Base building is an incredibly important part of The Alters since it not only protects you from the planet's harsh radiation but also gives you and your crew places to enjoy themselves and boost their moods. You only have a limited amount of space to work with, though, and you won't be able to expand your base until you get further in the main story of The Alters.
You can still create quite an impressive base in the game's opening act, however, and things only get better once you research base expansion and add space for more rooms. It can be hard to fit everything if you have Alters who continue to request new amenities, but even the smallest base can fit the most important things you'll need to survive in The Alters.
The Alters: Trophy/Achievement Guide
There are a total of fifty-six achievements or trophies in The Alters, and some of them are not easy to complete without a bit of help.
Best Early Game Base Design in The Alters
This (above image) is the best base layout for Act 1 of The Alters before you unlock the ability to research base expansion and give yourself more room. It keeps the same basic design of the default base with a long elevator running down the middle, but there are a few tweaks to the side rooms to make the most of the limited space.
A Radiation Replusor is used to fill in the blank spots to the left of the ship's unmoveable core, for example, and that would otherwise be wasted space without them, since there aren't any other modules that can connect to the base in this way. There's even room for a second one if you upgrade your base. The Large Storage module is also much more space-efficient compared to other storage modules, but you can just use a bunch of Small Storage modules in its place if you don't want to spend the Planetary Samples to research it.
Best Overall Base Layout in The Alters
Once you unlock the ability to expand your base, then you can use this design (see above image). It's the best overall base design in The Alters, and it only takes one level of base expansion to build. It seems similar to the early-game design at first glance, but there are some key differences that set it apart and make it future-proof.
Firstly, additional Radiation Repulsors are added to reduce the need for Radiation Filters, freeing up your crew's time to craft more important things. An additional Small Storage module is slotted into the top row so you can stock up on even more resources as well.
There's plenty of room left at the edges of the base for upgrades, but the beauty of this layout is that you can slide everything over to the left slightly to make room for additional Rapidium Arks (or other four-length modules) on the right-hand side of the base. You can also slot in some additional storage modules at the top, but remember that your base won't be able to move onto the next act if it has more mass than your Organics Tank can handle.
You'll also probably have an expanded crew by this point in the game, and they'll need a place to sleep. If you upgrade your Quibit Level enough to create more Alters, you can move the Kitchen one floor down and slot in a second Dormitory so everyone has a bed of their own. There's also room at the top to fulfill any requests from your Alters, no matter how big the modules may be.
This is a highly modular base design, making it perfect for the unpredictable nature of The Alters. No matter your crew composition, this base layout has room for everything. You can slot in more storage, add new mood-boosting rooms, and build anything you need. That way, you can focus on gathering resources and making the tough decisions needed to escape the planet.
The Alters
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 86 /100 Critics Rec: 94%
- Released
- June 13, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- 11 Bit Studios
- Publisher(s)
- 11 Bit Studios
WHERE TO PLAY
The Alters is an ambitious sci-fi survival game with a unique twist. You play as Jan Dolski, the lone survivor of a crash-landed expedition on a hostile planet. To survive, you must form a new crew for your mobile base.
Using a substance called Rapidium, you create alternative versions of Jan - THE ALTERS - each one shaped by a different crucial decision from the protagonist’s past.
As you navigate through survival and moral dilemmas, you will explore a branching narrative filled with captivating character dynamics and challenging decisions.
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Survival, Strategy, Management
