Well known for hits such as Until Dawn, The Quarry, and The Dark Pictures Anthology, Supermassive Games returns with its latest interactive horror title, Directive 8020.

In Directive 8020, the story follows the crew of an interstellar scout ship called the Cassiopeia, which is en route to Tau Ceti f, a planet considered humanity’s best hope as Earth nears collapse. Before the Cassiopeia even arrives, the ship’s hull is breached, and something unknown begins lurking on board.

If you’ve played a Supermassive Games title before, Directive 8020 will feel very familiar. Much of the fear and tension comes from the decisions you make along the way, knowing full well that any character can die depending entirely on your choices.

A new feature introduced in Directive 8020 is the “Turning Points” system. Each decision you make creates a Turning Point, allowing you to revisit that moment and explore the alternative outcome. While I think this feature does spoil story plot points during a first playthrough, it’s still a welcome addition for players wanting to experience every possible outcome. 

As for the controls, each new release from Supermassive Games continues to improve movement and overall gameplay feel, and Directive 8020 is no exception. The camera work, character movement, and controls all feel smoother and more refined than before. Nothing felt obstructed, nor did I encounter any awkward camera angles.

Outside of exploring the ship for clues, solving puzzles, and completing various tasks, Supermassive Games has added a whole new layer of tension with expanded stealth mechanics. These stealth sections appear throughout the game, forcing you to carefully navigate certain areas while avoiding detection.

These moments gave me strong Alien: Isolation vibes. Making too much noise while moving, stepping on broken glass, or leaving your flashlight on can give away your position in an instant. If detected, you do have a trusty electric baton-like tool that can stun enemies, giving you a brief window to run and hide. That said, the baton’s cooldown is fairly lengthy, so using it wisely is essential.

Another cool addition is the in-game messaging system. At any point while playing, you can pull up your chat interface and communicate with other crew members. This introduces additional conversation choices, allowing you to shape interactions through different responses.

Visually, Directive 8020 is by far one of the best-looking games Supermassive Games has released. While it’s not designed to be visually “pretty,” everything feels grounded and believable for a ship drifting through space with an unknown lifeform on board. The maze-like hallways, flickering emergency lights, abandoned crew quarters, and cramped maintenance tunnels all perfectly sell the game’s isolated atmosphere.

I’m a huge fan of films like Aliens and Event Horizon, as well as games like Dead Space, so I thoroughly enjoyed the sci-fi horror story behind Directive 8020. Told across eight chapters and offering more than 10 hours of gameplay, Directive 8020 is a must-play for anyone who loves a good jump scare and a well-crafted sci-fi horror experience.

Written by: MKAU Gaming