Game of the Year: #9 – The Alters

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Each year, many games try to reimagine familiar concepts. At first glance, The Alters, a game developed by 11 Bit Studios, seemed to be doing the same thing.

This space survival game, featuring a story about clones, feels like a blend of the exploration in No Man’s Sky and the psychological themes of the film Moon. It has the potential to be interesting and is likely to be a light, enjoyable experience.

We certainly did not expect this unusual curio to be one of the best games of the year.

Much like its stranded protagonist, Jan Dolski, The Alters is a game with multiple personalities.

The game starts as a classic survival experience. You’ll explore a strange and sometimes dangerous planet, collecting supplies and working your way towards being rescued.

After Jan starts cloning himself, the game changes focus. It turns into a mix of social interaction and emotional exploration, almost like a therapy session.

There are eleven different versions of Jan, and each one feels like a unique person thanks to Alex Jordan’s incredible voice acting. Each version shows Jan living a different life, exploring how things could have been. It’s a thought-provoking look at identity and life choices, but surprisingly fun and engaging.

The Alters stands out with its thoughtful writing and a unique take on a classic sci-fi idea. More importantly, it’s a deeply heartfelt game. You quickly become invested in Jan and the different versions of himself, and the story’s challenges to their relationships are genuinely moving.

Building your base is a standout feature. It’s more than just a home; it’s a fun challenge in organizing your resources. Adding new parts constantly requires you to rebuild and rearrange, creating a spatial puzzle that fans of Resident Evil 4 will especially enjoy.

Okay, so here’s how we at Push Square pick our Game of the Year. It’s not just one person’s opinion – we all vote! That means the staff and our regular writers all chime in. We also take what you guys, the community, vote for into consideration. We’re really proud of our top 10, but hey, feel free to let us know what you think in the comments – we’re happy to hear if you agree or disagree!

You can check out all of our Game of the Year coverage by clicking the link.

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2025-12-23 19:07