Every year, there are a multitude of games that offer a different take on a traditional format. On the surface, 11 Bit Studios' The Alters was just another one of those games.
A space-set survival title where the main cast are clones, it sounds like something halfway between No Man’s Sky and Duncan Jones' Moon. Potentially quirky. Mildly diverting.
We certainly did not expect this unusual curio to be one of the best games of the year.
Much like its stranded protagonist, Jan Dolski, The Alters is a game with multiple personalities.
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Initially, it's a solid survival adventure. You explore a mysterious and occasionally hostile planet, gathering resources and pushing steadily forward towards rescue.
Once Jan begins to clone himself, creating his titular doppelgängers, the game shifts gears. It becomes a social sim crossed with a therapy session.
All 11 versions of Jan have distinct personalities, each one voiced by the brilliant Alex Jordan. Every alter explores a different set of life choices, refracting the same man through multiple possible lives. It is an existential essay, but far more entertaining than that sounds.
The Alters shines thanks to nuanced writing and a fresh spin on a familiar sci-fi trope. It also has a lot of heart. You care about Jan and his alters, and as the story tests the bonds between these different selves, it becomes impossible not to get emotionally invested.
Special mention must go to the base building. Your makeshift home becomes a satisfying exercise in inventory management. Every new add-on forces a structural reshuffle, creating a constant spatial puzzle that will spike the endorphins of any Resident Evil 4 fan.