Polish game developer 11 Bit Studios releases The Alters tomorrow, a science fiction survival game that asks players to clone alternate versions of themselves to escape a hostile alien world. Early reviews suggest the title successfully blends base-building mechanics with philosophical questions about life choices and regret.
The game launches June 13 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, marking the latest project from the studio behind acclaimed titles This War of Mine and Frostpunk.
Players control Jan Dolski, a space miner stranded alone after his crew dies in a planetary landing12. Faced with lethal solar radiation that will destroy his mobile base, Jan must create "Alters" - alternate versions of himself who made different life decisions - using a rare substance called Rapidium13.
The cloning process utilizes a quantum computer system called the "Tree of Life" that simulates divergent paths from pivotal moments in Jan's past34. A botanist version emerges from a timeline where Jan sacrificed his career for marriage, while a technician Jan represents someone who stood up to an abusive father3.
"We wanted to create this kind of situation, where they can just hang out and discuss it," director Tomasz Kisilewicz told Game Rant, describing conversations between Jan and his alternates as opportunities to explore roads not taken5.
Early reviews praise the game's unique premise while noting limitations in its execution. Game8 awarded The Alters an 82/100 score, calling it "a successful show of sci-fi survival" but criticizing how the base resets after each chapter reduce long-term planning incentives1.
"The Alters is a survival base-builder set on a beautifully desolate planet, with gameplay that reflects that same tone—quiet, methodical, and occasionally rough around the edges," the review states1.
The game combines resource management with social simulation, requiring players to maintain relationships with their Alters while managing their distinct personalities and emotional needs21. Checkpoint Gaming noted how dialogue choices can significantly impact Alter relationships, sometimes leading to unintended consequences3.
The release continues 11 Bit Studios' focus on emotionally-driven survival games that examine human behavior under extreme circumstances1. The Warsaw-based developer has built a reputation for titles that blend survival mechanics with moral complexity since releasing This War of Mine in 20142.
"Both games offer a powerful and emotional experience, one that challenges players to confront the harsh realities of survival," according to a comparison between The Alters and This War of Mine1.
The game launches at $34.99 across digital platforms3.
