The Alters cover art

The Alters

202511 bit studiosXbox Series X|S, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5

Explore an emotional sci-fi game with a unique blend of survival, adventure, and base-building elements. Help Jan Dolski, the sole survivor of an ill-fated space expedition, create alternative versions of himself to escape a hostile planet and tackle personal turmoils with this unconventional crew.

What it feels like

The emotional sci-fi framing and sincere exploration of identity and mental health suggest unironic heartfelt storytelling. Exploring identity and personal struggles invites reflection and interpretation throughout the experience. Despite hardship, the narrative arc of creating allies and escaping suggests earned optimism and renewal are possible.

Earnest62%
Contemplative48%
Hopeful38%

What it's about

A space expedition and alien planet setting form the core sci-fi premise of the game. Survival mechanics are explicitly listed as a core element, requiring resource management and environmental adaptation on a hostile planet. Creating alternative versions of Jan Dolski to tackle personal turmoil is fundamentally about self-definition and exploring different selves.

Science Fiction95%
Survival Against Nature85%
Identity & Self80%
Mental Health65%
Journey & Pilgrimage50%
Isolation45%
Friendship35%

How it plays

Base-building is named as a unique blend element, establishing a camp or settlement to survive on the hostile world. Managing an unconventional crew of Jan's alternative selves as distinct characters is a core mechanical pillar. Survival elements necessitate gathering and managing scarce resources to stay alive on a hostile planet.

Base Building75%
Party Management70%
Resource Management55%
Crafting42%

How it looks and sounds

Modern sci-fi space and alien environments typically employ high-fidelity rendering for immersion.

Photorealistic33%

How it's structured

Explicitly single-player design throughout the narrative and survival experience. A story-driven experience with a bounded narrative arc of survival and escape structures the overall progression.

Single-Player68%
Campaign60%
Space Haven51% match

Shares Science Fiction, Base Building, Survival Against Nature, Resource Management.

Both lean into Science Fiction, Base Building, Single-Player, Survival Against Nature.

Science Fiction85%Base Building95%Single-Player88%Survival Against Nature65%
RimWorld49% match

Shares Science Fiction, Survival Against Nature, Base Building, Party Management.

Both lean into Science Fiction, Survival Against Nature, Single-Player, Base Building.

Science Fiction85%Survival Against Nature80%Single-Player95%Base Building88%
Subnautica 249% match

Shares Science Fiction, Survival Against Nature, Base Building, Resource Management.

Both lean into Science Fiction, Survival Against Nature, Base Building, Single-Player.

Science Fiction85%Survival Against Nature90%Base Building75%Single-Player60%

See all games like The Alters

Battle Realms34% match

A lesser-known kindred — Base Building, Party Management, Resource Management, Crafting. 88% positive across 4,301 Steam reviews.

Both lean into Base Building, Campaign, Party Management, Resource Management.

Base Building85%Campaign70%Party Management60%Resource Management65%

A lesser-known kindred — Science Fiction, Survival Against Nature, Base Building, Resource Management. 96% positive across 4,811 Steam reviews.

Both lean into Science Fiction, Base Building, Survival Against Nature, Resource Management.

Science Fiction70%Base Building60%Survival Against Nature50%Resource Management75%
Iconoclasts32% match

A lesser-known kindred — Science Fiction, Identity & Self, Earnest, Journey & Pilgrimage. 86% positive across 4,974 Steam reviews.

Both lean into Science Fiction, Single-Player, Identity & Self, Campaign.

Science Fiction60%Single-Player75%Identity & Self50%Campaign70%
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