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For the base game, prioritize the Miner and Scientist early: the Miner helps with metal income, while the Scientist opens Research Lab work and mission-related research. After that, pick Alters to meet your current resource, crafting, and crew-management needs rather than following a fixed tier list. This is a guide-based recommendation, not an official required order.
Why Miner and Scientist are the strongest early priorities
Miner: ease metal pressure
PCGamesN’s base-game guide, updated June 17, 2025, reports that the Miner has a 50% metal-mining efficiency bonus. Prioritize him when metal gathering is slowing construction or other work that depends on metal. The benefit matters most when you have the relevant mining work available; it is not a universal bonus to every resource task. See PCGamesN’s Alters guide.
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Scientist: enable research and mission progress
The Scientist can work in the Research Lab and is needed for mission-related research, according to PCGamesN. That makes him a high-value early choice if you need to advance research rather than simply increase resource output. Research also takes time: additional tiers require raising the Quantum Computer’s Qubit level by finding and repairing chips, so starting useful research early can matter. PCGamesN’s guide describes the Scientist’s role; its research guide covers research progression.
Choose the next Alter by your bottleneck
There is no official best complete roster or mandatory unlock sequence. The game’s branching choices mean you may not unlock every Alter in one playthrough, and the best next choice depends on which facilities you have, what work is piling up, and how your crew is doing. Use this comparison as a practical guide rather than a ranking.
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| Alter | Best fit | Reported benefit or role |
|---|---|---|
| Botanist | Greenhouse crop work is the immediate need | PCGamesN reports a 100% Greenhouse efficiency bonus; the guide still places Miner and Scientist ahead as early priorities. |
| Refiner | Act 2, when enriched-metal processing is prominent | PCGamesN reports 50% faster refining of enriched metal deposits. |
| Shrink | Act 3, when distressed Alters need support | Useful for comforting distressed Alters in the Contemplation Room, according to PCGamesN. |
| Worker | Act 3, when Workshop crafting is a bottleneck | PCGamesN reports a 50% Workshop crafting efficiency bonus. |
| Doctor | Healing and recovery are a priority | PCGamesN reports eight-times-faster Infirmary healing. |
The listed percentages and roles come from PCGamesN’s base-game guide updated June 17, 2025; they are guide-reported perks, not independently tested figures. The cited official materials do not establish a newer balance change or publish an official unlock-order ranking.
How to adapt the order across the campaign
Early game: cover mining and research first
- Choose the Miner when metal supply is your main constraint.
- Choose the Scientist when Research Lab access or mission-related research is holding back progress.
- Consider the Botanist instead when greenhouse production is the pressing need, while recognizing that the cited guide prioritizes Miner and Scientist ahead of him.
Act 2: add processing capacity if it is useful
PCGamesN recommends considering the Refiner in Act 2, particularly when enriched-metal deposits are part of your workload. If they are not a current bottleneck, another Alter who fills an active need may be more useful.
Act 3: balance output with crew condition
For Act 3, PCGamesN points to the Worker for faster Workshop crafting and the Shrink for helping distressed Alters. Make the choice based on whether production or crew support needs attention more. The game asks you to manage both work and wellbeing: 11 bit studios’ Game Director Tomasz Kisilewicz described Alters as having different skills while also requiring care. Read the studio’s statement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to weigh before committing to an unlock
- Current bottleneck: Identify the task that is delaying progress—mining, research, refining, crops, healing, or crafting.
- Facility access: A specialist’s work is useful only when the relevant facility and task are available.
- Campaign timing: The guide’s Act 2 and Act 3 suggestions are stage-specific recommendations, not universal deadlines.
- Research opportunity cost: Research projects take time, and higher tiers depend on Quantum Computer Qubit upgrades.
- Crew condition: Work efficiency is not the only consideration; distress and care needs can make a support-focused Alter the better choice.
- Run-specific options: Since not all Alters can be unlocked in one playthrough, select for the role you need rather than trying to complete a universal roster.
Base-game scope and update context
This order applies to the base game. The official PlayStation listing presents The Alters as a survival game in which Jan creates alternative versions of himself using Rapidium, each with different skills and emotional depth. It lists the Last Variable add-on separately; expansion-specific routes and deadlines should not be mixed into a base-game unlock guide. Official PlayStation listing.
11 bit studios’ free major content update announcement covers Relax Mode, Photo Mode, and a revised save system. It does not document a rebalance to the Alter perks or this recommended order. Update details from 11 bit studios.
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