The Altershas finally landed, continuing 11 Bit Studios' tradition of excellent, thought-provoking survival-management games. But make no mistake,The Altersis no mere continuation orspiritual successor ofThis War of MineorFrostpunk—rather, it’s an original work injected with a host of unique features and design aspects, making it a standout project indeed.
There are many ways in whichThe Altersstands out from 11 Bit Studios' previous work: its high-science-fiction narrative, third-person exploration, and photorealistic graphics are just a few of its major distinctions. But none of these are the game’s defining design pillar—that would be its choice-based narrative structure. Indeed,The Altersis at once more personal and more replayable than the likes ofFrostpunk, whose multiple runs typically lead to the same outcome, albeit with some markedly different plot developments here and there. SinceThe Alterswas only just released, it’s hard to know just how much control players have over its narrative, but its presence on Xbox Game Pass could do a good bit to illuminate that design facet.
How Game Pass Could Inform The Alters' Community Footprint
Xbox Game Pass Is Bringing The Alters to a Wide Range of Players
The Altershas proven to be a critical success, and it’s an easy purchase for survival and management sim fans, but it’s far from typical AAA fodder: it’s not exactly the type of game that will sell anyone on a console, nor is it likely to breach the indie games' glass ceiling and surface alongside the likes ofDeath Stranding 2andGhost of Yotei. On its own, it would probably have reached hundreds of thousands of players by the end of 2025, but with Game Pass, it has a chance to reach millions.
For comparison,Frostpunk 2, an11 Bit Studios game with far more hypearound it due to the success of its predecessor, sold under 600,000 copies in its first year.
Coupled with its strong initial reception,The Alters' inclusion on Game Passmeans that it will almost certainly be devoured by a sizable audience. This is great for any game, of course, but it’s particularly beneficial for the sort of deep, story-driven experience ofThe Alters. With a larger pool of players, 11 Bit Studios' sci-fi survival sim could have a fanbase defined by discussion, secret-hunting, and intel-sharing, which may help everyone better enjoy its winding, branching, ambitious narrative.
Audiences Might Get a Clearer Picture of How Player-Driven The Alters' Story Really Is
Fervent discussion will no doubt be inThe Alters' fanbase’s future, aided by its appearance on Game Pass, and this could shed more light on its darkest corners. For one thing, while afirst playthrough ofThe Alterscertainly gives the impression of infinite possibilities, that’s obviously not the case: even the most moldable video game narratives have their limits. Even a second or third playthrough might be insufficient for understanding the true extent of its player-controlled narrative, since there could simply be two or three major plot departures, marked by obvious story beats like the transition from Act 1 to Act 3.
In reality, the only way for audiences at large to experience everything thatThe Alters' storyand world have to offer is through communication. If the game is truly as vast and replayable as it suggests, then it isn’t plausible for a single person to get a complete picture on their own, requiring the development of a large information hub. This could shatterThe Alters' illusion of freedom a bit, but it could also help elevate it, as players would discover the real depth of its intricate, nuanced story.
WHERE TO PLAY
The Alters is an ambitious sci-fi survival game with a unique twist. You play as Jan Dolski, the lone survivor of a crash-landed expedition on a hostile planet. To survive, you must form a new crew for your mobile base.
Using a substance called Rapidium, you create alternative versions of Jan - THE ALTERS - each one shaped by a different crucial decision from the protagonist’s past.
