I have been a fan of The Dark Pictures series and have played almost all of its games, so I was excited to see where Directive 8020 would go as a brand new season. Supermassive has implemented many new gameplay changes, fixed issues reported in earlier games, and aimed to create a more compelling narrative with the latest entry in The Dark Pictures series.
The game takes place aboard the spaceship Cassiopeia, where a group of scientists are trying to claim new ground on their journey to a planet called Tau Ceti f. It is described as humanity’s last bastion after planets like Earth and Mars become uninhabitable. As a sci-fi horror game and one of the first in the series to tackle this kind of setting, the developers have clearly taken inspiration from cult classics in the horror genre. From survival horror films like The Thing to Alien, the developers have not really tried to hide these influences, and the end result is a narrative that feels familiar while still offering an interactive experience that feels different in its own way.
The game is divided into episodes, and the story features a branching narrative with the ability to rewind to key moments that can lead the story in a different direction. The plot is interesting enough on its own, but Supermassive has especially improved the character development and writing. The crew members genuinely feel like part of the same group, each with their own goals, motivations, and fears. Much of the story is also conveyed through background details and lore, including video logs and diaries that encourage exploration. The game is clearly built around replay value, with its butterfly-effect narrative, so going back to earlier events to explore different outcomes always feels engaging.
For the first time, Supermassive has added new gameplay elements, including stealth, and revamped the rewind system to make it feel more seamless. The game also runs on a newer version of the engine, offering advanced features such as path tracing, ray tracing, and support for upscaling on PC. On PS5, the developers have included full PS5 Pro support, PSSR, and three visual modes: Graphics, Balanced, and Performance. All of this helps make it one of the most technically polished games in The Dark Pictures series.
While the game now includes stealth elements, they are understandably weaker compared to games where stealth is the main focus. Enemies are usually easy to track and avoid since their behavior is predictable and follows predefined paths. As a result, these sections often lack tension. Even though the stealth mechanics are a welcome addition, they sometimes drag the game out for too long, especially near the final act. The quick-time events, however, feel well done, and the game uses music alongside them to create genuinely tense moments. There are also a few light puzzles to solve, but the main focus remains on the branching story paths and the many choices that not only affect the ending but also uncover hidden secrets.
Right from the start, there are multiple difficulty modes that tailor the experience around player choice. The game also introduces a system called Turning Point, available only in Explorer Mode, that allows players to rewind to any point in the story. It is an interesting feature that makes it easier to explore and discover almost everything the game has to offer without replaying it from the beginning. There are plenty of scene variations based on player decisions, so it is highly recommended to play the game in Explorer Mode first. All of this also helps make the narrative clearer and provides more insight into certain characters’ fates, making the overall experience more enjoyable.
Visually, Directive 8020 looks great, with almost photorealistic character models. Since the game is mostly linear, it still delivers decent performance even on a mid-range PC. On the PS5 and PS5 Pro, PSSR delivers clean image quality, while the Balanced 40 FPS mode on a 120 Hz display strikes a good balance between performance and visuals. The game does suffer from some performance issues on PC, but tweaking the settings should help resolve most of them. Path tracing is obviously out of reach unless you have a high-end PC, but ray tracing with upscaling was enough to deliver solid performance for me.
Overall, I would rate it as a strong first entry in the new season of The Dark Pictures. Directive 8020 is a great experience for fans of sci-fi horror, especially for those who enjoy classics like The Thing and Alien. I am excited to see where the developers take the franchise next, and the first teaser already looks promising.
Directive 8020 Review Game Information
- Price: $49.99
- Publisher: Supermassive Games
- Developer: Supermassive Games
- Platform: PC, PS5 (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
