by 
Ready for some early-year spooks on Xbox? Well, Directive 8020 brings its sci-fi horror experience to Xbox tomorrow, and the reviews are now in for what is Supermassive Games' next entry in the Dark Pictures franchise.
We're going to round up some of these reviews, then, so you can get a good picture of what you'd be in for with this latest big-budget horror game on Xbox. Let's get cracking!
But Why Tho? (9.5/10)
"Directive 8020 is a love letter to the space horror that looks beyond just going bump in the night. The distrust sown across the small team, the dialogue choices, and the interactions all craft a game that feels like it belongs on the shelf alongside titles like Dead Space, Sunshine, Event Horizon, and even The Thing."
The Sixth Axis (9/10)
"Supermassive Games has been honing their The Dark Pictures Anthology horror formula since 2019, each entry sharpening the balance between cinematic storytelling and player-driven horror. Directive 8020 feels like the next evolution of that template, taking a step away from the anthology branding entirely to deliver a standalone experience, albeit one that’s still sprinkled with references for long-time fans. Directive 8020 is by far the best Dark Pictures game, embracing more stealth gameplay, making the branching story feel seamless, and setting a new bar for the genre."
GameSpew (9/10)
"Supermassive Games takes the Dark Pictures series into space with Directive 8020, and with the introduction of new gameplay elements such as stealth, you're more immersed in the action than ever before. Add in its brilliant presentation and gripping story and you have one of the best Dark Pictures games yet, and a must play for fans of space-horror."
PC Gamer (8.5/10)
"It's clear that Directive 8020 is built atop the promising but uneven Dark Pictures Anthology games Supermassive has worked on for the past decade. But it takes a bold step in the right direction with the Turning Point mechanic, and a confident leap into the cold vacuum of space. Directive 8020 is everything you could want from a sci-fi horror game: Body horror aliens, the unwavering dread that all of us are insignificant when set against the great expanse of the universe, and fun QTEs."
IGN (8/10)
"I've been a big fan of The Dark Pictures since the very beginning, despite their quirks and shortcomings, and Directive 8020 is a chilling and impressive start to the second season of the anthology. The effective deep space setting, smart writing, strong performances from the main cast, and a tense – if a bit overused – new stealth mechanic are the highlights. I wish the ability to scroll through the scene trees hadn't been presented to me as so immediately and trivially accessible, since even casually pawing through it for a minute definitely ruins some of the magic and suspense on a first playthrough, even if it is a welcome tool on return visits. Either way, this is a step forward for the anthology in terms of spectacle and storytelling, which makes it more than worth the ride."
TechRadar (7/10)
"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."
Stevivor (6/10)
"I played single-player exclusively, but that said, I struggle to see how groups will find this as enjoyable as other Dark Pictures titles. There are less big, dangerous choices to be made and far more opportunities to die because you’re not good at stealth, or stealth and management of scanning and puzzles at the same time. Fans of Supermassive will find enough here to justify a purchase, though I’m in that camp myself and finished things up hoping for a tighter experience."
Eurogamer (3/5)
"In some ways, Directive 8020 feels like a game of missed opportunities, and a bunch of almost-theres. But sometimes Supermassive's ambition pays off. It's a touch too long, it's a little too one-note, and I wish it could have pushed a little harder to find its own identity as it charted so much well-trodden ground. But its existential chills are effective, it's got an earnest spirit, and a phenomenal cast that genuinely made me care."
Game Informer (5/10)
"I took more notes while playing Directive 8020 than I normally do while reviewing a game, and they’re almost all character complaints or story frustrations. The primary purpose of this experience is to engage and draw me into a narrative filled with characters whose fates I am invested in. Instead, I was too busy questioning decisions (theirs, not mine), rolling my eyes, and grappling with an overwhelming feeling of déjà vu to ever lock in."
At the time of writing, Directive 8020 has a Metacritic rating of 72 and an OpenCritic score of 76; respectable numbers but nothing earth-shattering, then. If you want to give this new Dark Pictures game a go for yourself, it lands for Xbox Series X|S on Tuesday, May 12th.