The Dark Pictures Anthology: Directive 8020 Reviews
Hyped as a combination of the horror of Alien and the paranoia of The Thing, Directive 8020 does neither well.
Directive 8020 feels like Supermassive Games has finally rejuvenated after the disappointing The Devil In Me.
Directive 8020 represents the best that The Dark Pictures games have had to offer thus far, proving that Supermassive Games is right at home within sci-fi horror. If you’re a fan of the studio’s previous games, this is an absolute must-play.
The overall plot, cast and character dynamics carry the story forward, and the bug-free experience, full stealth gameplay and other new mechanics set a new standard for future Supermassive games.
Directive 8020 may not reach the stars, but it still delivers a thrilling sci-fi horror ride
What if The Thing, but in space?
Supermassive Games has brought the Dark Pictures Anthology back with style and panache. Directive 8020 suffers from being a little too generic in concept and letting itself down with gameplay elements that are at odds with the cinematic quality, but the game does work as popcorn horror and doesn’t overstay its welcome.
Supermassive Games takes the Dark Pictures series into space with Directive 8020, and with the introduction of new gameplay elements such as stealth, you're more immersed in the action than ever before. Add in its brilliant presentation and gripping story and you have one of the best Dark Pictures games yet, and a must play for fans of space-horror.
With its revamped stealth mechanics and refined aesthetics, Directive 8020 offers a clear evolution of the genre, but continues to reaffirm some of the limitations, particularly in terms of interaction, inherited from the first season of the anthology. With excellent references, the story (along with the excellent work of the cast) remains its best quality, with good pacing, great development, and important turning points that, while not escaping old cliches, still work very well.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Directive 8020 builds on the formula established in 2015, adding several gameplay layers (some more successful than others) to its narrative-driven core and butterfly effect mechanics. However, its greatest strength lies in the freedom it gives players to explore its complex tree of decisions and consequences. It is Supermassive Games' most complete and enjoyable adventure since Until Dawn.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
A sci-fi horror adventure that wastes an excellent premise due to a lackluster narrative and gameplay that relies too heavily on hide-and-seek.
Review in Italian | Read full review
The direction to go to space was a great one by Supermassive Games as Directive 8020 is a fun time. Besides the game-changing Turning Points, the standard structure of big decisions and choices remains, but it’s done well.
Directive 8020 feels like Supermassive Games’ most ambitious and refined project yet, blending cinematic horror storytelling with stronger gameplay mechanics inspired by survival horror classics. Its gripping sci-fi narrative, meaningful choices and expanded stealth systems breathe new life into the formula.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Directive 8020 is phenomenal, with the engrossing storytelling, engaging gameplay, and stunning visuals making it a horror experience you simply won’t want to miss. Sure, it relies on some horror tropes and there’s a lot more hiding than you’d be used to in other releases in the series, but when the choices you make are so tantalising, the horrors you face are so terrifying, and the characters you’re trying to save are so likable, it’s easy to look past these small flaws. This is choice-based storytelling at its finest, and it leaves me excited to see what Supermassive Games do next.
Directive 8020 is a compelling, frequently terrifying, and occasionally flawed piece of interactive horror that confirms Supermassive Games as the undisputed masters of their particular craft. The story is excellent, the atmosphere is exceptional, and the sound design is frankly some of the best work the genre has ever produced. The repetitive stealth mechanics and the stiff character animations can be characterised as weaknesses, and they hold the game back from going even higher on my scale, but they do not come close to undoing what the game gets so right.
Even with interesting additions and more realized moment-to-moment gameplay, Directive 8020 can't make up for the overall package's fumbles.
Directive 8020 is simply captivating. With a story that invites players to question the very nature of the protagonists they control—and an alien that can impersonate anyone—the game is an intriguing tale about what awaits mankind beyond the comfort of our home on Earth. Even after the credits roll, there are plenty of secrets left to discover, and it is thanks to the Turning Point system that players can easily explore every branching path and outcome that awaits on the Cassiopeia.
Directive 8020 is Supermassive Games’ most chilling and best horror game yet. The new engine shines with the most beautiful and atmospheric environment yet, with an amazing cast of crew members we desperately try to keep alive. The survival horror stealth sections provide the interaction I’ve been craving from the genre, and the sense of dread as you figure out who to trust never left me. It’s not only one of the best games in its sub-genre, but one of the better horror games in recent memory.
Directive 8020 is a tense and replayable slice of sci-fi horror that mostly sticks the landing, even if its overused stealth and uneven cast hold it back
I’m glad to see Supermassive giving itself time to experiment and adapt. Pivotal choices and interactions feel relevant, and reward you for paying attention. There are modes and mechanics here I’d love to see taken forward or even ported back into older entries. But many of those additions don’t quite yet feel finalized, and their inclusion comes at the reduction of other, enjoyable elements. For fans of the Dark Pictures series, the cast and setting make Directive 8020 well worth enlisting with the Cassiopeia. But sadly, it doesn’t quite reach the stellar heights I was hoping for.