The Alters (Xbox) - Review

A haunting, human sci‑fi survival tale where the biggest threat isn’t the planet… it’s you.

The Alters is one of those rare games that takes a familiar genre of survival on a hostile alien world and twists it into something far more intimate. It’s not about crafting better gear, building bigger bases, or outsmarting alien fauna. It’s about confronting the versions of yourself you could have been, and learning to live with them long enough to stay alive.

On Xbox Series X|S, The Alters lands with a confident stride: sharp performance, atmospheric visuals, and a narrative hook that digs in early and refuses to let go.

You play as Jan Dolski, the lone survivor of a disastrous space expedition. The planet you’ve crashed on is hostile, irradiated, and riddled with anomalies that warp reality itself. But the real twist comes from the substance Rapidium, which allows Jan to create alternate versions of himself, each one shaped by a different life choice.

These aren’t clones. They’re Alters:

• The Jan who pursued engineering instead of logistics.

• The Jan who stayed in school instead of dropping out.

• The Jan who never left home.

• The Jan who made the “right” choice—or the “wrong” one.

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Each Alter arrives with their own skills, emotional baggage, and worldview. And the game doesn’t treat them as tools. They’re people. They argue. They sulk. They resent you. Some admire you. Some think they should be in charge.

The writing is strongest when it leans into the discomfort. Conversations feel like therapy sessions with yourself, except you’re not the one in control. You’re managing a crew of alternate lives, with each one a reminder of what you could have been.

The branching narrative is genuinely meaningful. Your decisions shape relationships, morale, and ultimately the ending. You can’t please everyone, and the game makes sure you feel the weight of that.

The planet is dangerous in a way that feels systemic rather than scripted. Radiation cycles force you to plan your day. Anomalies distort space, time, and physics, levitating rocks, invisible singularities, and reality-warping distortions that can kill you instantly.

You gather metals, organics, and other resources to keep your mobile base running. But every trip outside is a risk, and the game’s day/night cycle adds a constant pressure. Venture out too late, and the sun’s radiation will shred your suit.

The planet itself is eerie rather than overtly hostile. The anomalies give it a surreal, dreamlike quality, ike reality is fraying at the edges. The sound design reinforces this with unsettling hums, distortions, and environmental cues that make exploration feel tense even when nothing is happening.

Your base is modular and expandable. You’ll build:

• Research Labs

• Social Rooms

• Fabricators

• Anomaly Detectors

• Radiation Filters

  
  

The tension comes from choosing between what you need and what your Alters need. Do you craft a comfort item to keep an Alter stable, or build a tool that pushes the mission forward? You can’t do both. Someone will be unhappy.

The base interior is warm, cramped, and lived-in. Conversations feel intimate. The game’s emotional tone is closer to Moon, Solaris, or The Talos Principle than typical sci-fi survival fare.

The crew management is where the game shines.

Every Alter has:

• A unique skillset

• A personal history

• Emotional needs

• Opinions about you and the other Alters

  
  

You’re not managing a crew, you’re actually managing a fractured identity. The emotional depth is impressive, and the game never lets you forget that these people are versions of you who lived different lives.

Some Alters become indispensable. Others become liabilities. Some may refuse to work. Some may spiral emotionally. Some may outright hate you.

It’s messy, human, and compelling.

The game is Optimised for Xbox Series X|S, and it shows:

• 4K Ultra HD support

• 60fps+ performance

• Spatial Sound that enhances the eerie atmosphere

• Xbox Play Anywhere support

• Cloud saves & cloud gaming for flexibility

  
  

Load times are quick, visuals are crisp, and the lighting effects during anomaly encounters look fantastic on modern hardware.

The game is also available on game pass too, so why aren't you playing it right now?

Pros:

• A genuinely original narrative hook

• Deep emotional storytelling

• Complex, meaningful character dynamics

• Atmospheric worldbuilding and anomaly design

• Strong performance on Xbox Series X|S

• Choices that matter and endings that feel earned

Cons:

• Resource gathering can feel repetitive

• Some Alters’ arcs resolve too quickly

• The emotional micromanagement may overwhelm players who prefer straightforward survival gameplay

• The pacing slows significantly in the mid-game

• Occasional difficulty spikes when anomalies cluster near essential resources

The Alters is one of the most thoughtful sci-fi games on Xbox in years. It’s not loud, flashy, or combat-heavy. Instead, it’s introspective, unsettling, and deeply human. It asks you to confront the versions of yourself you left behind and then rely on them to survive. If you enjoy narrative-driven experiences, moral dilemmas, and survival mechanics that feel genuinely consequential, this is an easy recommendation.

If you prefer action-heavy sci-fi, this may feel too slow or too emotional. But for players who want something different and something personal, then The Alters delivers.

XPN Rating: 4.5 out of 5 (GOLD)

The Alters is available now!