From the developers of This War of Mine, 11 Bit Studios has returned with one of my most anticipated games of the year, The Alters. In this sci-fi adventure, players will find themselves playing as Jan, a seemingly nice man who is just trying to do his nice space job until he realizes he’s about to die a horrible, awful space death. Sounds like there’s only one plausible solution. It’s time for Jan to print out alternate versions of himself. That’s right, maybe a version of Jan where he finally learned how to make spaghetti bolognese is just what he needs to avoid his imminent demise. I’m going to be honest with you. This is a rare Review Round Up where I genuinely don’t care what the reviews are. I’m sure the reviews I’m about to read and then share are fantastic. Works of art crafted by only the finest of wordsmiths, but I’ve been waiting for this game forever. The Alters could get a bunch of 1/10s, and I’d still buy it. That said, there is a version of me somewhere out there, not so loyal to the vision of 11 Bit Studios that needs to be convinced. So, without further delay, here is the Review Round Up for The Alters.

Review Round-Up:

What makes The Alters particularly compelling is the way it handles storytelling. Instead of following a traditional linear path, the game thrives on moral choices and complex interactions. Every decision feels like it has weight, not just in terms of survival but in shaping relationships between Jan and his “alters”. It raises thought-provoking questions about identity and what truly makes a person who they are. How much do our choices define us? Can we ever escape the consequences of past decisions? The game nudges players to think deeply without being overly preachy. – Vikki “Lady V” McGowan, Gamer Social Club

As the leader of the bunch, Jan will be required to make decisions that affect everyone’s wellbeing. You have access to a long-distance communication device, but do you use it to ask your ex-girlfriend for help, or are you too stubborn to let her in? Even if you do ask for help, do you let her know about your growing crew of Jans, or do you keep them under wraps for fear of how she’ll react? These and many other choices affect how your quest will unfold and how your Alters think of you, and it turns every decision into a multifaceted puzzle. – Eddie De Santiago, But Why Tho?

No matter the Alter in question though, they’re all so noteworthy that it’s easy to forget they’re different versions of the same Jan, ‘our’ Jan. Alex Jordan does such a good job of bringing these characters to life, making them feel unique and different, but in equal measure the same as the OG in some respects. The Alters simply wouldn’t work without the powerhouse performance given by Jordan, and whether he knows it or not, it’s going to catapult him into the stratosphere of in-demand actors. – Luke Addison, Thumb Wars

Last but certainly not least, if you liked what you’ve read and watched, then, by all means, head on over to the PlayStation Store, Xbox Marketplace, or Steam Page to pick up The Alters. All you need to do is click the image below and you will be taken to the store of your choosing. Also, I lied. One final, final thing, thank you for checking out the site. If you like this type of content, the Thinks of a Thoughter Games Release Radar will be doing this for every interesting game released this year.