„Until Dawn meets Among Us” Supermassive’s new sci-fi horror game Directive 8020 has a unique new feature

by

Experience a tale revolving around the crew of a spaceship, where an alien shape-shifter infiltrates their vessel – similar to Among Us or The Thing. Although the premise isn’t entirely novel, it offers a unique opportunity for players to make challenging decisions, which is a key element in many games from the Dark Pictures Anthology series. Will you believe this person’s identity, or risk betraying your crewmate? In my demo at Summer Game Fest, this was one of the crucial choices I had to ponder.

A much more dramatic Among Us, Directive 8020 is a new horror game from the makers of Until Dawn

The demo provided a quick glimpse into the characters and their circumstances, followed by a pre-launch cut scene. However, the main gameplay events are set several years ahead, once the crew has been journeying through space for some time. Supermassive, renowned for creating branching narrative games, seems to be continuing this trend with

After the dramatic interlude ended, I proceeded with a sequence where my characters came face-to-face with extraterrestrial beings and attempted to endure the first confrontation. One character engaged in a physical brawl against a replica of themselves, while another slipped below decks, thereby transitioning the gameplay into a covert operation. Navigate the ladder without the fearsome alien detecting you. The suspense during this stealth phase was palpable. My cautiousness likely prolonged my progress through this scene more than any other player who sampled the demo over the weekend.

Following their miraculous resurrection and rejoining the team, a predicament of ethical nature arises for me. One team member is enclosed in a glass chamber, being scanned to ascertain whether they’re an extraterrestrial or not. However, we must consider if we have enough time to wait for the scan results. The crew member starts banging on the glass, shattering it slightly. Should I take immediate action or continue waiting? Typically, I would have chosen patience, but given that I attended the Summer Game Fest demo, I opted for a change of pace. Regrettably, it transpired that this team member was not an alien. I made a mistake.

Fortunately, it’s not a spoiler. Although the demo offered more fixed results, the complete game will be more flexible, as the crew member might or might not be an alien, depending on your choices throughout the game. This is where the Supermassive team showed me a novel feature: the ability to rewind and examine how your story might have unfolded differently if you had made other decisions, offering a chance to explore alternate paths.

For a game centered around challenging decisions, this new aspect is intriguing indeed. It’s optional, but it makes me ponder if many players will be able to resist its allure. Decisions that are binding and have repercussions bring a unique level of tension. This tension could potentially diminish with this feature, similar to how save-scumming affects other games. However, I can appreciate the merits on both sides.

In the gaming world, Directive 8020 is a chilling experience that revolves around agonizing choices, not all characters make it through. It’s easy to see why this might not appeal to everyone. To cater to a wider audience, an optional feature allowing players to rewind their progress could provide relief for those who prefer less pressure, especially if they aren’t satisfied with the game’s outcome. However, for those who seek a more authentic and intense experience, complete with tension and consequences, they are free to embrace it as intended.

Exploring various routes in such an intricate storyline is intriguing. It’s challenging to envision replaying this game numerous times just to uncover the choices I missed initially, given that it’s a thrilling horror and survival game, which can take a toll on one’s mental state upon repeated playthroughs. However, having the chance to delve into the alternative paths right away might enhance the overall experience and fully appreciate everything this game has to present.

I’m grateful to Supermassive Games for allowing me to test out the game Directive 8020 during Summer Game Fest. It’s likely not a shock that the game is slated for release close to Halloween on October 2nd, 2025. You can expect to play it on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam.

Read More

2025-06-18 23:02