Directive 8020 Best Ending Guide: Save All NPCs with Key Choices

Directive 8020 Best Ending Guide: Save Everyone in the Cassiopeia Crew

In Directive 8020, every decision carries weight—one wrong move could mean the difference between life and death for the Cassiopeia crew. The game emphasizes the importance of choices, particularly when it comes to the three non-playable characters (NPCs): Anders, Mitchell, and Williams. Your actions not only shape the fate of your playable characters but also determine whether these NPCs survive. Below is a step-by-step guide to saving everyone, unlocking all Destinies, and achieving the best ending after completing Cycle 13.

Warning: This guide contains major spoilers for all eight episodes of Directive 8020.

Table of Contents

• Directive 8020: How to End the Cycle
• Episode One - Little Star
• Episode Two - Best Laid Plans
• Episode Three - The Sample
• Episode Four - Dragnet
• Episode Five - Mr. Williams
• Episode Six - Hostile Takeover
• Episode Seven - Revelation
• Episode Eight - Come True
• Destinies and Key Choices Summarized

Directive 8020: How to End the Cycle

While Carter and Simms are scripted to die, their deaths can occur earlier if certain choices are made. However, it is impossible to save either of them. Supermassive Games employed a narrative device similar to Danganronpa v3, where co-op gameplay supports up to five players but features six playable characters. Below, we break down each episode with the exact steps needed to keep Anders, Mitchell, and Williams alive until the end.

Episode One - Little Star

Turning Point Choices:

• Disaster Turning Point: Successfully complete the quick-time event (QTE) when Simms loses her footing on the way back to the airlock. This ensures she survives the initial disaster.
• Chase Sequence: Survive the chase where Carter runs from Simms, who is acting abnormally. Avoid actions that could trigger Simms’ untimely demise.

Destinies: The Destiny unlocked for Carter in this episode is The Caretaker.

Episode Two - Best Laid Plans

Turning Point Choices:

• Little Faith Turning Point: Select "Dismiss" when Mitchell asks Stafford whether he trusts Anders. This choice ensures Williams survives in Episode Five, as Stafford will not monitor Anders’ actions when she plans to sedate Williams in his office.
• Power Games Turning Point: Disable the Landing Computer to save Mitchell. Avoid disabling the Fire Control, as a fire could later harm another character.
• Pursuit: Later in the episode, Eisele must reactivate the Fire Control without being spotted by Simms. This action is critical to prevent further complications.

Episode Three - The Sample

Turning Point Choices:

• Little Faith Turning Point (Continued): Ensure Stafford remains unaware of Anders’ intentions by choosing "Dismiss" in the previous episode. This sets up Williams’ survival in Episode Five.

Episode Four - Dragnet

Turning Point Choices:

• Hostile Takeover: Avoid actions that could lead to Simms’ early death. Maintain the Fire Control’s activation to prevent additional hazards.

Episode Five - Mr. Williams

Turning Point Choices:

• Williams’ Survival: If the correct choices were made in previous episodes, Williams will survive this episode. Anders’ plan to sedate Williams will fail due to Stafford’s oversight, ensuring Williams remains alive.

Episode Six - Hostile Takeover

Turning Point Choices:

• Mitchell’s Survival: Mitchell’s fate is secured if the Landing Computer was disabled in Episode Two. This prevents further complications that could endanger his life.

Episode Seven - Revelation

Turning Point Choices:

• Anders’ Survival: Ensure Anders remains alive by avoiding choices that could trigger her early demise. Her survival is critical for unlocking key Destinies.

Episode Eight - Come True

Final Steps:

• Confirm that all NPCs—Anders, Mitchell, and Williams—are alive before proceeding to the final choices.
• Unlock all Destinies by making the correct choices throughout the episodes to achieve the best ending.

Destinies and Key Choices Summarized

The following Destinies must be unlocked to achieve the best ending in Directive 8020:

• The Caretaker: Unlocked for Carter in Episode One.
• Williams’ Survival: Achieved by choosing "Dismiss" in the Little Faith Turning Point (Episode Two) and ensuring Stafford does not monitor Anders.
• Mitchell’s Survival: Secured by disabling the Landing Computer in the Power Games Turning Point (Episode Two).
• Anders’ Survival: Requires avoiding choices that could trigger her early death, particularly in Episodes Three and Seven.

"Choices matter, and Directive 8020 really wants you to make sure you're aware of that when one wrong word or misstep could get someone killed."