Why The Alters Is the Most Addictive (and Stressful) Game I Can’t Put Down
If you’re looking for a game that will keep you glued to your seat (and maybe stress you out just a bit), The Alters from 11 Bit Studios is exactly what you need. This unique survival and management sim puts you in the shoes of Jan Dolski—yes, it’s always Jan—and challenges you to escape a deadly, irradiated planet before the sun fries you and your crew of… well, other Jans. Here’s why I can’t stop playing, even if it’s giving me more gray hairs than I’d like to admit.
- Survival and management mechanics that keep you on edge
- Multiple versions of Jan to handle (and keep happy!)
- Resource juggling, constant crises, and stressful decision-making
- Unexpected challenges and plenty of “one more run” moments
- A balance between chaos and genuine fun
The never-ending stress of managing many Jans
From the moment you wake up in your wheel-shaped space base, you’re bombarded with issues. Jan Miner grumbles about the “fucked-up world we live in.” An Alter Rebellion pops up on your to-do list. Down in the kitchen, Jan Technician just wants to play beer pong—meanwhile, the sun is literally trying to kill everyone. The pressure is real, and there’s always another fire to put out.
Tasks, tasks, and even more tasks
The Alters doesn’t let you rest. Every in-game day brings a new list of things to do: grow crops, prep meals, fix radiation filters, build bridges—and don’t forget, your alternate Jans can start a mutiny if you don’t keep them happy. In my first run, I was so overwhelmed by daily tasks that I completely ignored the Qubit Chip questline. Big mistake! Without it, I couldn’t expand my fuel tank, and our base was too heavy to move away from the sunrise in time.
One wrong move and it’s game over
When my lab malfunctioned and Jan Scientist lost all his research, I knew I was in trouble. By the time we fixed the problem and upgraded the fuel tank, there wasn’t enough time to mine fuel before the sun caught up. Death by sunrise is a harsh lesson, but The Alters is all about learning from your mistakes and trying again.
Embracing the chaos and coming back for more
Restarting an earlier save didn’t make things easier—this time, spoiled food made Jan Scientist sick and halted progress. But that’s the magic of The Alters: it’s the ultimate “just one more run” game. Each day goes by fast, and the urge to play another round is strong, especially after squashing a potential Alter uprising. Before you know it, hours have passed.
Small victories, big rewards
Eventually, I got the hang of things. I built Jan Technician his long-awaited social room, finally beat him in beer pong, and boosted his morale. Did it mean staying up too late before our next sun-dodging move? Sure. But those moments of relief make the stress worthwhile.
From chaos to camaraderie
By the end of Act 1, my crew of five Jans had turned into a boyband, bouncing around song lyrics and performing together. I’m still not sure what fate awaits the alternate Jans if we ever make it back to Earth—but now that I’ve tamed (most of) the chaos, I’m ready to take on Acts 2 and 3. Will it get easier? I doubt it. But I can’t wait to find out.
