The Alters Ending Explained: Why the Final Act Is Worth the Wait
The Alters throws you into a wild sci-fi journey with a fascinating ending, but you’ll need some patience to reach it. After about 20 hours in the game, the final act slows down a bit, but if you push through, you’ll be rewarded with one of several satisfying conclusions. Here’s what to expect if you’re curious about this unique blend of resource management and narrative adventure!
- Quick summary of The Alters’ ending and gameplay loop
- What changes in Act 3 and why it can feel repetitive
- How your choices impact the game’s finale
- Available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows PC
The Alters: Space Survival with a Twist
The Alters kicks off with a great balance between resource management and story. You’ll explore, gather materials, and solve environmental puzzles—think lava rivers, gravity distortions, and mysterious anomalies. For most of the game, this loop is genuinely fun and keeps you hooked.
Act 3: When the Grind Sets In
But once you hit Act 3, things start to drag. By now, you’ve probably built everything your rolling space base could ever need. Automated mining stations do the dirty work, and there’s less pressure to cook or gather food since half your Alters (the cloned versions of protagonist Jan) have gone their own way after some tough choices in Act 2.
Most of your time in this act is spent waiting for Jan Scientist to finish researching new solutions—sometimes wishing he’d just hurry up already. Exploration loses its charm too, as the map gets crowded with annoying anomalies that make every step a chore. The new prism anomaly even messes with your vision, turning the screen into a dizzying kaleidoscope. Still, if you need more metals or organics, you’ll have to deal with them.
Choices Matter: Multiple Endings
Once you get past the slow pace, the story picks up again. Your decisions really start to matter—whether you try to smuggle your Alters to safety or choose a more destructive route. In my playthrough, I teamed up with Lucas, the operator on Earth, who helps you escape from the evil Maxwell and the greedy AllyCorp. Lucas even remote-pilots the rescue ship to a secret spot, away from prying eyes.
But there’s tension right up to the end. The rescue team could discover your secret at any moment. You can choose violence, but if you’re like me and want a non-lethal solution, you can build a Rapidium ark with hidden compartments and use sleeping gas to sneak past the guards. It’s a nail-biter until the very end, but if you play your cards right, Jan and his Alters make it home.
Final Thoughts: Worth the Wait?
Even though the last act feels drawn out, the conclusion is absolutely worth it—especially since there are several different endings based on your choices. You might end up with Jan facing a public trial on Earth, or something even more unexpected. The Alters is a great example of how your decisions shape the story, and it’s a journey worth taking if you can push through the repetitive parts.
The Alters is available now on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows PC. If you’re looking for a narrative-heavy game where your choices really count, this is one to check out!
