The Alters: Can you fail a task?

While playing The Alters, you may wonder whether there is risk of failing a task, or having Jan or one of his alters die. On this guide page, we explain whether such a scenario can occur in both main or side missions. We also warn about the possibility of the entire campaign collapsing without the possibility of its further continuation.

• Is there a game over and can the heroes die?
• What are the consequences of failing a mission?

Is there a game over and can the heroes die?

1. The Alters is a survival game and as a result, you can potentially lead to a situation where you lose the entire campaign. Then, you will be forced to load one of the earlier saves or start the game from the beginning. However, this title is still much less challenging than, for example, Frostpunk, even when playing at a normal difficulty level.
2. You could fail a campaign, for example, if you fail to escape from the Sun. If a time limit is active at a certain point in the campaign, the game will remind you about it at the beginning of each day. You need to complete the main tasks before the designated time.

1. Jan may lose consciousness due to high radiation exposure. This can happen after the radiation bar visible in the lower left corner of the screen gets 100% full. You can most easily reach such a state by coming into contact with several anomalies in a row - you should destroy them with the luminator or avoid them.
2. Jan will not die - one of the alters will automatically save him. The main protagonist will wake up the next day in the infirmary. The "punishment" for losing consciousness will be a shorter next day, because you will wake up at 10:00 AM.

1. In the case of alters, you can lead to a situation where one of the copies of the main character dies. You receive a notification about this and a screen similar to the one in the attached image will appear.
2. It is possible that the game will allow you to continue playing without the alter who died. You must be aware, however, that you cannot create the same alter again using the quantum computer. This can be particularly painful if the lost alter had some important or unique skills.

1. An alter may die as a result of ignored serious injuries. It is recommended to build an Infirmary in the base and create a Doctor Jan (once this alter becomes available). This will allow you to deal with any potential health problems of the protagonist and his alters on an ongoing basis.
2. An alter's suicide can be the result of important plot choices or an ignored state of depression (the current physical and psychological state can be checked in their separate tab). You should encounter this problem for the first time in act 1 during the Low Morale mission. Your objective is to keep everyone alive for a few days. The best solution is to build a contemplation room. An alter can use it to return to full mental health - independently, or under the care of Jan Shrink or Jan Guard.

What are the consequences of failing a mission?

1. Some previously received side tasks may be cancelled. This will happen if you don't focus on the task objectives and advance too far in the game, or if enough time passes.

1. An example of a quest that can be failed is The Good Husband. This mission may be cancelled if you don't find an alter who knows how to talk to Lena. This may affect your future relationships and conversations with Jan's ex-partner.
2. Having a side mission canceled may result in missing out on some achievement, unique reward, or failing to finishing a given character's side story. However, failing a side task won't end the campaign.

See also:

1. Game guide
2. Can you stop time?
3. Difficulty levels
4. How to avoid anomalies?

The Alters

June 13, 2025

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