Altera Is Better Than I Expected...

Altera is the newest game from IV Studio — the team behind Moonrakers — and after getting it to the table, I can say there's genuinely something here worth talking about. The simultaneous action selection creates real tension, the bag-building system gives you meaningful upgrade paths, and the combination of worker placement, reputation tracks, and artifacts makes for an ambitious design. IV Studio clearly put a lot of care into this one. That said, I walked away with some questions. Particularly around how well the theme integrates with the mechanics, and whether the game is as approachable as it first appears. This isn't a dismissal — it's an honest first look at a game I think has a lot of potential. In this video I'll walk you through how Altera plays, what stood out at the table, and where I think the design succeeds — and where I'm still not entirely convinced. If you're considering the Gamefound campaign or just curious about what IV Studio is doing next, this should give you everything you need to make that call. 🎯 What This Video Covers ✔️ Overview of how Altera plays ✔️ Simultaneous action selection and worker placement ✔️ Bag building, dice upgrades, and progression ✔️ Reputation tracks and hidden scoring opportunities ✔️ What impressed me most after playing ✔️ Areas where I think the game still needs work ✔️ Who I think this game might appeal to 🚩 Disclosure A copy of Altera was provided by IV Studio for coverage purposes. All opinions in this video are my own. Paid Content 🔗 Learn More About Altera 📌 Gamefound Campaign: https://gamefound.com/en/projects/iv-studio/altera 📌 BoardGameGeek: https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/469367/altera 💬 Join the Conversation Have you had a chance to try Altera yet? Do you think the theme comes through strongly enough, or are the mechanisms doing most of the heavy lifting? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below—I read every single one. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – First Impressions 01:13 – What Is Altera? 01:40 – Production Quality & Components 03:34 – How the Game Works 04:09 – Factions, Dice & Starting Bag 05:00 – Action Tiers & Placement Rules 06:00 – The Simultaneous Reveal 07:51 – Reputation Tracks & Catch-Up Mechanics 08:30 – Recruitment & Dice Upgrades 10:34 – Artifacts & Engine Building 11:11 – My Honest Thoughts 13:20 – The Theme Question 15:26 – Is This Really Medium Weight? 16:33 – Who Is Altera For? 18:54 – Tension Design & Decision Space 19:36 – What Altera Does Well 20:22 – Final Verdict