Is It Worth Your Time?
Released: June 13, 2025
Developer: 11 bit studios
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox Game Pass
Genre: Sci-Fi Survival, Base Management
Playtime: ~20 hours first playthrough, 30+ hours for multiple endings
Story
You play as Jan Dolski, a builder sent on a mission to a distant planet in search of Rapidium, a mineral believed to be humanity’s last hope. Things go wrong immediately. You crash land. Your crew is dead. The sun is rising. And if you do not move your base out of its path, you will be incinerated.
You discover that Rapidium can accelerate organic growth. Using DNA and a specialized module called the Womb, you create an alternate version of yourself. An Alter. But not just a clone. A version of Jan whose life branched at a different decision point. A Jan who became a technician. A Jan who chose differently.
And this is where The Alters becomes something special.
These are not mindless copies. They remember lives you did not live. They carry regrets you avoided. They resent you. They challenge you. They question your authority.
The game digs deep into identity, self-worth, regret, and responsibility. Who are these Alters? Do they have rights? Are they tools? Are they people? Can you trust them? More importantly, can you trust yourself?
This is not just sci-fi survival. It is interpersonal conflict taken to the extreme. You are literally arguing with yourself.
And the choices you make matter. Small dialogue decisions ripple outward. Relationships shift. Morale changes. Endings branch. The game does an excellent job of making your decisions feel heavy without feeling arbitrary.
Gameplay
At its core, The Alters is about survival through management.
Each in-game day, you assign tasks to your Alters. The botanist grows food. The refiner processes materials. The scientist researches upgrades. You manage production chains, expand modules, mine resources, and prepare to move your base before the sun catches up.
But it is not just about efficiency.
Alters have emotional states. They get frustrated. They argue. They feel undervalued. If morale drops too low, productivity suffers. If one Alter becomes incapacitated, the entire crew feels it. You need to check in on them. Talk to them. Sometimes even send them to therapy.
Meanwhile, you are still exploring the planet in third-person, setting up mining outposts, extracting resources, and dealing with environmental hazards.
Everything operates on a daily cycle. You only have so many hours before exhaustion sets in. There is constant pressure. It feels slightly chaotic at times, but in a good way. There is always something demanding your attention.
It is not a traditional action game. It is not a pure base builder either. It sits somewhere in between, and that balance works surprisingly well.
The replayability is also strong. The game tracks past decisions on subsequent runs, letting you see where you previously diverged. It does not always show outcomes clearly, but it is enough to encourage alternate paths.
Graphics
The planet is harsh and desolate, which fits the tone. It is not bursting with variety, but that emptiness reinforces the isolation. The interior of the base is where the game shines. Modules expand vertically, systems connect logically, and everything feels functional.
Performance was strong overall. Outside of minor stutters during some cutscenes, the experience was smooth on PC.
The game is Steam Deck approved. On Deck, performance hovered around the 30 fps range. Personally, I prefer 60 fps when possible, so it was not my ideal way to play. But it is absolutely playable and stable.
Sound
The soundtrack leans heavily into atmospheric space ambiance. It keeps tension simmering without overwhelming the player.
There are a couple standout tracks tied to major story moments that are genuinely memorable, but discussing them would spoil key scenes.
The real highlight is the voice acting.
Every Alter is voiced by the same actor, Alex Jordan. There are roughly a dozen variations of Jan Dolski, and each one sounds distinct. Not cartoonish. Not exaggerated. Distinct.
Without looking at the screen, you can tell which Jan is speaking. That is not easy to pull off. It is impressive and it elevates the entire experience.
The dynamic of one actor portraying multiple versions of the same man gives the game an extra layer of authenticity. Conversations feel natural. Arguments feel real.
Final Verdict
My first playthrough took around 20 hours. I ended up closer to 35 hours after experimenting with alternate paths.
For a launch price of $35, this is an easy recommendation.
You get:
A gripping sci-fi story
Wild narrative branches and ethical choices
Tight management gameplay with real consequences
A haunting soundtrack
One of the best solo voice preformances in recent memory
If you are expecting constant action, this is not that game. If you are looking for a survival experience layered with philosophy and character-driven conflict, this absolutely delivers.
The Alters is not just about surviving a hostile planet.
It is about surviving yourself.
And yes, it is worth your time.
Is It Worth Your Time?
Released: June 13, 2025
Developer: 11 bit studios
Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox Game Pass
Genre: Sci-Fi Survival, Base Management
Playtime: ~20 hours first playthrough, 30+ hours for multiple endings
Story
You play as Jan Dolski, a builder sent on a mission to a distant planet in search of Rapidium, a mineral believed to be humanity’s last hope. Things go wrong immediately. You crash land. Your crew is dead. The sun is rising. And if you do not move your base out of its path, you will be incinerated.
You discover that Rapidium can accelerate organic growth. Using DNA and a specialized module called the Womb, you create an alternate version of yourself. An Alter. But not just a clone. A version of Jan whose life branched at a different decision point. A Jan who became a technician. A Jan who chose differently.
And this is where The Alters becomes something special.
These are not mindless copies. They remember lives you did not live. They carry regrets you avoided. They resent you. They challenge you. They question your authority.
The game digs deep into identity, self-worth, regret, and responsibility. Who are these Alters? Do they have rights? Are they tools? Are they people? Can you trust them? More importantly, can you trust yourself?
This is not just sci-fi survival. It is interpersonal conflict taken to the extreme. You are literally arguing with yourself.
And the choices you make matter. Small dialogue decisions ripple outward. Relationships shift. Morale changes. Endings branch. The game does an excellent job of making your decisions feel heavy without feeling arbitrary.
Gameplay
At its core, The Alters is about survival through management.
Each in-game day, you assign tasks to your Alters. The botanist grows food. The refiner processes materials. The scientist researches upgrades. You manage production chains, expand modules, mine resources, and prepare to move your base before the sun catches up.
But it is not just about efficiency.
Alters have emotional states. They get frustrated. They argue. They feel undervalued. If morale drops too low, productivity suffers. If one Alter becomes incapacitated, the entire crew feels it. You need to check in on them. Talk to them. Sometimes even send them to therapy.
Meanwhile, you are still exploring the planet in third-person, setting up mining outposts, extracting resources, and dealing with environmental hazards.
Everything operates on a daily cycle. You only have so many hours before exhaustion sets in. There is constant pressure. It feels slightly chaotic at times, but in a good way. There is always something demanding your attention.
It is not a traditional action game. It is not a pure base builder either. It sits somewhere in between, and that balance works surprisingly well.
The replayability is also strong. The game tracks past decisions on subsequent runs, letting you see where you previously diverged. It does not always show outcomes clearly, but it is enough to encourage alternate paths.
Graphics
The planet is harsh and desolate, which fits the tone. It is not bursting with variety, but that emptiness reinforces the isolation. The interior of the base is where the game shines. Modules expand vertically, systems connect logically, and everything feels functional.
Performance was strong overall. Outside of minor stutters during some cutscenes, the experience was smooth on PC.
The game is Steam Deck approved. On Deck, performance hovered around the 30 fps range. Personally, I prefer 60 fps when possible, so it was not my ideal way to play. But it is absolutely playable and stable.
Sound
The soundtrack leans heavily into atmospheric space ambiance. It keeps tension simmering without overwhelming the player.
There are a couple standout tracks tied to major story moments that are genuinely memorable, but discussing them would spoil key scenes.
The real highlight is the voice acting.
Every Alter is voiced by the same actor, Alex Jordan. There are roughly a dozen variations of Jan Dolski, and each one sounds distinct. Not cartoonish. Not exaggerated. Distinct.
Without looking at the screen, you can tell which Jan is speaking. That is not easy to pull off. It is impressive and it elevates the entire experience.
The dynamic of one actor portraying multiple versions of the same man gives the game an extra layer of authenticity. Conversations feel natural. Arguments feel real.
Final Verdict
My first playthrough took around 20 hours. I ended up closer to 35 hours after experimenting with alternate paths.
For a launch price of $35, this is an easy recommendation.
You get:
A gripping sci-fi story
Wild narrative branches and ethical choices
Tight management gameplay with real consequences
A haunting soundtrack
One of the best solo voice preformances in recent memory
If you are expecting constant action, this is not that game. If you are looking for a survival experience layered with philosophy and character-driven conflict, this absolutely delivers.
The Alters is not just about surviving a hostile planet.
It is about surviving yourself.
And yes, it is worth your time.
ABOUT US
We wanted to play games that were worth our time. From work to family and kids, and other hobbies, game time was scarce. Our goal is to help you know which game to spend your time playing.
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