The Alters

The Alters stands out with a creative and emotionally rich premise, combining base management, exploration and a deep narrative of identity, choices and coexistence. The idea of ​​interacting with alternative versions of oneself is original and well explored both in terms of mechanics and plot, highlighting an interesting balance between constant pressure, strategic decisions and moments of introspection, which enriches the gaming experience. The proposal is ambitious, well executed and offers a type of engagement that is rare in games of this genre.

The Alters is a unique narrative experience all its own, asking you to survive by manipulating your own history to create clones and escape from a fiery fate. As far as the genre goes, The Alters makes for a very accessible survival experience. With that said, hardcore fans of the genre may see gameplay in The Alters as far too simplistic. The other potential issue is that the Sun's looming danger isn't quite as looming as it initially feels, with most of the game progressing naturally without much actual danger. Either way, the combination of strong narrative and accessible gameplay makes this the perfect game for anyone who even remotely interested in trying survival-builder games. The Alters is a definite recommend title, even at its $40 launch price.

Taking design cues from a whole spectrum of sci-fi games, The Alters has crafted a wholly unique and engaging survival management adventure. With a thought provoking narrative and an addictive gameplay loop, I couldn't help but be lost in space, just like Jan.

The Alters is an isolationist and existential meditation on survival, using compelling mechanics to strip itself of the genre’s most frustrating chokepoints of tedium. But when The Alters becomes less about gathering materials and more about managing yourself, it molds the struggle of one’s self into an often bleak but obtusely hopeful exercise on living with yourself and the choices that have shaped you. The universe may often be in control of our destinies but 11 bit studios provides a fleeting glimpse into a core question of humanity and what it means to be you.

Moving beyond war-torn cities and frozen wastelands, 11 Bit Studios ventures into space with The Alters, delivering yet another survival masterpiece. Blending inventive core gameplay with a deeply human exploration of crisis and identity, The Alters offers an accessible yet emotionally resonant experience, that could redefine the survival genre.

11 Bit Studios delivers its best project to date with The Alters. Become the humble builder Jan Dolski and survive on an extreme planet while fleeing the dawn. Exploration, action, decisions, management, and strategy are the keys to a title that cleverly blends various components, giving the experience a very original touch. Play with the fabric of time, manipulate the universe at quantum levels, and perform scientific magic as you try to keep your crew alive and return home safely.

The Alters is one of the stand-out survival games of this generation. Imbued with a fascinating sci-fi concept for the ages - one that asks genuinely fascinating ethical questions – and with high-pressure survival mechanics that keep things stressful from beginning to end, this is quite the experience. Did I enjoy playing it? Not really, but good grief, I’ll never forget it.

I am deeply impressed by The Alters. With its clever story, emotional depth and addictive gameplay loop, the game held me firmly in its grip - until the early morning hours. The bold blend of so many genres has been pulled off with flying colours, creating a unique, unforgettable whole. The Alters is also an invitation to self-reflection. It asks the big philosophical questions about identity, destiny and the impact of technology on the human condition - exactly what outstanding science fiction should do. Despite minor technical flaws, this is a masterpiece that will resonate for a long time to come. Definitely one of the very best games of this year.

The heavy subject matter full of big questions, the stressful gameplay loop, and the consequences of a failed mission make The Alters far from an easy game to get through. However, it’s also one of the most original and emotionally impactful games I’ve played in a long time. On paper, a game where you survive by working together with your own clones sounds incredibly ambitious—especially for a relatively small studio in Poland. But with The Alters, 11 Bit Studios has once again delivered a fantastic, grim, and deeply engaging survival title.

The real strength of The Alters lies in experiencing the game through the eyes of each clone. The personal narratives of the alters and the dynamics of group control form the most compelling aspect of this unique blend of management, exploration, and base-building. While survival drives the core gameplay, it's the emotional depth and interpersonal tension within the base that truly set it apart.

11 Bit Studios has certainly established itself as a master of the survival and base-building genre. Once again, they put a unique spin on it, this time through a sci-fi setting and the compelling theme of cloning. The game presents plenty of ethical choices and deep (micro)management, all of which are made much more accessible thanks to its incredibly well-designed UI.

The Alters is not for impatient players. If you’re looking for fast-paced action and quick results, this might not be the right title for you. The game demands thought, trial and error, and a good dose of self-reflection. Even so, it delivers a deeply rewarding and contemplative experience, standing out as one of the most interesting titles of the year.

The Alters is 11 Bit Studios' magnum opus; a tense, thrilling, thoughtful game that makes you question what kind of person you want to be.

11 Bit Studios strikes again with a fresh take and setting that borrows from the brilliant mechanics of This War of Mine and sends them into space.

There were times I wished The Alters was a pure adventure game without any of the survival elements, but that friction is what makes it work. While the interpersonal relationships and conflicts between the Jans are the heart of the experience for me, and what I can wholeheartedly recommend, I came to appreciate the basic survival loop as a way to add more agency to all the choices I made. Like all the best sci-fi stories, The Alters will leave you with plenty of philosophical questions to chew on.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with The Alters, especially thanks to its blend of gameplay styles and variety of mysteries throughout. If you relate to the protagonist then it'll be a much better experience for you but keep in mind that not everyone will.

The idea of mixing strategic management with existential drama and science fiction results in a game that will demand both the player's technical and social skills. This is where my perception of it being a weird subversion of a farm simulator, such as Story of Seasons, comes into play. It's just that instead of planting turnips, milking cows and trying to woo some of the village's bachelorettes (or bachelors), we have to mine an inhospitable planet, maintain a functional mobile base and prevent alternative versions of ourselves from killing each other. In short, The Alters can be as welcoming as it is irritating — but it is also unique in its own way.

Adventure and survival parts of The Alters were reduced to a minimum, so that the story, choices and interactions with alters could serve as the main course. Unfortunately this particular meal left me feeling hungry, but that is due to my personal preferences. If you want something new and fresh among games that make you manage a base with a little exploration, and a little survival, The Alters looks bold and original.

The Alters is one of those games that draws you in with its genre, but keeps you hooked with its mechanics, story, and challenges. It poses the 'What if?' question in a brilliant way. The ability to create multiple versions of the protagonist is its strongest feature. It’s an intriguing experience with room for improvement, but one that will reward players who take the time to give it a chance.