Are you planning to save all characters in Directive 8020? The latest entry in The Dark Pictures Anthology takes you to the far future straight into the realm of sci-fi. As a group of explorers attempts to enter Tau Ceti F, strange incidents start to occur. Soon, their interstellar journey turns into a nightmare in the void of space.
Our Directive 8020 guide has numerous tips to help you keep your characters alive in your playthrough, but there are some caveats:
- This guide is based on our full playthrough where we recount key choices that we made across all eight episodes/chapters in the campaign.
- There are multiple playable and non-playable characters listed below. That said, certain deaths are truly unavoidable as they’re pivotal parts of the story.
- For the introductory chapter, you’ve got Carter as a playable character, while Simms is an NPC.
- There are five playable characters for the rest of the campaign: Stafford, Young, Eisele, Cernan, and Cooper.
- Three are non-playable: Mitchell, Anders, and Williams.
- The Turning Point feature is an expansive system that lets you rewind back to previous scenes and segments, including ones where you make crucial decisions. It’s somewhat akin to the Cutting Room Floor feature seen in The Casting of Frank Stone.
- If you’re playing on Explorer Mode, then you can rewind via the Turning Point menu whenever you wish. Conversely, if you’re playing on Survivor Mode, then the Turning Point menu is only unlocked upon beating the game.
- As you can expect given the topic, this article contains major spoilers.
Episode 1: Little Star
There are a few important steps that you need to take to avoid onscreen deaths during Episode 1:
- Meet the Oracle: Early in the campaign while playing as Carter, you can choose to meet the Oracle AI and authorize the systems reboot.
- Disaster: As Carter and Simms go for a spacewalk, be ready to pass the quick-time event (QTE) sequence so you can catch Simms.
- Chased: Ensure that Simms doesn’t catch Carter.
Note: If you didn’t authorize the Oracle’s systems reboot, there will be a button-mash QTE sequence before you’re able to enter the Crew Monitoring area as Carter.
Episode 2: Best Laid Plans
If you want to save all characters in Directive 8020, then you should consider a particular decision in Episode 2. It involves the terminal in Power Games:
- Power Games:
- Deactivating the Landing Computer may affect Stafford’s fate later on. Deactivating the Fire Control System, meanwhile, affects Mitchell’s survival.
- We recommend disabling the Landing Computer for this part.
- Suspicions: When Eisele chats with Stafford, choose to “Accuse” and “Contemplate.” Stafford will give Eisele a word of advice.
- Pursuit and Decompression: These are both stealth sections. Steer clear of Simms, “Plead” with her at the airlock, and make your escape.
Episode 3: The Sample – Part 1
For this part, we’re going to take a look at Cernan’s and Stafford’s segments in Episode 3:
- No Games: Make it to the Control Room as Cernan without getting spotted.
- Crash: As Stafford, fix the Landing Computer and pass all the QTE button prompts so he can go back to his seat.
Note: If Stafford attempts to fix the computer but he’s unable to get back to his seat, he’ll die at this stage.
Episode 3: The Sample – Part 2
This next part concerns Williams and the drugs administered by Cooper and Anders. Cernan also has a short conversation here with Cooper.
- Rude Awakening: Quickly press the button prompt to inject Williams while he’s in his pod.
- Eternal Flame: When Cernan chats with Cooper, choose to “Confide” in her.
- Search: Near the end of the chapter, make sure that Cooper finds Carter’s utility strap to hear his last message.
Episode 4: Dragnet
None of your characters can die in this chapter, but you still need to reach certain outcomes:
- Overwatch and Going Up: Cooper and Anders have to evade the hostile crew member.
- Loaded Question: Stafford will ask Eisele to authorize the use of a firearm.
- You should “Refuse” when prompted.
- This option becomes available if you were able to avoid Simms in Episode 1 and you also found Carter’s utility strap in Chapter 4.
- Drawbridge and Fight: Do your best as Young to escape the assailant.
Episode 5: Mr. Williams – Part 1
For this part, we’re going to talk about Cooper, Anders, and Williams again:
- Waste Management: At the start of this chapter, you play as Eisele and you have to avoid an enemy as you attempt to power up the reactor.
- Suspicions: Throughout the campaign, you should keep improving Cooper’s Playful trait. This leads to The Rogue outcome.
- The Experiment:
- As Cooper, complete the lab puzzle by inputting “1-6-8” as a code.
- While talking to Anders, choose “Consider,” “Approve,” then “Question.”
- Broadcast: Because of the above steps, Anders should sedate Williams during this chapter.
Episode 5: Mr. Williams – Part 2
Now comes another crucial decision if you want to keep all characters alive in Directive 8020. Hostiles will sabotage the ship during a section called Under Pressure. You then take control of Young, and you have to decide if you should save Anders in the Medical Complex or Mitchell in Fuel Junction 4.
- Save Anders – Choose this option if you disabled the Landing Computer earlier in Episode 2.
- To save Anders, you must unlock a door using the repair tool/rod. She’ll be in good condition at the very least.
- If you fail this minigame, Cooper will swoop in to save Anders. She’ll survive, but she’ll be injured due to the extreme cold.
- If you disabled the Fire Control System and you choose to save Anders here, Mitchell is guaranteed to die.
- Save Mitchell – Choose this option if you disabled the Fire Control System earlier in Episode 2.
- Young will rescue Mitchell, so no worries there.
- Cooper, as mentioned, will help Anders, though the latter will be injured.
- Backup: Later in the chapter when Stafford asks for aid, choose to volunteer as Eisele. Don’t suggest Cernan.
Episode 6: Hostile Takeover – Part 1
This chapter has several potential deaths for our heroes:
- Close Encounter: As Stafford/Eisele, stealthily make your way across the dark room and escape using the ladder.
- Point Blank: Stafford will aim his gun at Williams.
- Choose to “Stand Down.” Do not “Shoot” Williams here.
- The biometric analysis reveals the sedative that Cooper and Anders used on Williams earlier, proving that he’s not a hostile creature.
Episode 6: Hostile Takeover – Part 2
After a few wrap-up scenes, Stafford will tell the group to go through the scanner. Eventually, Eisele’s doppelganger shows up and you have to make a decision:
- Choose the “Test” response. The “newcomer” will tell Stafford about the word of advice that he gave in Chapter 2.
- Choose to “Shoot Eisele”–i.e. the doppelganger.
Note: At the conclusion of this chapter, the group talks about their course of action. Will you warn the crew of the Andromeda about the perils that you’ve faced, or will you send a distress call hoping that you’ll be rescued? As far as we can tell, this decision does not affect the survival of characters.
Episode 7: Revelation
The group makes a short trek on the surface, though they still need to return to the ship:
- Search Party: You’ll need to look for the real Anders here. At the last fork, go to the right to spot a cave with stalactites. You’ll see Anders a short distance away.
- Pod Room, Geoscience, and The Hunt: You control Young and Cernan here. Do not get caught by the enemies in these areas.
Episode 8: Come True – Part 1
We’re at the home stretch now. There are a few important tidbits to remember if you want all characters to survive in Directive 8020:
- Second Chances: Since Williams is still alive, you can take him with you or leave him behind. Choose the “Order” response.
- Redirect, Atrium, Mess Hall, and Reactor: All of these areas have QTE or running sequences. Be careful so you don’t mess up.
- Snap Decision: Once of your crewmates will get grabbed by a tentacle. Quickly help them before they’re consumed.
Note: Around this time, you might see a Turning Point portion called The Way Back. This is when you’ll be able to unlock the Curator and O Death collectibles.
Episode 8: Come True – Part 2
This occurs during the Knock Knock segment. In our playthrough, we were controlling Cooper. We had to decide if we should let Mitchell in or if it’s too risky in case he’s a doppelganger:
- Save – Choose to save Mitchell here since he’s the real.
- Abandon – Mitchell will get swarmed and killed here.
Episode 8: Come True – Part 3
These are part of Return of the Beast and succeeding segments. Basically, you’ll take control of one character after another, and they all need to successfully pass the QTEs. Failure here could mean the death of that individual or the demise of several others in the group. Once you’re done with this segment, that’s it, your characters will fly away from the facility.
That does it for our guide on how to keep all characters alive in Directive 8020. We hope you ensure everyone’s survival throughout this harrowing journey. Oh, and if you’re keen on learning about other mysteries, then you might want to unlock the Curator’s cutscene and collectibles, too.
