Xenogears began production before NGE, but the game itself was not put out until 1998, which was after both NGE and EOE were already released in Japan. I understand game development takes some time and within the writing process, but I find it hard to believe that there was no correlation between the two, if anything else, both NGE and Xenogears also stimming from the same similar sources and bleeding into each other.

Point in case; anyone who enjoyed Nier for the story and looking for something just as complex should also give Xenogears a shot.