The Alters: Release, Gameplay, Story & Survival Tips – Overview of the New Sci-Fi RPG
The Alters has launched today! This is a brand-new sci-fi survival game with a major focus on base building. In the game, you play as Jan Dolski, who has crash-landed on a hostile planet and now has to fight for survival.
You gain access to a cloning technology that allows you to create alternate versions of yourself – the so-called “Alters.” The game has been released today, June 13, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. It was developed by 11 bit studios, known for Frostpunk and This War of Mine. Find out what makes the game so unique right here!
What is The Alters?
The Alters is a survival-management game with a strong focus on storytelling. It combines resource management and strategic decision-making with a deep and personal narrative. The emotional journey of Jan Dolski is full of identity crises, self-reflection, and life choices.
After a crash, the protagonist ends up on a deserted planet. There, he finds a technology that enables him to create clones of himself – the Alters. But these are not just simple clones; they embody decisions Jan could have made in his life. Each Alter brings different skills, perspectives, and emotional challenges. This not only offers tactical variety but also carries strong narrative weight.
The sci-fi setting is a perfect stage for open philosophical questions. These questions naturally emerge through the Alters, as Jan wonders whether one of them might have been a better version of himself.
Gameplay and Survival Mechanics
The gameplay blends multiple mechanics. First, there’s base building and resource management. You control a radical, rotatable space station – the “Wheel.” It floats above the hostile planet, and you must maneuver it to avoid deadly solar exposure. Within your base, you construct various modules like living quarters, greenhouses, and workshops to ensure the survival of Jan and his Alters.
The game follows a day-night-like cycle – once the sun rises, your crew begins to die. This forces you to explore the outside world daily. You collect organic materials, metals, and the valuable Rapidium. Rapidium is a unique material on the planet and is essential for creating Alters. You also need metals to build modules, lay energy lines, and craft equipment.
You also make numerous decisions with far-reaching consequences for yourself, the world, and your base. You decide which Alters to create – perhaps a botanist, miner, or scientist – and assign them tasks. These choices impact not only your efficiency but also the emotional stability of your crew. Poor management can lead to unrest, dissatisfaction, and reduced performance.
Story, Atmosphere & First Reviews
The game explores various philosophical themes revolving around identity, morality, and existence. Cloning alternate versions of oneself acts as a narrative metaphor for self-doubt, guilt, and regret. Critics highlight that the game induces “existential dread” and forces players to confront the moral consequences of their decisions.
The game delivers a dense and oppressive atmosphere, visually enriched through Unreal Engine 5 graphics, lighting, and landscapes, and aurally through a unique soundtrack by Piotr Musiał. Players describe it as a space-dark, claustrophobic experience with the constant threat of the sun looming.
Of course, there are already early reviews. The Verge, for example, refers to “Kojima-esque weirdness” and a unique blend of base-building, crew drama, and philosophical content. Players are also enjoying the game: on Steam, it holds an average positive rating of 89%.
Hey, I’m Kilian, but online you’ll probably know me as “Tux1243.” I've been part of the team for almost two years now, always trying to keep you in the loop with the latest and coolest gaming news. I also have a huge passion for doing deep dives and detailed analyses of entire game series and franchises. I love getting to the bottom of things and exploring the little details and backstories that make game worlds so fascinating.
Download the Allkeyshop Browser Extension Free
For all the latest video game news, trailers, and best deals, make sure to bookmark us.
You can find all the best and cheapest online deals on CD keys, game codes, gift cards, and antivirus software from the verified CD key sellers on our store pages.
To not miss any news on Allkeyshop, subscribe on
Google News
.
MORE RELEVANT ARTICLES
