11 bit studios is renown for games that question your decisions and push your resource management to the breaking point. The Alters is no exception. Time is limited, pressure is constant, and just when things start getting under control, something always goes wrong.
Success in The Alters is simply a question of preparation, prioritization, and adaptability. Prior to your first run, the following are the main tips to allow you to get the most out of each second.
Time Stops in the Menu – Use That to Your Advantage
Time passes quickly—quite quickly. One second in real life equals one minute in the game, and it goes even faster in certain activities like crafting. Senseless running around or indecisiveness, therefore, equates to a loss of an entire day’s progress.
Good news?
The clock doesn’t run in menus. Whenever you’re unsure of what to do next, open the map, research tree, or crafting bench to plan your next step without wasting precious minutes. Utilize this to stay efficient and one step ahead.
Take Calculated Risks
Although ultra-conservative play is dangerous, The Alters occasionally rewards risky play. You do not wish to burn out your crew or risk Jan’s life needlessly—but pushing just a little farther on an expedition or working a little past normal hours can net you bonus resources or give you the edge you need in a tight spot.
Choose your moment, know the risk, and know what failure will cost you—but don’t be afraid to try. Intelligent risks have the best rewards.
Enriched Metals: Rarely Worth the Trouble
Enriched Metals look good on paper—they can be refined into both Metals and Organics, so they’re convenient. But there’s a catch: they’re located in highly radiated areas, and mining them has a tendency to end in radiation poisoning or death.
Though they’re handy in small quantities or towards the beginning of a chapter when you haven’t established many Pylons yet, it’s generally better to harvest regular Metals and Organics individually. Maintain a small reserve of Enriched Metals for a rainy day—but don’t depend on them for too long.
Save Pylon Use—Plan Your Grid
Pylons have greater range but are costly in materials and cargo space. So why, a standard Pylon will provide 45 meters, so fill out each one to the limit of its range before seeding the next. A little planning now saves a lot later.
Once you have the Pylon Hub researched, use it as a hub node to connect multiple routes at once. Less Pylons = less hassle.
Uphold Production
Use “Uphold Production” (Auto-Crafting), Even If You Like Micromanaging
The Alters has an auto-crafting system to Uphold Production, where you can set a minimum number of items like food, radiation filters, or repair kits. When your inventory dips below that, the game automatically queues the production—as long as you have someone assigned to do the work.
Even if you like micromanaging, use this for essentials. It’s a simple time-saving insurance policy against last-minute deficiencies.
Reassign Alters Throughout the Day
Most Alter work doesn’t have to be an all-day commitment. When they’re done with a task, Alters check in to be reassigned. Don’t let them sit around—go into the management menu and give them something else to do.
Start each day by addressing general maintenance:
- Technician → Base maintenance
- Worker → Craft materials
- Cook → Prepare meals
Once those are completed, move them to mining, greenhouse upkeep, or repairs. Flexibility gets your base purring.
Keep the Scientist Working—Always
The Scientist Alter is especially important in Act 1. He’s the only character that can utilize the Research Lab, and there’s always something to research—be it new technology, crafting upgrades, or anomaly-managing gear.
Don’t leave the Scientist unoccupied. If the current tier of research is capped, go scouting—there’s probably a Qubit Chip on the map somewhere that opens up the next level of techs.
Prepare for the Unexpected
Despite your best planning, The Alters revels in surprises. Storms strike out of the blue. An Alter can collapse due to radiation. Gear fails. Stuff will go wrong.
The key is resilience. Stockpile supplies, keep your base modules in formation, and don’t overextend. If you’re prepared, you can preempt most catastrophes before they spiral out of control.
The Alters doesn’t demand perfection—just survival under pressure. You won’t do everything perfectly the first time, and that’s okay. Focus on keeping people alive, your base running, and your goals achievable.
And remember: your most precious resource isn’t Organics or Metals—it’s time. Learn to control it, and everything else will follow from that.
