren’t.
We've seen them before—in *Nier Replicant*. They weren’t visitors from space. They were Relapsed Gestalts. Twisted remnants of broken human data. Monsters like Hook. Beings once human, then corrupted, now shadows of what once was.
So maybe—just maybe—there were never any aliens at all.
Maybe what we thought were invaders… were just reflections of our own ruined selves, dressed up in another lie.
The Truth Buried Beneath: Were the Aliens Ever Real in Nier Automata?
Adam once said something striking about the so-called “aliens.” He described them as mindless, plant-like organisms—creatures that merely existed, without thought, without purpose. Just... there.
But let’s pause and really think about that for a second. Can beings so simple, so devoid of intelligence, truly be the architects of machines that not only function but evolve? Machines that develop awareness? That begin to question, dream, suffer?
Of course not. And while Adam’s words may sound far-fetched, they’re not completely wrong—they just don’t tell the whole story.
Let me offer a better version.
You see, the origin of the machines doesn’t lie in distant galaxies. It lies in the wreckage of ourselves. In the data fragments of humanity—of people who once lived, loved, and lost.
The creatures known as *Relapsed Gestalts* were once regular Gestalts. And before that? Human beings. When they relapsed, their minds shattered. They became wild, aggressive, unrecognizable—but somewhere inside, the scraps of human data remained.
Now imagine: from these scraps, from the tiniest echoes of human memory, something was built.
Not by aliens. But by the chaos that humans left behind.
The machines weren’t born in the stars. They rose from the ashes of our downfall.
And as for why so many still believe in the “alien” story? Well... you already know the answer if you've been following closely—especially if you listened to the last podcast episode.
Because a good lie... a beautiful lie… is easier to digest than the horrifying truth:
That we were the cause of our own destruction.
And everything that followed—the machines, the networks, the endless war—was just the aftershock.
Further Records Available — Ready to Discover?
Even after all that’s been revealed, echoes of forgotten truths still linger.
If you're ready… the next fragments are waiting to be found.
More articles from the world of Nier
Why You Should Play Nier: Automata
This isn’t just a game — it’s a question wrapped in sorrow, beauty, and purpose.
If you've ever searched for meaning in pixels and music… this might be the story you've been waiting for.
🌌 Nier Automata vs Stellar Blade
Two worlds. Two battles. But the real conflict lies beneath the surface.
If you’ve ever felt a story long after the screen faded to black… this comparison is for you.
5 Reasons Nier: Automata Will Break Your Heart (In the Best Way)
Some games entertain you. This one stays with you.
If you’ve ever cried over digital souls, you’ll want to read this.
Why Nier: Automata's Combat Just Feels Right
It’s not just stylish — it connects to you.
Every dodge, every strike... feels like part of something deeper.
LETTERS — Memories Etched in Words
Some thoughts are too fragile to speak… so they’re written instead.
Open these letters, and feel the weight of emotions time tried to bury.
Inside the Minds of Nier: Automata’s Characters
They fight like machines — but feel like something painfully human.
If you’ve ever wondered why their sorrow feels so real… this will stay with you.
Whispers Beneath the Ruins — Nier: Automata’s Hidden Truths
Beneath the wreckage, secrets wait quietly to be heard.
Dare to listen, and you’ll uncover stories that linger in the shadows.
NieR Replicant — A Story Reborn
From darkness and light, a tale rises to touch your soul.
Dive into a world where every shadow holds a memory waiting to be found.
Nier Replicant vs Stellar Blade — Emotion & Legacy Collide
Two worlds, two legacies — but which story will stay with you forever?
Join the journey where action meets heart, and memories are forged in battle.
Through an Android’s Eyes — Searching for Purpose
What does it mean to feel, to live, to hope — when you’re made of metal?
Step into their world, and explore a quest deeper than circuits and code.
The Death That Lives: An Endless Cycle of Nier
Have you ever felt like games are more than just play—they’re echoes of something deeper? In the world of NieR: Automata, death isn’t an end, and each restart feels like a desperate attempt to reach something better.
Card 1
Text...
Card 2
Text...
More articles from the game Death Stranding
"How Kojima Turns Gameplay Into Cinematic Magic Without Breaking the Flow"
"Playing a Kojima game isn’t just gaming—it’s living a story. He masterfully fuses cinematic moments with gameplay so smoothly, you never feel pulled out of the action. The result? An experience that flows like a movie while you’re still in control."
"The Hidden Environmental Details in Death Stranding You Need to See"
"Death Stranding isn’t just a game—it’s a world that breathes. Every rock, every blade of grass, every fading footprint tells a story of Sam’s lonely journey. This isn’t just scenery; it’s an emotional experience etched into the landscape."
The Genius Way Death Stranding Turns Music Into Emotion
"Death Stranding doesn’t just use music—it turns it into pure emotion. After miles of silence and struggle, a haunting track fades in, transforming a lonely hike into a deeply personal moment. It’s not just a soundtrack; it’s storytelling at its most powerful."
How Real Actors Bring Unmatched Emotion to Gaming
"Death Stranding doesn’t just give you characters—it gives you real people. With actors like Norman Reedus and Mads Mikkelsen, every expression, every glance feels alive. Kojima turned their performances into the soul of the game."
Card 1
Text...
Card 2
Text...
🎧 Dive Into the Unknown
I’ve recorded a special podcast exploring one of the many deep theories from the world of Nier. While it’s the only episode for now, there’s so much more to discover in the articles below—until the next voice finds its way to you.
