XBOX REVIEW | The Alters

The Alters was a game I hadn’t heard of until it launched on Game Pass. After watching the trailer, I was really intrigued. Not long after, I had the opportunity to review it, so here we go.

In The Alters, players step into the role of Jan Dolski, a builder aboard the Project Dolly space expedition. As the AllyCorp mining vessel approaches an uncharted planet, it’s suddenly struck by an unknown force, leading to a catastrophic failure and forced evacuation. Jan wakes up alone on the planet’s surface and quickly discovers his entire team is dead. He finds the base, but extreme weather and environmental conditions make it nearly impossible to call for help. A fragmented transmission warns him that sunrise will soon reach his location, bringing lethal heat with it, so he must find a way to make the base mobile.

Jan must drive a colossal, wheel-shaped base across the planet’s surface to stay ahead of the sun’s deadly radiation. Exposure means certain death. As a survival game, exploration and resource gathering are essential. Players mine for materials to maintain and expand the mobile base, constructing infrastructure like power pylons to operate mining equipment. The base-building mechanics take cues from games like Fallout Shelter and XCOM, requiring players to attach new rooms and modules that enhance functionality and keep the crew satisfied. Each in-game segment is on a tight timer, real-world seconds translate to in-game minutes, and failure to escape before sunrise results in the crew’s annihilation.

To survive, Jan must create “Alters” using a rare substance called Rapidium. These Alters are alternate versions of himself who made different life choices, each with unique skills, personalities, and worldviews. Using the “Tree of Life” system, Jan can reflect on his past and choose which path to branch into, summoning Alters to help tackle specific challenges. For instance, a scientist Alter might uncover new ways to traverse hazardous terrain. However, these Alters aren’t just tools, they have emotions, fears, and needs. Players must actively monitor their well-being. Ignoring them can lead to impulsive actions and unpredictable consequences. There’s also a cap on how many Alters can be created in a single playthrough, making each choice matter.

Things I liked!

• Gameplay | As you begin playing The Alters, the game does a tremendous job of gently easing you into its mechanics, explaining how most systems work and what they’re used for. There’s also a manual you can access at the press of a button on your controller, in case you forget anything or want to read up on a particular feature. I found this especially helpful during my first run. The core gameplay in The Alters is split into two main components. First, there’s base management, where you assign tasks to your available alters to keep them occupied. You can build and expand your base with various rooms, such as a research department for your scientist alter, a dormitory for sleeping, a greenhouse for growing food, and a workshop for crafting items. There’s even a social room where you can bond with your alters by playing beer pong, watching movies, and listening to music. Each room serves a unique purpose, and there are many more to discover. The second gameplay element takes place outside the base. In third-person perspective, you explore the dark alien planet to mine valuable resources essential for crafting and survival. Mining locations appear on the in-game map after you’ve walked past them. Discovering the optimal spot for your mining station involves a mini-game, placing probes in a closed shape, with triangles working best in my experience. Once the deepest mining pocket is found, a holographic visual is triggered to show where to place your station. You can then link each mining station back to your base using pylons. Almost every item in the game is upgradable as the story progresses. When exploring outside, you need to be cautious, nightfall brings deadly radiation, and prolonged exposure can result in radiation poisoning and death if untreated. You’ll always receive an on-screen warning when night approaches. Any mining station connected to your base via pylons can also act as a fast-travel point. There are various mining resources to uncover on the planet. Some are easier to reach than others, but by speaking with your alters, you’ll often find a solution to most problems that arise.

• Choices | Every choice you make in The Alters can significantly impact how the rest of your playthrough unfolds. I found myself constantly weighing decisions, like whether to prioritise nutrient-rich meals that help both me and my alters survive, or opt for tastier options that demand more resources and effort to produce. Sometimes, the most obvious answer isn’t the right one, especially when it comes to keeping your alters happy. Unhappy alters may start arguing or even fighting with each other. If left unchecked, their mood can spiral into depression, causing them to withdraw from work or avoid conversations that could resolve conflicts. If these issues aren’t addressed quickly, the consequences can be severe, wasting precious time, which is always your greatest enemy. Whenever you engage in a one-on-one conversation with an alter, thought bubbles appear behind them, indicating how they’re feeling, whether anxious, motivated, or something in between. If an alter wants to talk, a symbol will appear above their head. And if it’s urgent, they’ll call you directly and ask to speak.
  
  Visuals |  I was really impressed with the visuals in The Alters. First, you have the option to play in either Quality Mode or Performance Mode. I preferred Performance Mode for the smoother frame rate, but if you favour higher resolution, that option is available too. The base is shown from a 2.5D side view, imagine peering into a dollhouse. Each room is brimming with detail, which adds immensely to the game’s immersive feel. Character models are equally impressive and look photorealistic. Though all alters are essentially the same person, they feature subtle differences based on their life choices, for example, the scientist has slightly longer hair and wears glasses. Outside the base, the camera shifts to an over-the-shoulder 3D view. The alien world looks hauntingly dark, illuminated only by your base and lava flowing beneath cliff tops. The level design is something special. Despite the lack of a photo mode, I often found myself snapping screenshots of the striking alien landscape.
  
  Audio | I found that throughout my time playing The Alters, the sound and music greatly enhanced the immersion. Working outside the base, sudden radiation or magnetic storm alerts beeped loudly, warning me of the impending danger rapidly approaching. Haunting gusts of wind and strange magnetic anomalies further intensified the atmosphere. Ambient sounds, like the gentle hum of machinery, the beeping of equipment, and the alters chatting among themselves, added a dynamic layer to the experience. The musical score is equally impressive, featuring cinematic orchestral arrangements with haunting themes. While the music often blends into the background, it becomes strikingly noticeable during key moments in the game. The voice acting is top-tier. Although Jan is voiced by the same actor across all alters, each one features slightly different mannerisms and subtly unique tones, creating distinct personalities when they speak. There are other characters you interact with in the communication room as well, and their performances feel equally natural and convincing.
  
  Replayability | The Alters offers plenty of replayability. If you want to see everything the game has to offer, you’ll need multiple playthroughs, as it’s not possible to experience every detail in a single run. This includes going for all the achievements, which I estimate would take around three playthroughs, using the final one to mop up any missed achievements via previous saves.

Mixed & disliked!

• The Clock | In The Alters, the clock is always working against you. Whenever you perform a time-consuming task such as mining or crafting, time speeds up to save you from standing around and waiting, a mechanic I really liked. Each time you craft an item, you’re shown how long it will take, which I found genuinely useful as I played. However, when there’s a lot going on, like the alters constantly disagreeing and failing to collaborate on assigned tasks you often have to step in and handle crafting and mining yourself, which eats up a lot of valuable time. I do hope the developers consider a small update to address this, as even a little extra time would make things much easier.

• Radiation Filter | Radiation filters are required to keep radiation out of the base, and during the first act, as you’re trying to manage everything, the low filter alarm sounds constantly. This does get a little annoying, especially when resources are scarce. You can set an up-hold at the crafting workstation, which automatically queues the available limit, but you’ll still need the necessary resources to complete each item. It’s a minor complaint, and thankfully, it’s resolved permanently as the story progresses.
  
  

How long did I play the review before publishing? 24 Hours
How long to beat the story? 20-30 Hours
How many Achievements did I earn before publishing? 15/55 OR 140/1000G
How long to achieve 1000G | 50 Hours +
You’ll love this game if you like these | No Man’s Sky and Subnautica: Below Zero

CONCLUSION

Score: 90/100

I can’t remember ever playing a game quite like The Alters. The story hooked me straight away with its unique twist: you’re stranded on an alien planet, with a base built at the centre of a giant wheel. To survive, you must create alternate versions of yourself, called alters, using memories stored on a quantum computer. Simply speaking with each alter made me reflect deeply on the choices I’ve made in my own life, and where I might have ended up had I chosen differently. There’s a remarkable amount of depth here, and I have to applaud the development team for what they’ve accomplished. The visuals and sound design are impressive throughout. The story unfolds across three acts, each set on a different part of the planet, offering new environments to explore and fresh challenges to tackle. Whether you’re a fan of survival games or new to the genre, this is definitely one to try. I can’t wait to dive back in and play more.