Can a Mobile Game Reveal Your True Self? - Alter Ego Review

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If you live in the United States, you’ve probably taken a personality test at some point in your life. They’re pretty common, and whether it’s for work, business, or pleasure, it seems that everyone wants to get to know “the real you,” or at the very least make sure you’re not the type that’s going to freak out at a customer taking too long to decide whether they want the medium or large fries.

I love these things! Not only for the insights they give, but because if done correctly, you can learn your strengths, weaknesses, and suitable career paths. I happen to fall into the ENFJ-T category—the Protagonist. That means, according to the Myers-Briggs personality indicator, I’m extroverted, thoughtful, and idealistic. So, of course, I was interested to find out what Alter Ego had to say about my personality. This game claims it can answer the question, “Who am I?”

Developed by Caramel Column Inc, Alter Ego made waves in 2019 and was a winner of the Google Play Best Indie Games Award. Alter Ego describes itself as a game for those who want to analyze their personality, are interested in literature and philosophy, and are continuously searching for themselves. It’s a hefty tome, to be sure. All that from a game? But I was pretty shocked when I read a user review that claimed Alter Ego helped them battle crippling depression and that it’s like having a therapist in your pocket!

Starting in a world described as an endless corridor, my character was a nameless, faceless player trying to discover themself, and the game only got stranger from there. I was greeted by a wall known as “Ego Rex,” which had the appearance of a half-man, half-woman. Ego Rex proceeded to quickly explain the world of Alter Ego to me.

The gameplay is pretty straightforward. Alter Ego is a clicker game where you collect thought bubbles known as whispers that generally show quotes from renowned psychologists throughout history. By tapping on these whispers, you collect “Ego,” which is used to unlock books and take personality tests. The game primarily takes place in the endless corridor and a monochromatic library where you’ll complete those personality tests.

The tests themselves were awesome! Although I wouldn’t suggest it as a replacement for a licensed therapist, Alter Ego offers a variety of tests, from questionnaires to word association games. Your answers are analyzed to shape the course of the game.

Alter Ego maintained a mysterious atmosphere throughout my whole playthrough. The black-and-gray color scheme made me feel like I was playing an episode of The Twilight Zone. And when I faced quotes such as “mine has been a life of shame” and “I’m gonna hit rock bottom someday,” paired with haunting music, Alter Ego sometimes came off as creepy. Nevertheless, it kept my interest, and the story is pretty compelling.

As I collected more Ego points, the story progressed. There are two characters I interacted with throughout Alter Ego: the aforementioned Ego Rex and a mysterious librarian named Es, who administers the personality tests. I liked how these characters despised each other and were representatives of Freudian psychology. Ego Rex, who values conformity and structure, clearly represents the superego, while Es, in her exploration of deeper impulses, represents the id. Going back to how unsettling the game can get, it seemed that those deeper impulses of Es happened to be violent. As much as I like to let loose and get wild in my life, in my Alter Ego playthrough, I encouraged her to keep her impulses in check and not strangle me!

As you start to discover yourself, Es and Ego Rex will have different reactions to you, and there are different endings based on your choices, so the game’s replay value is considerably high. It isn’t too expensive to play either. Alter Ego is free to download, and the in-app store has purchases to increase the rate to collect EGO or remove advertisements. You can buy books individually for $3 or the entire package for $9.

There aren’t a lot of games in general—much less clicker games—that deal with psychology. What Alter Ego delivers is pretty unique, with presentation, music, and story that all make this game worth checking out. Although I wouldn’t say I had any profound revelations about my true self, I enjoyed taking the personality tests. And with multiple endings, who knows? Maybe I’ll eventually find out the secret to life! Until that day, I’ll have to keep this hidden gem on my phone and keep playing.

SCORE: 3 STARS OUT OF 5

PLAY IF YOU LIKE:

• Psychology. If you’re really into psychology—specifically Freudian psychoanalytic theory—then Alter Ego was meant for you.

• Personality tests. An alternative title to Alter Ego might be “Personality Tests: The Game!” So if personality tests and self-discovery are something you’re into, give Alter Ego a go.

💬 Did Alter Ego teach you something new about yourself? And what’s your personality? Visit the free link and share your personality type in the comments section below!

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