As the sole survivor of a doomed space mission, Jan Dolski must escape a hostile planet in The Alters. Developed by 11 Bit Studios, known for This War of Mine and Frostpunk, this sci-fi survival sim fuses exploration, resource management, and psychological complexity. Jan relies on alternate versions of himself—his “alters”—to survive, each shaped by different life decisions.
The core gameplay revolves around survival mechanics: managing a massive wheel-like mobile base, avoiding lethal radiation from the planet’s rising sun, and constructing essential modules. From mining to crafting and sustaining the crew, resource allocation is crucial.
Creating and Managing Alters
To survive, Jan uses a quantum system called the Tree of Life to generate alternate versions of himself. These alters reflect different past choices—such as prioritizing family over career or confronting childhood trauma—each bringing distinct skills and emotional states to the table.
Creating an alter requires Repidium, a resource gathered on the planet. Strategic selection is vital: a botanist might offer empathy and healing, while a technician boosts base repairs. But complexity arises when these capable alters clash with Jan’s authority, adding a layer of social sim gameplay. Their emotional depth is central to both tasks and storytelling.
Only one version of each alter may exist per playthrough, enforcing thoughtful decisions. These characters aren’t just helpers—they’re full individuals with personalities, opinions, and goals.
Narrative Branching and Replay Value
The Alters thrives on its branching story structure. Every conversation and command affects how alters respond, potentially leading to defiance, loyalty, or emotional collapse. The narrative web extends well beyond Jan’s primary journey, with each alter exploring their own arcs based on the player’s choices.
Replayability is a design focus. According to 11 Bit Studios, players won’t be able to unlock all alters in a single playthrough. That means each run will differ significantly, offering a unique survival and narrative experience.
Exploration, Crafting, and Ethical Dilemmas
Players must maintain the mobile base while facing threats like radiation and invisible anomalies. Outside exploration is risky but necessary. Crafting tools like anomaly detectors and filters can extend missions—but at the cost of other survival essentials.
The ethical undercurrent is equally compelling. What does it mean to create life from hypothetical memories? Alters often question their purpose and future. If they survive, where will they go? Do they have the right to exist? These questions fuel debates among the crew, giving the game a philosophical edge rarely seen in the genre.
Platforms, Editions, and System Specs
The Alters launches June 13 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. It will be available day one on Game Pass. The standard edition is priced at £28.99/$34.99, with a 10% PS+ discount available until launch. The Deluxe Edition includes:
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Exclusive in-game outfit
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One future DLC
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Digital soundtrack by Piotr Musiał (Frostpunk, The Witcher 3, Diablo IV)
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Price: $39.99/£49.49
Minimum PC Specs:
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CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 1600 / Intel Core i7-6700
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GPU: Radeon RX 570 / GTX 1060 / Intel ARC A576 (6GB+)
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RAM: 16 GB
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Storage: 50 GB
Recommended PC Specs:
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CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X / Intel Core i7-8700K
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GPU: RX 6600 XT / RTX 2070 / ARC A770 (8GB+)
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RAM: 16 GB
With deep narrative systems, ethical exploration, and strategic survival mechanics, The Alters looks to push the boundaries of the genre.
