The Alters Review: A Fun Journey of Self-Discovery
▼ Summary
– The Alters is a standout indie game blending sci-fi, survival, base management, and narrative elements into a unique and engaging experience.
– Players control Jan Dolski, a stranded astronaut who creates alternate versions of himself (alters) with distinct personalities to survive a hostile planet.
– The game features a mobile base housed in a giant tire, requiring strategic room placement and resource management to progress.
– Interactions with alters drive the emotional core, with dialogue and decisions impacting relationships and survival outcomes.
– While not overly challenging, the game offers replayability through multiple endings and alter combinations, supported by strong writing and voice acting.
The Alters delivers a refreshing blend of sci-fi storytelling and strategic gameplay, offering players a unique journey through parallel lives and survival against the odds. This indie gem from 11 Bit Studios combines base management, exploration, and emotional narrative depth into an experience that stands out in today’s gaming landscape.
At its core, the game follows Jan Dolski, a space construction specialist stranded on a deadly planet with one desperate solution: creating alternate versions of himself. These aren’t mere clones, each “alter” reflects a different life path Jan could have taken, complete with distinct personalities, skills, and emotional baggage. The brilliance lies in how these alternate selves interact, forcing players to navigate workplace dynamics while racing against a lethal sunrise.
Gameplay seamlessly blends several genres. Base-building requires Tetris-like spatial planning inside a mobile, tire-mounted structure, a quirky but effective design. Resource management keeps tension high, with every decision affecting morale and survival. Outside the base, exploration involves scanning for deposits, setting up mining outposts, and avoiding hazardous anomalies that disrupt time and space.
Where The Alters truly shines is its storytelling. Dialogue choices carry weight, and conflicts between alters demand follow-through, promising radiation shielding means actually building it, or facing resentment. The writing and voice acting (handled masterfully by Alex Jordan) bring each alter to life, from a self-destructive miner to a pragmatic scientist. Even lighter moments, like impromptu musical numbers or beer pong minigames, add charm without undermining the stakes.
Visually, the game mixes Eastern European dystopian aesthetics with alien landscapes, complemented by a synth-heavy soundtrack. Performance is smooth across PC hardware, though console players can expect the same polish on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
While not overly punishing, the game’s survival mechanics keep pressure constant. Accessibility options help mitigate visual stressors, though a colorblind mode is notably absent. With multiple endings and alter combinations, replayability encourages experimenting with different team dynamics, maybe even embracing “Asshole Jan” for a change.
Verdict: The Alters is a must-play for fans of narrative-driven sci-fi and thoughtful management sims. Its emotional depth and inventive premise outweigh simpler combat mechanics, making it a standout title in 11 Bit Studios’ catalog. Just don’t expect a purely action-packed or brutally difficult survival sim, this is a story about people, even when those people are all versions of the same man.
Performance notes: Tested on high-end and mid-range PCs, the game maintained 60+ fps at max settings (1440p/1080p). A full playthrough took roughly 20 hours, with room for varied outcomes based on alter choices. Controller support is available, though mouse and keyboard work seamlessly.
Final tip: Prioritize the doctor alter. Trust me.
(Source: TechRadar)
