I played an hour of Supermassive Games' highly anticipated Directive 8020 — and fans of Alien: Isolation are going to adore this | Tech Radar

Overview

News, deals, reviews, guides and more on the newest computing gadgets

Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more

Details

Unlock and manage exclusive Techradar member rewards.

I played an hour of Supermassive Games' highly anticipated Directive 8020 — and fans of Alien: Isolation are going to adore this

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Unlock instant access to exclusive member features.

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.

Directive 8020 has been in the works for a while, with a three-year gap between the new arrival and the developer's previous game, Switchback VR. The wait is almost over, though, as players will get to experience the next chapter of The Dark Pictures Anthology on May 12.

Marking the first time a Dark Pictures story has been set in space, this is an exciting new chapter for Supermassive Games. Space exploration has been one of my favorite themes in horror gaming recently, especially when I look at titles like the brilliant Mouthwashing and Iron Lung, the latter of which got a record-breaking movie adaptation by You Tube star Markiplier.

I'm happy to report that Directive 8020 follows in the footsteps of great sci-fi horror games, but manages to offer up something different to help it stand out among the crowd. If you're a fan of stealth-based horror games, there's plenty to enjoy here.

The Until Dawn developer's next game, Directive 8020, just got a release date at long last

Directive 8020 will let up to five players play local couch co-op in Supermassive Games' returning Movie Night mode, and the latest trailer demonstrates just how intense it will be

Directive 8020 was 'designed with the PS5 in mind' and will offer 'sharper visuals' powered by PSSR and 'advanced ray tracing' to heighten the horror on PS5 Pro

Supermassive Games stays true to what it does best, and if you're hoping for stressful quick time events (QTEs) and heart-pounding scenes, you will certainly find them here. Humble as ever, I'd like to note I failed one of these QTEs about five minutes into my play test, because I was just not prepared for it at all. Prepare to be blindsided. We wouldn't have it any other way, would we?

Patience really is a virtue here. (Image credit: Supermassive Games)

Directive 8020 introduces a new feature that might provide some reassurance if you're the kind of person who gets emotionally attached to video game characters. Turning Points is a new and valuable addition to the game where you can rewind your decision, similar to Life is Strange.

I asked Executive Producer Dan Mc Donald about the decision to include Turning Points, and he said: "We know a lot of our players, the first time they play through, they want to keep everyone alive. And it can be really disheartening when you mess up, and your favourite character has died.

"Whilst we want you to experience that loss, in fact, one of my favourite things is making players cry as well as jump, we also want you to play a game that you want to experience. And so if you want to be able to turn it back and undo it, we want to enable that and let you experience the game the way you want."

This may soothe your worries, but if you find Turning Points to be frustrating, you can continue on with your decision, no matter how painful it may be. Including this ability keeps everyone happy, giving you a second chance, but only if you want it.

When I played Directive 8020, I got to experience one of the most stressful chapters of the game, which involves venturing inside vents to track down a threat. Closed spaces and jump scares galore follow, and you'll have to hold your nerve if you want to get out of there alive.

You can't just shoot your way out of this, but you do have plenty of tools at your disposal. Think Alien: Isolation or Amnesia: The Dark Descent in terms of how you're tasked with dealing with the threat. The game rewards stealth, patience, and, honestly, creativity too. If you don't have a gun, how are you going to keep yourself safe? That's up to you to figure out.

Aphelion seems like a solid space adventure, but I need to see more before it really excites

Pragmata is one of the most original games I've played in years, and I'm not just talking about its unique puzzle combat

Pragmata review: hacking combat shines in a spellbinding lunar setting

Characters have a multifunctional utility strap, which features a shoulder-mounted flashlight, a scanner that can scan for electronics or be used to spot an alien, a "wedge tool" that can be used to open a door as a last resort or to stun an enemy, a text messenger, and a remote control that lets the player hack computers from a distance. You have everything but a gun, because that would be too easy.

You can talk to characters regularly throughout, changing their traits and memories. But are they really who they say they are? (Image credit: Supermassive Games)

Since you're on board a spaceship, it may not surprise you to know there's a comms system where you can discuss things with other characters. Throughout the game, you can send text-based messages to others, which include choices that will impact the game, so choose your words carefully.

To keep things interesting, though, the alien threat is able to mimic humans, so there's no guarantee you're talking to who you think you are. Be careful when and where you divulge information, as it could come back to bite you later.

As someone who loves reading in video games, I enjoyed having a nosy at everyone's conversations to see what the dynamics were like so far. There's a really well fleshed out cast here, with tropes like father-daughter bonds that if you're not careful, you could ruin for good.

Choices are everywhere in this game, as are the consequences of those actions. You find yourself suspicious at every turn, and I haven't felt this stressed in quite some time. That's a huge compliment, by the way.

Directive 8020 has everything you know and love about the Supermassive Games name, with some fun new additions too. Whether you play it alone or with a friend, there's lots to enjoy here. It was worth the wait, and I can't wait to play the full release when it comes out on May 12, 2026, for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Follow Tech Radar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.

Lucy is a long-time movie and television lover who is an approved critic on Rotten Tomatoes. She has written several reviews in her time, starting with a small self-ran blog called Lucy Goes to Hollywood before moving onto bigger websites such as What's on TV and What to Watch, with Tech Radar being her most recent venture. Her interests primarily lie within horror and thriller, loving nothing more than a chilling story that keeps her thinking moments after the credits have rolled. Many of these creepy tales can be found on the streaming services she covers regularly.

When she’s not scaring herself half to death with the various shows and movies she watches, she likes to unwind by playing video games on Easy Mode and has no shame in admitting she’s terrible at them. She also quotes The Simpsons religiously and has a Blinky the Fish tattoo, solidifying her position as a complete nerd.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

1‘This could potentially become a fire risk’: Samsung Galaxy users warned against leaving their flashlights on accidentally, as viral Tik Tok shows an S25 flash burning a hole through a plastic bag

2 This $89 Asus 120 Hz IPS monitor is the perfect budget upgrade for your home office — and it even comes with a month of Adobe Creative Cloud free

3 Got a new Samsung Galaxy A37? I've found the best cases to keep it looking scratch-free and super stylish

4'They don't care': Shiny Hunters strike again as hackers claim to have pinched 7.5 million Carnival cruise emails

5'A price that seems like a mistake': I've tested tons of open earbuds, and Earfun's new clip-style buds are the best cheaper pair I'd actually recommend — here's my full review

Tech Radar is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Key Takeaways

• News, deals, reviews, guides and more on the newest computing gadgets

• Start exploring exclusive deals, expert advice and more

• Unlock and manage exclusive Techradar member rewards

• I played an hour of Supermassive Games' highly anticipated Directive 8020 — and fans of Alien: Isolation are going to adore this

• When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission