What if you had the chance to meet, and perhaps even confront, alternate versions of yourself shaped by entirely different life choices? No, this isn’t an existential therapy session, it’s the premise of The Alters, the latest intriguing creation from 11 bit studios, the acclaimed developer behind emotionally charged titles such as This War of Mine and Frostpunk. Set on a remote, lonely planet, this sci-fi narrative adventure explores themes of identity, decision-making, and survival in a profoundly unique way, by literally splitting the protagonist into multiple distinct versions of himself, each defined by pivotal moments from his past.
As Jan, players face the desperate challenge of surviving in complete isolation on an alien planet. But in a stroke of narrative brilliance (and questionable mental health practices), Jan creates alternate versions of himself, aptly called “alters”, to cope with his predicament. Each alter represents a different path his life might have taken, raising intriguing questions about choice, regret, and self-discovery. If you’ve ever wondered how your life could differ if you’d pursued your childhood dream of becoming an astronaut instead of settling for accounting, this game might hit close to home.
11 bit studios is known for crafting experiences that aren’t just games; they’re emotional and philosophical rollercoasters. With The Alters, they’ve clearly embraced their signature narrative-heavy approach, this time combining it with sci-fi elements and deeply personal introspection. The concept alone is enough to pique curiosity, but it’s the execution that will determine whether The Alters transcends clever gimmickry to become a truly memorable journey.
Yet, can a game built around such an abstract, philosophical concept also deliver engaging gameplay and compelling storytelling without collapsing under the weight of its own ambition? Does The Alters provide an insightful exploration into identity and decision-making, or is it simply an elaborate way to justify talking to yourself? Join us as we embark on this existential sci-fi adventure to discover whether multiple personalities are better than one.
Setting and Story
At first glance, the barren, lonely planet of The Alters might seem like a fairly typical sci-fi backdrop, isolated, mysterious, and quietly hostile. But 11 bit studios expertly transforms this setting into a deeply personal psychological landscape. Rather than simply surviving against external threats, players must also navigate the complex internal dynamics between Jan and his numerous “alters.” It’s a clever twist, turning a standard survival scenario into a compelling exploration of self-reflection, identity crises, and interpersonal conflicts, where every character is essentially you, but slightly more irritating or endearing depending on their past choices.
Narratively, the strength of The Alters lies in its brilliant, thought-provoking premise. Jan’s desperate creation of multiple alternate selves, each shaped by different life decisions, allows the game to explore profoundly human themes like regret, ambition, sacrifice, and self-acceptance. Each alter isn’t merely an NPC; they embody distinct life paths, complete with unique motivations, fears, and perspectives. Conversations become captivating psychological exchanges, challenging both Jan and players to confront uncomfortable truths about themselves and their own past decisions. It’s like therapy, only with more spacesuits and existential dread.
The story is intricately woven, featuring branching narratives that are genuinely shaped by your choices. Interactions with alters not only determine the trajectory of Jan’s survival but also profoundly impact his relationships, trust levels, and overall mental health. Dialogue is sharply written, filled with subtle humour, emotional nuance, and moments of surprising poignancy. Players must carefully navigate these conversations, balancing practicality with empathy. After all, nobody likes arguing with themselves, especially when the stakes are literal survival.
Ultimately, the setting and story of The Alters offer a refreshingly original take on the sci-fi survival genre. Rather than relying solely on external threats or predictable genre tropes, 11 bit studios masterfully crafts a deeply introspective narrative experience. It’s an engaging exploration of “what-ifs,” turning the simple act of decision-making into a powerful storytelling device. Whether confronting your regrets, making peace with alternate selves, or simply pondering the existential nature of identity, the narrative of The Alters consistently delivers thought-provoking drama and emotional resonance.
Gameplay and Mechanics
Gameplay in The Alters elegantly blends narrative exploration with strategic survival mechanics, creating an experience that feels both fresh and deeply immersive. At its core, players manage not just Jan’s physical survival through resource gathering, habitat maintenance, and environmental navigation, but also his psychological well-being, dictated by interactions with various alters. Think of it as juggling your own survival alongside multiple emotionally unstable roommates who just happen to be alternate versions of yourself. Fun, right?
Interactions with alters serve as the heart of the gameplay experience. Each alter has specialized skills, knowledge, and emotional baggage stemming from their respective life paths, providing unique gameplay advantages or challenges. Leveraging their diverse abilities and managing their personalities effectively becomes crucial. Players must carefully allocate tasks, manage conflicts, and foster cooperation between alters. It’s a captivating blend of strategic management and psychological nuance, because surviving on an alien world is hard enough without arguments breaking out over whose life choices were worse.
Resource management and crafting mechanics further enrich gameplay. Players scavenge materials, repair habitats, and engineer life-saving tools, all while strategically assigning alters to tasks aligned with their unique strengths. The scarcity of resources ensures every decision carries weight, forcing tough choices about how to allocate limited supplies and energy. Crafting feels intuitive and impactful, rewarding thoughtful experimentation and planning. There’s genuine satisfaction in successfully maintaining the fragile ecosystem of your shared survival, particularly amid the ongoing interpersonal drama.
The game’s mechanics are enhanced by excellent UI and controls, optimized wonderfully for the PS5 controller. Navigating menus, assigning tasks, and managing resources feels streamlined and accessible. The DualSense’s haptic feedback subtly immerses players deeper into Jan’s world, providing tactile sensations during interactions and environmental exploration. Overall, the gameplay mechanics in The Alters brilliantly marry psychological depth, strategic survival, and engaging resource management, delivering a uniquely captivating and deeply personal experience.
Multiplayer and Replayability
As you’ve probably anticipated, given the intensely personal and introspective nature of The Alters, multiplayer isn’t part of the equation here. You won’t be debating life choices or fighting over resources with friends, just multiple versions of yourself, which, depending on your personality, might be either a blessing or an absolute nightmare. The single-player focus is entirely intentional, allowing 11 bit studios to concentrate fully on crafting a narrative experience that’s uniquely immersive, emotionally engaging, and rich with narrative consequence.
Replayability, however, is remarkably strong thanks to the branching narratives, meaningful decisions, and varied alter interactions. Each choice you make in dialogue and resource management significantly shapes the storyline, relationships, and overall survival strategy. With each new playthrough, players are encouraged to explore alternative decisions, discovering fresh character dynamics, unexpected narrative outcomes, and hidden secrets within the intricate plot structure. It turns out arguing with yourself repeatedly can actually be quite entertaining, who knew?
Moreover, the variety and depth of the alters themselves further incentivize multiple playthroughs. Each alter brings distinct abilities, personality traits, and narrative arcs influenced by the decisions you’ve made. By exploring different dialogue options and scenarios, players uncover new emotional depths, motivations, and storylines. The diversity of potential narrative paths ensures each replay feels fresh and engaging, significantly enhancing the overall lifespan and value of the game.
For those who appreciate deep character exploration, emotional storytelling, and strategic survival mechanics, the lack of multiplayer isn’t a drawback; it’s an asset. The Alters proves convincingly that powerful narrative experiences can thrive purely within single-player confines. With abundant replayability driven by branching narratives, rich character dynamics, and complex decision-making, The Alters offers plenty of reason to revisit Jan’s existential journey again and again.
Graphics and Sound
Visually, The Alters is a striking experience, delivering an art style that perfectly complements its thoughtful narrative and introspective themes. The barren alien landscapes are hauntingly beautiful, balancing eerie isolation with compelling detail. From the intricate textures of Jan’s makeshift habitats to the expansive vistas of the lonely planet, the graphical fidelity showcases the PS5’s capabilities impressively. Lighting effects, especially during atmospheric sequences, add emotional depth and enhance the sense of isolation, reflecting the subtle yet profound mood shifts throughout the game.
Character models deserve particular praise, vividly bringing to life the diverse alters, each visually distinct, yet undeniably similar. 11 bit studios skillfully portrays subtle differences in body language, facial expressions, and attire, making each alter recognizable and expressive. These nuanced visual distinctions reinforce the psychological depth of interactions, enhancing the emotional impact of conversations and conflicts. You’ll quickly appreciate how thoughtfully crafted each alter’s visual design is, sometimes seeing a different version of yourself can indeed be disturbingly illuminating.
Sound design further elevates the immersive experience. Environmental audio subtly captures the planet’s desolate beauty, wind whispering across barren plains, the gentle hum of life-support systems, distant unsettling echoes, heightening both tension and atmosphere. The voice acting is superb, delivering emotionally resonant performances across multiple versions of Jan. Each alter has distinct vocal nuances, highlighting their differing personalities and emotional states convincingly. Conversations feel natural, authentic, and deeply engaging, further drawing players into the narrative.
The musical score masterfully complements the narrative’s emotional beats, employing a blend of ambient, electronic, and orchestral elements. Music dynamically adapts to gameplay, rising subtly during tense moments, becoming contemplative during quiet reflection, and intensifying during emotional climaxes. Overall, the audiovisual presentation of The Alters is exceptionally polished, meticulously detailed, and thoughtfully executed, ensuring the narrative’s psychological depth resonates both visually and sonically with remarkable effectiveness.
Final Thoughts
The Alters is a profound, emotionally resonant, and wonderfully inventive experience, reaffirming 11 bit studios’ position as masters of narrative-driven gameplay. It brilliantly explores complex psychological themes through the fascinating concept of confronting alternate versions of oneself, turning what might have been merely an intriguing premise into a genuinely moving and engaging journey. With its deeply personal storytelling, nuanced character interactions, and strategic survival mechanics, this game provides an experience that sticks with you long after completion.
The absence of multiplayer is more than justified, as the game’s strength lies precisely in its intimate, introspective nature. Replayability thrives thanks to branching narratives, impactful choices, and richly developed alters, compelling players to revisit this introspective adventure multiple times. Each playthrough feels fresh and uniquely revealing, as new decisions unveil surprising outcomes, emotional discoveries, and hidden layers of character depth.
Audiovisually, The Alters impresses immensely, leveraging the PS5’s capabilities to deliver a visually captivating and sonically immersive experience. The meticulously detailed graphics, nuanced animations, superb voice acting, and evocative soundscapes enhance emotional impact and deepen narrative immersion. It’s a beautifully realized experience that powerfully complements the game’s thoughtful themes and sophisticated storytelling.
In conclusion, if you’re seeking a game that meaningfully explores identity, choices, and self-discovery, all wrapped within compelling survival mechanics and striking visual design, The Alters is an absolute must-play. 11 bit studios delivers a deeply reflective, emotionally charged experience that both entertains and provokes thoughtful introspection. It might just leave you questioning your own life choices and wondering about your very own “what ifs.”
We prepared this review with a digital copy of The Alters for the PS5 version provided by Evolve PR.
