The Alters

The Alters is a survival game set on a hostile alien planet. It focuses on the struggles of Jan Dolski, a space miner stranded there after a mining mission gone awry. The main premise revolves around Jan’s ability to create “Alters”—alternate versions of himself who diverge from him at key points in his life. Each Alter has a unique set of skills, knowledge, and traits, reflecting choices and paths that the original Jan might have taken. Players use these Alters to perform specialized tasks, solve problems, and keep their base functional under increasingly dire conditions.

Gameplay combines exploration, base-building, and resource management inspired by Satisfactory. Players control Jan and his growing team of Alters to mine resources, construct facilities, and navigate hazardous areas of the alien world. The base itself is a large, wheel-shaped structure designed to stay just ahead of the lethal rays of the nearby sun. Players must power and expand their base by attaching modules and infrastructure, much in the style of games like Fallout Shelter or X-COM.

The game introduces a “Tree of Life” system that lets players view the different paths their character's life might have taken and create Alters from those timelines. Each Alter brings their own expertise and perspectives to the base’s operations, adding depth to problem-solving and interpersonal relationships. Players must manage the physical and psychological well-being of their crew, addressing their needs and disputes to avoid rebellion and conflict.

Exploration plays a key role in the gameplay, with players needing to venture outside their base to gather resources, discover points of interest, and respond to environmental hazards. Anomalous creatures and radiation-rich areas pose additional risks to their missions. The game's day-and-night cycle adds urgency to these tasks, reflecting the slow advance of the sun and the danger it brings.

The narrative explores themes of survival, regret, regret of choices, and the human will to persevere under extraordinary conditions. Players face moral and strategic decisions that affect both their ability to stay alive and the relationships between their various Alters.