Directive 8020 Review

From the creators of Until Dawn and The Quarry, Directive 8020 had a lot of expectations behind it. While the game still delivers some fun moments and interesting ideas, it sadly feels like one of the weaker entries from Supermassive Games so far.

The story follows a crew sent into space on a mission to save humanity, but things quickly start going wrong after a series of strange and creepy events begin to unfold. Like previous Supermassive Games titles, the game is built around choices, branching paths, and character survival. Every decision matters, and even the smallest mistake can lead to someone dying. Some characters are much harder to keep alive than others, which longtime fans of the studio will already be familiar with.

The story itself is decent and filled with unexpected twists. There are many different paths to explore, making each playthrough feel a little different. One of the best new additions is the “Turning Points” feature, which shows players which scenes they missed and how to unlock them. Alongside that is a rewind option that allows you to go back and change important choices. These features make replaying the game much more enjoyable and save a lot of time for players who want to see every possible outcome.

Gameplay, however, is where the experience starts to lose momentum. The core gameplay is similar to previous Supermassive Games titles, but this time it feels much more repetitive. There are far too many sneaking sections, and they quickly become frustrating rather than tense. The game also relies heavily on crawling through vents, which happens so often that it starts to feel unnecessary and slows the pacing down quite a bit.

Exploration still plays an important role, with secrets and collectibles hidden throughout the sections. Relationships between characters also remain a key part of the experience, as they can change certain scenes, dialogue, and outcomes later in the story.

One of the biggest disappointments is the atmosphere. Despite the space setting having a lot of potential, the game never feels as creepy or intense as previous titles from the studio. The horror elements feel weaker, and the overall tone sometimes struggles to fully fit the setting. Fans expecting the same level of tension and fear found in Until Dawn may end up disappointed.

Another issue that stands out throughout the experience is the facial animations. While the character models themselves look detailed, many facial expressions feel stiff and unnatural during important scenes. This sometimes weakens the emotional impact of conversations and makes certain dramatic moments less believable than they should be.

The monster designs are creative and visually unsettling, with some genuinely creepy ideas that fit the sci-fi setting well. While the creatures are memorable, they never feel quite as terrifying as some of the iconic designs seen in Supermassive Games’ previous titles. The game does feature a few very effective jump scares that genuinely catch you off guard, but overall, the horror experience feels less intense and frightening than expected.

The controls are smoother and more polished than before, which is a nice improvement. The game also reduces the amount of QTEs significantly. While some players may appreciate this change, it feels like a missed opportunity for those who enjoyed the fast and stressful QTE moments that made earlier games so exciting.

Directive 8020 takes around 7–9 hours to finish, but its branching story and multiple endings make it highly replayable. Even though it may not reach the same heights as Supermassive Games’ best titles, there is still some fun to be had for fans of narrative horror games. The game is available for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC for $50.

Game score: 6/10

Reviewed by: Ruba Jaiousy