Discover the hauntingly beautiful Wise Machines quest in Nier: Automata, a profound hidden gem that explores existential themes through raw dialogue and emotional depth. This poignant sequence, accessible only as 9S, reveals the melancholic thoughts of contemplative machines questioning love and purpose.

Okay, fellow androids and seekers of meaning, let's talk about one of Nier: Automata's most hauntingly beautiful hidden gems – the Wise Machines quest. Years after its release, stumbling upon these silent philosophers still hits like a gut punch wrapped in existential velvet. It’s not a quest in your log, gives zero rewards, and yet... it might just be the purest distillation of the game’s soul. Finding them felt like discovering rust-covered music boxes in a forgotten attic, each one holding a single, melancholic tune about love and purpose lost. 🎶🤖

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This poignant sequence unfolds only during your second playthrough as everyone's favorite scanner boy, 9S. Forget flashy combat or epic loot drops here. This is pure, raw dialogue, accessed by hacking into three distinct, contemplative machines scattered between the Resistance Camp and the Abandoned Factory. They aren't hostile; they're too busy drowning in their own thoughts, standing as still as old library books gathering dust on forgotten shelves. To hear their whispers, 9S needs to gently intrude via a hacking minigame.

The Hacking Ritual (& Why Order Doesn't Matter):

  1. Approach the Machine: Find one standing silently, lost in thought.

  2. Initiate Hack: Trigger the familiar hacking sequence.

  3. The Minigame: You'll see a shielded black orb. Don't attack! Just... wait. ⏳

  4. Listen: As the machine shares its lament, the shield shatters automatically. You cannot destroy the orb yourself during this phase.

  5. The Catch: Hack a machine twice, and it will be destroyed, ending that specific thread prematurely. But fear not! Since it's not a tracked quest, you can always revisit any chapter to find them again and experience the full, heartbreaking narrative.

Unpacking Their Existential Anguish:

These aren't your average hostile machines. Each one expresses a profound, almost human, sorrow:

  • Frustration over Lost Love: They mourn the affection machines used to receive from humans, affection now vanished into the post-apocalyptic void.

  • Questioning Existence: Without that love, without their purpose tied to humanity, what is the point? Their dialogue cuts deep, questioning the very foundation of their being.

  • The Inevitable End: After listening to the final machine's thoughts, it makes a chilling choice... it simply steps off the ledge, a silent, devastating punctuation mark to their shared despair. No fanfare, just the quiet acceptance of oblivion. 😔

Finding the Silent Sages: My Location Guide (with Pics!):

All three are relatively close, but here's the easiest route I found:

  1. The Tower Thinker:

    • Where: Head to the area shown below. Spot the tall structure? Climb it!

    • Vibe: This one feels like a lonely sentinel surveying the ruins.

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  2. The Collapsed Building Contemplator:

    • Where: Move to this spot. You'll see a large, broken building.

    • Vibe: Perched precariously, it looks like it's pondering the fragility of everything.

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  3. The Ledge's Final Philosopher:

    • Where: Journey to this final location. Look for the metal ledge.

    • Vibe: Standing on the edge, literally and metaphorically. This is where the quest culminates.

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Why It Resonates in 2025:

Even now, the Wise Machines quest stands out. It’s Yoko Taro at his most subtle and devastating. It asks brutal questions about purpose, love, and what happens when the reason for your existence vanishes. The lack of rewards is the point – the value is purely in the experience, the shared melancholy, the uncomfortable reflection it forces upon you, the player. It’s a hidden pocket of profound sadness, as fleeting and impactful as a single tear rolling down a combat android's cheek. Finding them isn't about checking a box; it's about bearing witness. Have you listened to their sorrow? What did their silence say to you? ✨ #NierAutomata #HiddenGems #ExistentialCrisisGaming #WiseMachines #9S #GamePhilosophy