Developer – 11 bit Studios

Publisher – 11 bit Studios

Platforms – PS5, Xbox X|S, PC (reviewed)

Review copy given by publisher

Do you ever wonder what you would be like if you made a different choice in life? Could you get along with that version of yourself? The Alters takes that concept and runs with it, stranding you on a planet with no definite chance of rescue. To hold out, you must bring alternate versions of yourself to life and boost your chances of survival. But more versions of you doesn’t make things better and you must manage yourself in a way you never imagined.

The Alters brings an interesting premise to the story that provides a dynamic that really makes you think. Working with your alternate selves to survive makes gameplay interesting as you think about your needs and resource management. Figuring out what to do can be confusing and there are times you feel you should have access to more upgrades. If you are looking for a survival game that challenges you in more ways than one, The Alters is it.

The story begins with Jan Dolski, the only survivor of a remote planet mission to harvest Rapidium, a special mineral. Unable to finish the mission on his own, Jan must use the Rapidium to bring in alternate versions of himself with vital skills he needs. Holding out for a chance of rescue, he and his alternate selves must survive while getting along with each other. While things seem easy at first, the challenges eventually grow and Jan must manage it all.

Jan’s situation and alternate selves introduce a new premise that you can’t help but be curious about. What do you think would change about a person’s life if they changed one decision? You get to see this effect when Jan brings various versions of himself to life. This isn’t pulling people from alternate timelines but rather editing choices and predicting what Jan would be like.

Jan’s life is complicated and you get to see the experiences and directions that shape his alternate selves. This results in lots of introspective thinking on the player’s end as you can’t help but think about your own life. You are curious about every change you make in Jan’s life and wonder what would happen if you chose differently. Seeing how Jan’s life changes is intriguing and you can’t help but want to learn more.

Even though his alternate selves have different backgrounds, Jan is still dealing with the actions of his past. Trying to survive, thinking back to common events, and talking with people back home takes a toll on Jan. Seeing him interact with other people and his alternate selves invests you into the story, making you wonder how he succeeds. These factors converge to form a story that you can’t wait to see how it ends.

Jan is stuck on a planet whose sun emits a high amount of radiation. To survive, he must move a supply base to different parts of the planet while a rescue team is formed. This involves harvesting organic materials for food, minerals for building material, and Rapidium for alternate selves. He cannot be reckless with his usage as resources are limited and he only has a few days. The alternate selves also have their own needs and preferences, sometimes clashing with each other.

What The Alters does well is ease you into the gameplay. It gives you the basic instructions and sufficient warnings to let you know what is and isn’t a bad situation. This does make the tutorial feel long at times but it also prevents you from making assumptions that are fatal in the long-term. You always have a general idea of what your obstacles are and how you overcome them. If you are unsure, you can always reference terms or check your quest log for guidance.

Your alternate selves also come into play since their skills make up for what Jan doesn’t have. While Jan is the primary explorer and the man who implements many solutions, alternate selves help him maintain the base. One self helps keep everything running while another might help enforce discipline. All selves can manage stations to automatically harvest resources, giving Jan the freedom to solve more pressing matters at hand. This helps feel like you are making a team effort despite the fact that it’s all versions of you.

The Alters is challenging due to limited resources and managing your “team”. Resources are generous but you can’t play around or experiment too much. Once you run out, you must take greater risks or make tough decisions and that’s assuming you aren’t doomed. You also have a time limit that depends on your progress. Take too long and you can’t withstand the sun’s radiation, leading to a game over.

This provides the impetus to think about what alternate selves you should bring and what you must produce. While it’s fun to think of different personalities to introduce, is it something you can afford? How far should you travel and should you risk it? Is that item something you need or a backup? These questions are constantly on your mind and it makes for a good survival challenge. You try not to be reckless but must think about the greater good at all times.

The big disadvantage is that it sometimes isn’t obvious what benefits someone can provide. For example, encountering anomalies brings the objective of creating an alternate self that knows about anomalies. But that’s not explicitly stated when you look for one. That means you second-guess yourself and there is no way to backup your save if you are wrong. It creates unnecessary tension especially if your guesses are off.

There are also upgrades locked behind the progress you make. While getting the full suite of rooms and upgrades in the base isn’t realistic, it also feels weird from a gameplay perspective. You should do everything you can to survive and some things should be available to you. It’s true some upgrades are only available because your alternate selves provide them. But others feel more like obvious additions that even Jan couldn’t do without on a solo mission.

However, the flaws don’t bring down this game too much. You are still on the edge of survival, doing your best to hope that the next day brings the progress you need. Managing your alternate selves and keeping the peace is tough. Sometimes, you must make tough choices as the leader. The Alters tests your skills with this premise and it truly shows through the story and gameplay. For anyone interested in a survival game, you can’t go wrong with The Alters.