How a new player should approach multiple playthroughs and 100%?

[Nu]

Hey everyone. I recently got NieR Automata, and from what I understand, the story takes multiple playthroughs to fully complete. I've been enjoying it so far, so I'm not worried about playing more of the game to see more of what it has to offer. I am worried about how much I should try to complete during a single playthrough, especially my first, however. Would it be best to minimize what I do until the last playthrough to avoid getting burnt out on getting items or whatnot, does each new playthrough come with a New Game+, or should I approach NieR Automata in a different manner?

I'm willing to clarify anything if need be. Thanks in advanced!

[Aemony]

Certain side quests are only accessible through certain chapters of the game, and if you do not complete them in those chapters you might have to use Chapter Select (unlocked after getting ending C or D) to jump back to the relevant chapter and complete them then.

The "multiple playthroughs" are basically just a single playthrough separated a few times by the credit screen, after which you click "Continue" to continue playing the game.

The below is hidden behind spoiler tags since it breaks down the structure of the game to better give you an insight into how everything is set up:


Playthrough #1 (aka route A, with ending A) is chapter 1-10.
Playthrough #2 (aka route B, with ending B) is chapter 1-10 from a different perspective, with some new unique side-quests.
Playthrough #3 (aka route C, with ending C/D/E) is chapter 11-17.

All items, skills, plug-in chips, weapons, levels, pod programs, etc are shared across everything, so there's no need to worry about those.

[Mumin on a Motorcycle]

Don't worry about it, it's not like other games where your progress is ereased each playthrough. Think of other playthroughs as of continuetion of the story instead of complete playthroughs. You will be going through much of the same in playthrough B but without spoiling anything in a much diffrent way and everything after that is new. Also yes some side quest will be available in some chapters but it's not a big deal. I would reccomend doing most of them as you go but if you're facing some ovepowered enemies you may wait untill route B since it's probably when it was intended to be done. Do everything you can in route B and what you do in second half should come naturlly.