How to Save Everyone in Directive 8020

This Directive 8020 Guide details how you can save everyone in the game and unlock the best ending in the game. In Directive 8020, you have to make choices during each step and conversation. Based on these choices, the story changes, and even a small, miscalculated choice can completely change who survives by the end of the story. If you want to save everyone in your crew, this guide is for you.

How to Save Everyone in Directive 8020 and Unlock the Best Ending

This Guide is not only about saving your playable characters. We are also accountable for three NPCs named Anders, Mitchell, and Williams. However, you cannot save Carter and Simms, because their deaths are part of the story. You can save the rest of the crew if you carefully handle each situation and unlock the right Destinies along the way.

The following are all the episodes in order and detail how you should play in each to save everyone till the very end.

Episode One – Little Star

You need to keep both Carter and Simms alive for as long as possible during the first episode, before their timed deaths.
During the “Disaster” Turning Point, complete the QTE after Simms slips near the airlock on her way back to the ship. After that, you need to survive the “Chase” section, where Carter is forced to run from Simms after her strange behavior.
For Destinies, Carter can unlock The Caretaker.

Episode Two – Best Laid Plans

This is where your early choices begin affecting future fate and outcomes.
During your “Little Faith” point, you will see Mitchell ask Stafford if he trusts Anders. You have to choose the “Dismiss” option. This choice becomes very important because it prevents Stafford from watching Anders, which helps Williams survive in Episode Five.
Later, during the “Power Games” point, disable the Landing Computer instead of Fire Control. Keeping Fire Control active is necessary for saving Mitchell.
When you are at the end of this episode, Eisele must reactivate Fire Control during “Pursuit” without being seen by Simms. Successfully doing this will save Mitchell.
This episode is also important for unlocking Destinies. You should focus on Young’s Loyal Trait and Eisele’s Sympathetic Trait during this episode. These two Destinies are necessary for the best ending, so use supportive dialogue and message responses whenever possible.

Episode Three – The Sample

While you are playing as Cernan during “No Games,” avoid getting caught by Williams.
When the Cassiopeia crashes in the “Crash,” Stafford should remain seated. Shortly afterward, complete the short QTE during the “Rude Awakening” when Williams wakes up. This causes injection side effects that become important later for identifying him.
Another important moment happens during the “Search.” While leaving the Mess Hall as Cooper, listen carefully for a beeping sound. You need to lift the damaged shutter and crawl through the opening to recover Carter’s Utility Strap and warning message.
During the “Mystery,” Stafford should suggest that Simms may have suffered from isolation-related problems and later tell Eisele she was right to worry. This unlocks Eisele’s Destiny and also progresses Stafford’s Commander Path Destiny.
For Cernan, continue discussing philosophical topics, especially during “Eternal Flame” when talking with Cooper about Cernan’s late husband. Cooper’s Playful trait should also continue improving.

Episode Four – Dragnet

While playing as Cooper in the “Overwatch” section, try not to be caught by Williams.
Later, while playing as Eisele during “Loaded Question,” refuse to arm yourself with the firearm. As playing as Young during “Drawbridge,” survive the sequence and complete every QTE during the “Fight” Turning Point.
This episode improves Eisele and Stafford’s important personality traits.

Episode Five – Mr. Williams

This episode also involves a stealth sequence in the beginning. Your task is to activate three breakers while avoiding Stafford.
During the “Suspicions” part, help Anders to drug Williams. Because Stafford earlier chose to trust Anders, the “Big Brother” scene never occurs, allowing Williams to survive.
During the “Under Pressure” part, Young has to make a tough decision. He has to choose between saving Anders and Mitchell. Since Fire Control was kept active earlier in the story, choosing Anders will also indirectly save Mitchell, meaning both characters survive.
Later, Williams enters the biometric scanner while Stafford volunteers for the mission. Choose Eisele as backup.
By this point, Cooper should unlock The Rogue Destiny if her Playful trait has been raised enough.

Episode Six – Hostile Takeover

During the “Close Encounter” part, both Stafford and Cernan must survive their encounters.
Later in “Point Blank,” do not shoot Williams while playing as Stafford. His nosebleeds and frustration when being called “Mr. Williams” reveal he is the real Williams.
Earlier stealth sections also matter here. If both Cernan and Eisele survived those encounters, everyone would reunite safely. Stafford then sends all the members through the scanner one at a time until another Eisele suddenly appears.
During “Eisele’s Test,” pay attention to which Eisele reaches for the firearm. You can also differentiate between the two by knowing that the left Eisele is the fake one. Test both of them, but spare the newly arrived Eisele because she is the real one.
At the Bridge, Directive 8020 is finally revealed. Stafford must then choose “Save Our Souls.”

Episode Seven – Revelation

During “Search Party,” Anders becomes separated from the crew. Keep checking the messages carefully to identify the real Anders.
At the split path where the scanner detects two signals, take the right route leading into the cave filled with stalactites. Later, while you are playing as Young, send the SOS signal once you are at the “Charybdis” pod.
Back aboard the ship, Young must survive the stealth section in “Pod Room,” while Cernan must survive another stealth encounter in “Geoscience.” Completing both sections keeps the entire crew alive.
At the start of the episode, Young should continue expressing concern for the crew during “Holdout” to further improve her Loyal trait.

Episode Eight – Come True

During “Why You Started,” Young should continue showing conflict about the mission and concern for the team. If her Loyal trait is high enough, the Hero Destiny unlocks.
At the “Wish” Turning Point, choose “Humanity First.” This officially locks you into the best ending path.
Later, insist that Williams stays with the group during “Second Chances” instead of leaving him behind.
From this point onward, survival mostly depends on passing every stealth section and QTE successfully. During “Atrium,” avoid approaching the crying Mitchell. Later in “Snap Decision,” save Stafford.
At “Knock Knock,” while controlling Cooper, allow Mitchell inside because the earlier messages confirm he is the real Mitchell.
The final sequences rapidly switch between characters, throwing constant QTEs at the player. Failing any of them results in death.
Three months after the events of Cycle 13, Eisele receives the final major choice. If The Humanitarian is unlocked, she decides to end the cycle and expose the cloning program, leading to the game’s best ending and unlocking the Humanitarian and NDA Breaker achievements.
By the conclusion of the story, Young should have The Hero Destiny, while Cernan unlocks The Philosopher.

That is all for this guide. Additional Directive 8020 guides are linked below:

This concludes our Directive 8020 guide on how you can save everyone in the game. If you want to add anything to this guide, feel free to use the comments section below.

How to Save Everyone in Directive 8020