Few studios have nailed cinematic horror quite like Supermassive Games over the last decade. From Until Dawn through to The Quarry, the team has built a reputation around choice-driven terror, impossible decisions and keeping players constantly second-guessing who survives. Now they’re heading into deep space with Directive 8020, available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC.
This might just be their most unsettling setup yet.
At A Glance
- Title: Directive 8020
- Developer: Supermassive Games
- Publisher: Supermassive Games
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5
- Price: £39.99
- Genre: Cinematic Sci-Fi Survival Horror
Humanity’s Last Hope Goes Horribly Wrong
Directive 8020 begins with Earth on the brink of collapse. Humanity’s final chance lies 12 light years away on Tau Ceti f, where the colony ship Cassiopeia arrives hoping to secure a future for the species. Naturally, things go catastrophically wrong almost immediately.
After crash landing on the planet, the crew discovers they are being hunted by an alien organism capable of perfectly mimicking human hosts. Suddenly, paranoia becomes just as dangerous as the creature itself.
Nobody knows who can be trusted anymore.
This is where Supermassive go diving headfirst into classic sci-fi horror territory, blending shades of Alien, The Thing and their usual choice-heavy storytelling into one tense survival experience.
More Than Just Quick-Time Horror
While cinematic storytelling remains central to the experience, Directive 8020 also introduces more direct survival gameplay than previous Supermassive titles.
Players will need to evade the alien threat through stealth, quick reactions and improvised weapons while navigating the claustrophobic corridors of the Cassiopeia. The constant danger of the mimic creature means even routine interactions with crew members carry tension. One wrong decision could doom everyone aboard.
Supermassive are also expanding their branching narrative systems through the new Turning Points story tree, allowing players to rewind major decisions, uncover hidden paths and chase multiple endings across repeated playthroughs.
Lashana Lynch Leads The Mission
The cast is headlined by Lashana Lynch as astronaut Young, helping anchor what appears to be one of the studio’s biggest productions to date.
The cinematic presentation has clearly had a substantial boost too, with more realistic environments, improved facial animation and a heavier focus on real-time tension rather than purely scripted scares.
And if you don’t fancy surviving alone? Movie Night mode returns once again. Up to five players can split control of the crew and collectively decide who lives, who dies and who might secretly no longer be human. That alone should create some wonderfully chaotic evenings.
Another Strong Supermassive Horror Release?
We already highlighted Directive 8020 as one of our most anticipated releases in our Best Games of May feature, and with good reason.
The blend of paranoia-driven sci-fi horror, branching narrative choices and more active survival gameplay feels like a natural evolution for the studio’s formula. Better still, our full review landed with a strong 4/5 score. And yep, Supermassive have once again delivered exactly the kind of cinematic horror experience fans were hoping for.
Directive 8020 is available now on Xbox Series X|S (through the Xbox Store), PlayStation 5 and PC. There is a Digital Deluxe Edition Upgrade too. That includes The Dark Pictures Outfit Pack, Additional Dark Pictures Collectibles, Cinematic Filter Packs, Digital Artbook and exclusive soundtrack.
