Steam free download is No Man's Sky meets Mass Effect

A new free demo on Steam lets you get a taste of an upcoming game we can only describe as No Man's Sky meets Mass Effect.

Earlier this week, 11 bit studios announced a release date for its upcoming "emotional sci-fi game" The Alters. It looks a bit like the developer's previous games Frostpunk and This War of Mine.

It's about a guy called Jan Dolski, the lone survivor of crash-landed ship on an expedition to a hostile planet. Alone and vulnerable, Jan's goal is to build up his crew using a special machine that creates clones of himself.

Check out the gameplay reveal trailer for The Alters.

These clones are altered versions of Jan where he made different choices in his past. For example, an alternative version where he focused on his career before his marriage making him more skilled, or one where he stood up to his abusive father making him braver.

These different traits and skills make all the difference when trying to survive this hostile world. By using them to their advantage, you can build up the crew with relative efficiency as you try to escape the planet.

From here, you'll need to head out from the base and scavenge different minerals and materials from the world. Various organics and metals will be instrumental in forging your escape route from the planet.

However, doing this also exposes you to different risks the planet poses. It's a dangerous world, after all, and Jan will be facing hazards like radiation, environmental anomalies, and more.

In addition to the survival mechanics, you'll also need to deal with personal problems that the crew members face as a result of their altered traits.

11 bit studios has now released a free demo for The Alters. The demo offers a small slice of what the game has to offer, allowing you to witness some of the hostile survival situations your crew will be put in, while also being able to experience the personal issues each Alter faces.

The Alters will be released on 13 June, 2025 for PC via Steam, GOG, and Epic, and also on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. For Xbox Game Pass users, the game will also be available on Ultimate there from day one.