The Alters is here, and it instantly became a fan favorite thanks to its unique combination of sci-fi and survival. But is it as great as everyone says?
The Alters release shook the world with its innovative combination of a sci-fi strategy game with a survival narrative. At the time of writing, the game enjoys an impressive 86/100 on Metacritic! Still unsure whether it’s worth a shot? Let us help you decide!
The Alters Launch: A Deep Sci-Fi Survival Experience Built on Choices
Core gameplay
11 bit studios survival game follows the story of Jan Dolski, a builder who finds himself all alone on a faraway planet. All he has is a mobile base and a substance called Rapidium, which lets him create alternate selves to keep it running.
Things get interesting when the player discovers each clone has a unique set of skills and a distinct personality. They are their own people, and that’s where moral choices start to matter.
Narrative and theme
Moral choices in games perfectly contribute to the overall immersion in the experience. Suddenly, things get serious, and the outcome of the adventure is entirely in the player’s hands. This feature, paired with the uniqueness of cloning gameplay, makes The Alters a one-of-a-kind sensation for enthusiasts of sci-fi and survival in crisis settings.
Developer background: 11 bit studios
Although 11 bit studios debuted with the Anomaly series, it was This War of Mine that made it recognizable worldwide, recouping its production costs within the first weekend after release. The studio’s next epic project was Frostpunk, an unforgiving, brutal, and exceptionally complex survival experience.
The Alters seems to be evolving the studio’s proven ideas and solutions, as the title is receiving quite enthusiastic reviews. According to Patrick Meurs from Gameliner, “I’m rarely impressed by the overused “choices matter” tagline, but The Alters by 11 bit studios shows how it should truly be done—offering not just resource management, but deep existential dilemmas that force players to weigh the mission against morality, making it a thought-provoking yet demanding experience best suited for those unafraid to fail and eager to explore both strategy and themselves.”
As we can read in The Gamer’s review, “11 Bit Studios has created something truly impressive here. The Alters is an incredible experience, boasting an intricate narrative, significant player choice, and a brilliant gameplay loop that always keeps you on your toes.”
Early reception
And what are the fans’ reactions? Well, to say they are impressed would be an understatement, as the title is receiving a truly terrific reception. As we can see on SteamDB, The Alters reached a whopping 18,120 concurrent players two days after its release!
Reviews prove players love the combination of social interaction, resource management, clone-based experience, and unforgiving survival on an alien planet. “The story really struck a chord with me. I loved how it explores themes like identity, humanity, and the consequences of choices—especially the ones you didn’t make. The Alters of Jan are fantastic; each one has their own unique personality, and you can really feel it through their dialogue and reactions to different situations”, shares user ZionFrost on the game’s Steam.
However, not everyone shares that admiration for the 11 bit studio’s new work. As user salamanderwolf says on r/XboxGamePass, “I’ve played it for five hours today. Past the prologue and into finding certain things and tbh, I’m finding it beyond frustrating. It just feels like I’m running from fire to fire putting them out and not getting a chance to do the things I feel like I need to do. If you’re expecting a fallout shelter/cozy type game, forget it.”
The Alters is a must-play game for fans of sci-fi, exploration, and crafting. The game revolves around cloning different alternative versions of yourself to help you escape a hostile planet.
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So, who is this game for?
While thousands of gamers are raving about the new release from 11 bit studios, players craving a relaxing experience may find it a bit too demanding. It’s a title for those willing to take on the challenge and lose themselves in an isolating (but not entirely lonely!) experience.
Feeling interested? The game has been available since June 13, 2025, on PC, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Game Pass. This title may be what you’re looking for, especially if you enjoy deep narratives, choice-based gameplay, and survival experiences.
Sources:
- https://www.thegamer.com/the-alters-review/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Alters
- https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-alters/
- https://www.gry-online.pl/firmy/11-bit-studios/z8150b