The Alters Review – Sci-Fi Survival Done Right

Really? A solid AA game from 11 bit studios that delivers more than you’d expect

Reviewed on PC.Score: 9.5/10

I’ve played a lot of sci-fi survival and management games over the years, but The Alters stands out. Developed by 11 bit studios (the team behind This War of Mine), it’s not quite AAA, but it brings enough polish and depth to feel like more than your typical indie. The best part? The Alters is available at launch on all major platforms—PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and even on Xbox Game Pass from day one. No matter where you play, you can jump in right away. Here’s why it grabbed my attention—and why I think it’ll grab yours, too.

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The Alters — First impressions gameplay (Part 1)

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The Alters

Release Date: June 13, 2025

Genre: Survival, Management, Sci-Fi, Narrative

Developer / Publisher: 11 bit studios

Platforms: PC — Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S

Available on: Day One on Xbox Game Pass

Is This a AAA Game or Indie?

Honestly, I don’t even know where The Alters fits in the AAA vs. indie debate. What I do know is there’s a hell of a lot of work behind this game. The whole “A” label doesn’t matter much to me when the devs have done such a good job. Compared to so many other “huge” games that launch full of flaws, The Alters stacks up without the mess. It just works—and that’s worth celebrating.

Similar Games? Not Really.

A lot of people compare The Alters to Frostpunk or The Invincible—but honestly, that doesn’t fit. The closest match is This War of Mine, and even then, The Alters packs in way more content and depth. If you’re expecting another management sim or a slow, moody space game, you’ll be surprised—this one stands on its own.

The Alters — First impressions gameplay (Part 2)

So, What’s The Alters About?

You play as Jan Dolski, a worker stranded on a hostile, shifting planet. To survive and find a way home, you create alternate versions of yourself—“Alters”—each with their own personalities, skills, and problems. It’s a blend of survival, base management, and narrative-driven decision-making, where your choices and relationships with your Alters shape the outcome.

Farming, Crafting—Who Doesn’t Love That?

The farming and crafting systems here work really well—maybe too well, since it’s easy to get absorbed in building and managing instead of pushing the story forward. Still, it’s satisfying and smooth, letting you focus on creating and managing in a way that feels rewarding.

A high-stakes moment on the surface—one of the many scenes where The Alters flexes its sci-fi atmosphere.

You’re Not Alone—You’re Cloning Yourself

You’re not just playing as one character. In The Alters, you’re cloning yourself, but each version gets skills you choose—like Scientist, Refiner, or Doctor. I started out with a Scientist, and honestly, that felt like the best move (though to be fair, I’ve only played through once, so can’t compare all the outcomes).

The story naturally evolves as you make choices, have conversations with your crew, and try to keep everyone satisfied. Sometimes the dialogue throws you curveballs—some questions don’t always have logical answers, and you’re never quite sure what response you’ll get. It actually feels like talking to real people: sometimes unpredictable, sometimes oddly normal.

Technical Performance

The developer notes mention that 32:9 ultra-wide support and Alt-Tab issues might cause problems, but in my experience—running on a Ryzen 7 7800X3D, RX 7900XTX, 48GB DDR5 RAM (8200MHz), and Gen 4 SSDs—everything ran smoothly. Any issues here seem minor or already resolved for most setups, at least on high-end hardware like mine.

Jan Dolski facing an alien landscape that never stops feeling hostile.

Audio & Music

The music and sound design in The Alters are genuinely comforting—never annoying or out of place. It’s clear the team put real effort into getting this right. The soundtrack is emotional and fits the narrative perfectly, adding a subtle layer of depth to the overall experience. I’m impressed, even if I wouldn’t necessarily go out and buy the OST. It just feels right for the game.

Visuals & Atmosphere

There are definitely some “wow” moments in The Alters—but I’d rather let the game surprise you than spoil anything here. The visuals are often stunning, from dramatic lava streams to sweeping landscapes that just look amazing. It does get a bit dark at times as you’re moving around and working through your objectives, but the overall atmosphere more than makes up for it. The setting really pulls you in and keeps you there.

Replay Value

For sure, I’ll be playing The Alters again to see what happens when I make different choices and try out other Alters. There’s enough variety in the paths and interactions that I’m curious to see how things can change. It’s definitely a game that encourages multiple playthroughs to really explore all the possibilities.

The Alters — Official Gameplay Trailer

Verdict

The weirdness, the sci-fi, the crafting and management, the story—man, this is just good entertainment. But be warned: you’ll need to set aside some real time for it. If you like thoughtful, story-driven games with plenty of depth, The Alters is absolutely worth your attention.

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