Altering the Sci-fi Game: Reviewing and raving over The Alters

As a fan of survival games, The Alters by 11 Bit Studios caught my eye immediately. You might recognise 11 Bit Studios from games such as Indika or Frostpunk 2. This game, however, is their best one to date, in my humble opinion.

The aesthetic is great. Even the game art, with its hot pink and black colour scheme, made me interested in playing the game. It looks sleek, fun and slightly cyberpunk-y. Once you get into it, it feels very cinematic, and the world that Jan (the main character) explores feels well-built and suited to its sci-fi genre. The story exposition happens mainly when you run to the base after crashing. You quickly discover that your whole crew, including the captain, have died, leaving only you to navigate this strange land. Once you arrive at the base, you make contact with an unnamed individual who warns you about the dangers of the planet you are on and helps you in your new role as Captain (a fun way of receiving tasks to progress). Soon, you find Rapidium – a rare resource that will help you create alternate versions of yourself, forming a less-than-ordinary crew.

The concept was very refreshing, unlike typical space games I’ve come across

I found this concept to be incredibly engaging and interesting. Via the quantum computer, you can see exactly where in life your alter stems from and how their life unfolded. Since you all share the same childhood (albeit not a very colourful one), you get to relate and bond with your alters. As a Polish person, I loved the bonding scene between Technician Jan and Jan where they attempted to relive childhood memories by making their mothers’ pierogi. I felt so connected to them in that moment, which made me try even harder to keep the team alive. It also made me crave perogies (but definitely not the ones Jan makes!).

In terms of gameplay, I feel that this game is perfect for beginners and pros alike. The controls are not difficult, and everything is well explained, making it easier to navigate the space. I also loved how the base is, in essence, built of separate blocks that you can move around, and the whole structure is like a big wheel that rolls away from the danger we get introduced to in the prologue. As someone who does not play, read or watch a lot of sci-fi, I still engaged with the game and felt that the concept was very refreshing, unlike typical space games I’ve come across. I think part of it was due to the fact that, as a player, you had to interact with the alters, whereas most games/ media featuring parallel universes and alternative versions of the main character focus on the importance of them never interacting.

This game deserves attention for so many aspects – the stunning visuals, the beautiful, emotional writing, and the accessible gameplay

As a writer, I thought the story was creative and well fleshed out. There were moments, however, especially in the prologue, where the dialogue felt a bit on the nose (such as Jan reiterating the situation he is in after the mysterious person just told him about it). Here, I feel that the writers could trust the player’s understanding, or have Jan drop a line here or there about the situation as he runs around. I also think that sometimes there is too much information being thrown your way, especially when you have to open the manual multiple times to progress. I think here the player can also figure out that if they are stuck or need more information, they can refer to the manual. Lastly, a pet peeve of mine (though I understand why it’s used), I do find it annoying that you can only save the game by ending the day.

Overall, I’ve really enjoyed the game so far, and can’t wait to keep playing and discovering more. I think this game deserves attention for so many aspects: the stunning visuals, the beautiful, emotional writing, and the accessible gameplay. I’m excited to see more from this studio. Also, 11 Bit Studios, if you’re reading this, please add an Intergalactic Karen achievement for when Jan asks to speak to someone higher up. That would be so funny.