Directive 8020, New Game from Supermassive Games, Gets Mixed Reviews

Directive 8020, the latest title from Supermassive Games, is releasing on May 12 for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5. On the occasion of the upcoming release of the project, gaming media outlets have already had the chance to familiarize themselves with the game and give it their ratings—which, so far, do not look very convincing.

Currently, Directive 8020 has a 72 rating on Metacritic based on 34 Critic Reviews, and 76 Top Critic Average on OpenCritic, with 62% Critics Recommend. Among the positive aspects, they note the colorful graphics, the excellent acting of Lashana Lynch and Annika Rose, and the engaging narrative aspect, where psychological depth plays an important role. But they also point out such drawbacks as boring stealth, not enough horror moments, and the absence of Premonitions feature. You can check out some reviews from notable gaming media below:

IGN France – 90/100:

“Directive 8020 kicks off this new season of The Dark Pictures Anthology in style with a well-executed sci-fi horror journey, featuring revamped gameplay that pulls the player out of the role of spectator and turns them into a full-fledged participant. Can we talk about a Supermassive 2.0 formula? In any case, Directive 8020 is clearly heading in that direction.”

Gaming Boulevard – 85/100:

“Directive 8020 is a major step forward for The Dark Pictures Anthology. The story is engaging, the production values are excellent, and the added gameplay mechanics make this the most interactive entry in the series so far. The stealth sections can become a bit repetitive, but they never get in the way of what is still a tense and highly entertaining sci-fi horror survival adventure.”

CGMagazine – 85/100:

“Directive 8020 feels like Supermassive Games has finally rejuvenated after the disappointing The Devil In Me. With this being the start of season two, this is a great showing, and I can’t wait to see what horrors they bring us next”

Gamereactor UK – 80/100:

“I'm tempted to call Directive 8020 Supermassive's best game. It probably doesn't surpass the blast that I thought Until Dawn was, as in many ways, it was far more kitschy and downright cheesy, but it worked well as a sort of party horror game. Directive 8020 is a serious sci-fi story. It doesn't surpass its sources of inspiration, but it doesn't pale in comparison either. All the gameplay mechanics Supermassive has worked with before work better here than ever. It's also undoubtedly the game in the series with the most traditional stealth gameplay, and fortunately, the developers show that they know how to do it here too, even if they aren't taking any big risks.”

TechRadar Gaming – 70/100:

“Directive 8020 is a welcome evolution of Supermassive’s The Dark Pictures Anthology survival horror series, offering a more forgiving gameplay experience, improved visuals, and new stealth elements. While the core of the gameplay remains, fans may feel divided on these new additions, as the game leans into more traditional survival horror elements than previous titles, but doesn’t quite hit the mark when weighed up against other heavyweights in the sci-fi genre.”

MonsterVine – 70:100:

“Directive 8020 explores enthralling themes and serves up some aesthetically pleasing scares, but its overreliance on bland stealth sections and janky pacing hold the game back. I’m certainly interested in seeing more of the story routes thanks to the cohesive and quick rewind mechanic, but I think I’ll wait a bit before diving back into all those stealth sections.”

Game Informer - 50/100:

“I was too busy questioning character decisions (theirs, not mine), rolling my eyes, and grappling with an overwhelming feeling of déjà vu to ever enjoyably engage in Directive 8020.”

• ButWhyTho – 9.5/10
• LootLevelChill – 9.5/10
• GameSpew – 9/10
• TheSixthAxis – 9/10
• GAMINGbible – 9/10
• PC Games – 8.5/10
• XGN – 8.5/10
• IGN – 8/10
• PSLS – 8/10
• Radio Times – 8/10
• TechRaptor – 7.5/10
• GamingTrend – 7.5/10
• PSU – 7/10
• TheGamer – 7/10
• Eurogamer – 6/10
• Gamespot – 5/10

Directive 8020 is the latest installment from The Dark Pictures, which tells a story about how the ship Cassiopeia and its crew crash on the Tau Ceti f planet, where they will have to face aliens capable of changing their appearance. The game’s lead role was played by Lashana Lynch, known for the films Captain Marvel and No Time to Die; she plays an astronaut named Brianna Young. Yesterday, Supermassive Games revealed the system requirements for the PC version of the game.

Are you excited about Directive 8020, the new survival horror/interactive drama from Supermassive Games? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

The game releases on May 12 for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5.