The Alters has drawn a broadly favorable critical response. Reviewers have praised its ambitious, character-focused story and the way it folds base-building and survival management into that story. The main reservations concern friction in resource management, cumbersome traversal, and time pressure that can disrupt the pacing. It is most appealing if you enjoy narrative-led games and can tolerate some management and exploration rough edges.
What critics think of The Alters
Critics have generally responded well to The Alters, a narrative survival game centered on building a base and managing resources. The appeal is the combination: survival systems are not just a backdrop, but part of a story about identity, missed chances, personal growth, and the alternate versions of the protagonist.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Edens Zero Day One Edition PS5 | $40.02 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Perp The Persistence Enhanced Amélioré(e) Anglais PlayStation 5 | $18.18 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Merge Games Let's Build a Zoo PS5 | $18.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition - PS5™ | $50.80 | Buy on Amazon |
11 bit studios’ directors’ report for the year ended December 31, 2025, says the game received average critic scores of 86/100 on Metacritic and 85/100 on OpenCritic. These are publisher-reported averages for that reporting period, not live aggregator scores. 11 bit studios’ 2025 directors’ report.
What reviewers praise
A story built around alternate selves
Review coverage highlights the emotional ambition of a premise in which the protagonist encounters alternate versions of himself. The dramatic interest comes from seeing how different choices and life paths shape those selves, and what happens to them as the story develops. That gives the game’s survival framework a personal stake beyond simply keeping a base running. Metacritic critic reviews.
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- Day One bonus content: Pino's Attire 'Hunter Attire", Accessory "Elsie's Pirate Flag" (PS5)
- Control 8 playable characters, including Shiki, Rebecca, Weisz, and Homura, and use their special Ether Gear abilities to win fierce battles
- Tons of original game content means there are hours upon hours of gameplay
- Countless character customization options; over 700 pieces of equipment to customize your characters
- Expand the facilities on the EDENS ZERO (which serves as the game's hub) as well as your crew through scouting, and much more
Survival systems that serve the narrative
Critics have also praised the blend of story-driven play with base-building and resource management. Rather than treating narrative and systems as separate attractions, The Alters asks the player to manage a settlement while following the protagonist’s relationships and choices. OpenCritic’s review coverage likewise reflects the game’s generally positive reception. OpenCritic reviews.
What critics find frustrating
Resource management and traversal
The management layer can become irritating, and moving through the game’s spaces has struck some reviewers as cumbersome. These are practical drawbacks: if you want a smooth exploration experience or light-touch survival systems, the friction may weigh more heavily than the story’s strengths. Metacritic critic reviews.
Rank #2
- PS5 Features include raytracing modes and immersive haptic feedback for DualSense
- Use darkness and cover to avoid being overwhelmed by the ship's deadly new inhabitants
- Seek out the weapon fabricators to increase your firepower as you journey deeper, into the dark and terrifying depths, but beware ammo is limited
- Gather materials & schematics for weapon upgrades and suit customizations with buffs
- Harvest DNA material to improve health, toughness and defensive capabilities.Survive an ever changing labyrinth. Each and every expedition into The Persistence will be disorienting and different.Death is just the beginning. Fatal encounters will result in Zimri's consciousness being uploaded into a new cloned body, ready to try again, with any upgraded stats, suits & weapon schematics kept to aid the next attempt to save the ship
Time pressure and pacing
The ticking-clock structure can make the narrative feel rushed or uneven. That creates a meaningful tension: urgency fits a survival scenario, but it can also make it harder to take in character moments at your own pace. The result is a game whose strongest story beats may compete with the demands of staying on schedule.
Choices and the expectation of replayability
The alternate-self premise can suggest that different decisions will lead to sharply different outcomes. Metacritic’s overview notes an expectation gap: outcomes may converge more than players anticipate. If you are drawn chiefly by the promise of radically divergent paths, temper that expectation; the premise’s appeal does not by itself establish that every decision creates a wholly separate story. Metacritic overview.
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- Build your own zoo with over 500 different animals at your disposal, then splice together over 300,000 different animal combinations
- Keep your animals and your itors happy, with hundreds of buildings, foliage, path and enclosure decorations
- Hire the perfect employees to deal with a variety of life events
- Control everything that happens in your park, from what your animals eat to what eats your animals…
- Decide whether you want to run your Zoo above board... or break the law and pocket the extra cash
Is The Alters worth playing?
It is a strong fit for players who value character-driven science-fiction stories and enjoy managing a base as part of the narrative. It is a less certain fit for players who prioritize fluid traversal, relaxed resource systems, or a tightly controlled story pace.
- Consider it if: the alternate-identity premise, emotional storytelling, and interconnected survival and base-building systems sound compelling.
- Be cautious if: resource-management friction, cumbersome exploration, or imposed time pressure are likely to undermine your enjoyment.
- Keep expectations measured if: you are primarily looking for choices that guarantee dramatically different outcomes on repeated playthroughs.
Critic reviews and Steam user reviews are different snapshots
Metacritic’s overview listed 64 critic reviews and a June 13, 2025 initial release date in the accessed result. Metacritic overview. Steam also lists June 13, 2025, as the release date. Its English-language user-review snapshot showed 6,112 reviews, 88% positive, as accessed October 8, 2026. Counts and percentages can change, and this Steam figure represents English user reviews—not critic consensus. The Alters on Steam.
Rank #4
- Experience the epic Horizon Forbidden West in its entirety, including bonus content and the Burning Shores expansion:
- Brave an expansive open world – discover distant lands, new enemies, rich cultures and striking characters.
- A majestic frontier – explore the lush forests, sunken cities and towering mountains of a far-future America.
- Confront new dangers – engage in strategic battles against enormous machines and mounted human enemies by using weapons, gear and traps crafted from salvaged parts.
- Unravel startling mysteries – uncover the secret behind Earth’s imminent collapse and unlock a hidden chapter in the ancient past… one that will change Aloy forever.
For the fairest read, treat critic averages, review counts, and player sentiment as separate measures: the publisher-reported averages summarize critics for a defined reporting year, while Steam’s percentage reflects a changing set of English-language user reviews.
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