NieR: Automata is not known to be a very short game, as players must beat the main story at least three times to beat the entire game. The time it takes to beat NieR: Automata also depends on if the player wants to complete all the side quests or just stick to the main story. Full completion of the game, its achievements, and side quests can more than double the time it takes to beat the game if players only stick to the main story.
What console the game is played on does not make much of a difference when it comes to playtime. There is a DLC pack called 3C3C1D119440927, which adds between two and four hours of playtime. While the first playthrough can take up to 21 hours to beat, the other endings required will take up less time.
Time Required For Main And Side Endings
To totally complete the main storyline of NieR: Automata, players must get endings A through E. This requires beating the main story for the first time, playing the story again, playing a third time, and then a fourth (making different choices in the third and fourth times). Finally, a new choice will be available for E. While ending A will take 21 hours to get, only about 16 hours will be ahead to get the rest of the main endings. In total, it is about 37 hours to complete the main story.
All NieR: Automata endings are different, and can add up to 10 more hours to the playtime. These include extra endings F through Z. Unlike the main endings, these are skippable and are gained by killing certain friendly NPCs, failing particular missions, and making certain decisions during the side quests. Taking all these into account, completing the main story as well as all the other endings will take about 45 hours.
Platinuming The Game
Getting every trophy will take about 60 hours and three playthroughs, and possibly longer depending on whether the player chooses to follow a guide. It is actually pretty easy to platinum, or 100% complete, this game as most of the achievements can be won through the main story. Note that completing ending E will make it impossible to go back and obtain these achievements without starting a new game altogether.
Chapter Select will make this easier, and it is unlocked after beating the game a third time. The majority of trophies, however, can be collected in the first playthrough. There are also no difficulty-related trophies, meaning the game can be platinumed on easy, hard, and/or normal. Knowing how to fast travel can also help shorten the time it takes to complete these achievements.
NieR: Automata is now available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.