The Alters Made Me Rethink My Whole Life
The Alters Made Me Rethink My Whole Life – Here’s Why It’s Worth a Try
Some games make you think. This one made me reflect.
I didn’t expect The Alters to hit me this hard. Not with jump scares. Not with big reveals. But with something quieter — the kind of weight that creeps up on you and lingers.
🎮 What Is The Alters?
At first glance, The Alters is a sci-fi survival game by 11 bit studios — the same folks who brought us Frostpunk.
You play as Jan, a lone worker stranded on a rotating planet with a radiation storm on the horizon and very little time to act.
But here’s the twist: You’re not alone. You create versions of yourself — “Alters” — who lived different lives, made different decisions, and became someone else. They’re not just clones. They’re you, but from a path you didn’t take. And that’s where the game starts to hit differently.
⏳ A Survival Game That’s More Than Just Survival
Sure, there’s base management, time limits, and resources to juggle — but the real tension doesn’t come from dying. It comes from remembering.
Each Alter you create has a backstory. A version of Jan that chose something else. Maybe he went to school. Maybe he stayed with someone. Maybe he gave up something important. And now? He’s standing in front of you, helping you survive — or questioning your decisions.
💭 Emotional Weight Without the Spoilers
This game isn’t loud about its message. It just lets you sit in silence, in reflection. It trusts you to feel things — not just through dialogue, but through absence. Through slow walks. Through quiet workspaces. Through facial expressions that say more than words ever could.
It reminded me of Firewatch, Return of the Obra Dinn, or even the quiet solitude of Death Stranding.
🧠 What Hit Me Personally
There’s a moment in this game — I won’t say what — but one of the Alters said something that caught me off guard. I muted my mic. Stared at the screen. Thought about my own life.
What if I’d stayed on that path? What if I’d taken that job? What version of me would I be talking to now?
That’s the power of this game. It reflects you back at yourself.
🕹️ Should You Play It?
If you’re into fast-paced action or bombastic set pieces, this might not be your thing. But if you love story-driven experiences, thoughtful pacing, and emotional storytelling — then The Alters is absolutely worth your time.
It’s not a 60-hour grind. You can finish it in under 10 hours. But the impact? That sticks with you.
📅 Release Info & Platforms
- Release Date: June 13, 2025
- Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC
- Game Pass: Available Day One via Xbox Game Pass
🎮 Try it now on Game Pass (affiliate link)
🎥 Watch the Full Review
Want to hear my full voiceover breakdown with gameplay, emotional beats, and comparisons to other narrative games? Watch the full episode of Worth A Try? below:
💬 Let’s Talk
What decision in your life would your alter have made differently? What version of yourself do you still wonder about?
Join the conversation in the comments or hop in our Discord community.
Disclaimer: I received a review code for this game. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, I may earn a small commission — it helps support the content I create here on OnThaSticks.com. Thank you!
