The Alters Xbox Review

Fletcher Wilkinson
Sep 5
4 min read

A Legacy of Morality and Survival

11 Bit Studios has built a reputation for games that challenge players to balance survival, morality, and resource management. This War of Mine gave us an unflinching look at the civilian cost of war, while Frostpunk forced us to make brutal choices in a frozen wasteland. With The Alters, the studio pushes its formula into bold new territory, mixing genres in ways that feel both surprising and natural. The result is an unforgettable survival experience that is as much about who we are as it is about whether we can endure.

A Legacy of Morality and Survival

Understanding The Alters is easier when you look back at 11 Bit’s history. This War of Mine emphasized individual stories and difficult moral choices, while Frostpunk scaled that up to city-wide resource management. The Alters blends both approaches, while adding a significant twist: a deeply personal, character-driven science-fiction narrative with cinematic presentation and third-person exploration.

It’s an ambitious amalgam of genres—part base management, part survival sim, part narrative RPG, and part exploration adventure. And somehow, it works.

A Strong, Character-Driven Narrative

Unlike its predecessors, The Alters doesn’t keep its story vague or open-ended. Instead, it delivers a richly detailed sci-fi tale centered on Jan Dolski, the only survivor of a doomed expedition to harvest a rare element called Rapidium. Stranded on an alien world, Jan discovers he can clone alternate versions of himself—the “Alters”—each representing different choices he could have made in life.

This setup isn’t just a gimmick. Each Alter is defined by a unique past, which informs their skills, personalities, and beliefs. One Jan may have become a technician by standing up to his abusive father; another might have chosen avoidance and taken a different path. These differences lead to meaningful clashes and alliances, giving the survival mechanics a strong emotional backbone.

A Social Simulation Unlike Any Other

Managing your Alters feels familiar at first—you’ll assign them jobs, balance workloads, and optimize efficiency. But because they all have distinct personalities, your decisions ripple outward in unpredictable ways. Overwork an Alter who values leisure, and you may find them demoralized or even rebellious. Treat another with respect, and you might gain a loyal ally willing to push through tough conditions.

Conversations, gifts, and even lighthearted activities (like a surprisingly entertaining beer pong minigame) become tools to manage morale. This constant negotiation of human needs elevates the usual survival formula into something deeply personal.

Your very own homestead & base of operations

Exploration and Survival Mechanics

At its core, The Alters retains the resource-driven pressure that defined Frostpunk. You’ll need to track supplies, construct facilities, and weigh whether to invest in major expansions or small quality-of-life improvements. But unlike earlier 11 Bit titles, here you physically venture into the world in third person to collect materials, establish outposts, and solve environmental puzzles.

Exploration adds a tangible sense of accomplishment. Finding a Rapidium deposit, building a pylon network, and linking it back to your base feels earned, not automated. Upgrades like climbing hooks or improvised weapons add variety, though the controls can occasionally feel clumsy, and Jan sometimes gets stuck on terrain. Still, the new mechanics expand the studio’s formula in meaningful ways.

Balancing Accessibility and Challenge

Compared to This War of Mine or Frostpunk, The Alters is more forgiving. Players won’t face the same relentless difficulty spikes, and survival feels attainable with smart planning. While some may miss the crushing tension of 11 Bit’s earlier games, the more accessible design allows the narrative and character systems to shine.

This doesn’t mean choices are meaningless—far from it. Poor decisions can still cause chain reactions that threaten your survival, but the emphasis is less on punishing the player and more on immersing them in the consequences of their decisions.

Presentation and Atmosphere

The Alters looks and feels like 11 Bit’s most ambitious project yet. Its sci-fi aesthetic is striking, from the crimson glow of ship alarms to the eerie landscapes of the alien planet. Voice acting is strong, particularly in bringing the various Alters to life as distinct individuals despite sharing the same face. The pacing of the story is deliberate, with quiet moments of reflection punctuated by tense survival challenges.

Final Verdict

The Alters is more than just another survival management game—it’s a groundbreaking fusion of genres that puts human identity at its core. By combining resource management, exploration, and social simulation with a gripping narrative, 11 Bit Studios has delivered its most ambitious and affecting title to date.

It’s not flawless—movement can feel awkward, and the reduced difficulty may not satisfy fans seeking the punishing edge of Frostpunk. But these are small blemishes on an otherwise remarkable achievement. The Alters is not only one of 11 Bit Studios’ best works, but also one of the most original survival games in years. This has been The Alters Xbox review and I hope you enjoyed!

Score: 8.7/10

Pros

Deep, character-driven narrative with strong themes
Alters system adds meaningful social dynamics to survival gameplay
Engaging blend of genres: base management, exploration, and story-driven choices
Atmospheric presentation and strong voice work
More accessible than past 11 Bit titles without sacrificing depth

Cons