Directive 8020 Walkthrough – How to Save Everyone

Trying to keep the crew alive in Directive 8020 requires more than passing the final QTEs during your walkthrough. Several survival checks are set up much earlier, especially Fire Control, Williams, Eisele’s Test, the real Anders route, and the final Humanity First choice.

You can save the main surviving crew, but Carter and Simms cannot be saved from their scripted deaths, so they are not part of the final “everyone survives” route.

1. Can You Save Everyone in Directive 8020?

You can save the main crew in Directive 8020, but not every named character can survive the full story. Carter and Simms are tied to unavoidable story deaths, so the real goal is to keep Stafford, Young, Eisele, Cernan, Cooper, Mitchell, Anders, and Williams alive through the finale.

This route also sets up the best ending if Young reaches The Hero and Eisele reaches The Humanitarian. The important part is not just survival. You also need to make the right choices around the crew, the clone cycle, and the final moral decision.

2. Best Playstyle for a Save Everyone Run

Use Explorer Playstyle for your first playthrough attempt at saving everyone. Explorer gives you access to Turning Points, which let you rewind major decisions, correct deaths, and test different branches without replaying the full story from the beginning.

3. Episode 1 – Little Star

Carter episode 1

Episode 1 mainly introduces Carter and Simms. Their later deaths are scripted, but you should still keep the opening clean.

1. During Disaster, pass the QTE when Simms loses her footing.
2. During the Chase, survive as Carter.
3. Do not worry about saving Carter and Simms for the final crew outcome, because their deaths cannot be prevented long-term.

4. Episode 2 – Best Laid Plans

Disabling landing computer

Episode 2 sets up one of the most important survival chains in the game. Your goal is to keep the right system active so Mitchell can survive later.

1. At Little Faith, choose Dismiss when Mitchell asks Stafford whether he trusts Anders.
2. At Power Games, disable the Landing Computer.
3. Keep Fire Control active.
4. Later, as Eisele, reactivate Fire Control during Pursuit without being spotted.
5. When possible, choose supportive dialogue that builds Young’s Loyal side and Eisele’s Sympathetic side.

NOTE: Fire Control is needed later when the game makes you choose between Anders and Mitchell. If Fire Control is active, saving Anders can also keep Mitchell alive.

5. Episode 3 – The Sample

Selecting Sit Down

Episode 3 has three important jobs: keep Stafford safe, set up Williams’ later identity clue, and collect Carter’s Utility Strap.

1. As Cernan, sneak past Williams during No Games.
2. During Crash, make sure Stafford stays seated.
3. During Rude Awakening, pass the QTE when Williams wakes up.
4. As Cooper, follow the beeping near the Mess Hall area.
5. Lift the damaged shutter, squeeze through the gap, and collect Carter’s Utility Strap.
6. At Mystery, have Stafford question whether Simms suffered an episode due to isolation.
7. Tell Eisele she was right to be concerned.

6. Episode 4 – Dragnet

Refusing weapon use

Episode 4’s key survival goals are to refuse the firearm as Eisele, survive Young’s Drawbridge and Fight checks, and keep choosing crew-focused options that support Eisele’s Humanitarian route.

1. As Cooper, get past Williams during Overwatch.
2. As Eisele, do not take the firearm during Loaded Question.
3. As Young, survive Drawbridge.
4. Pass the QTEs during Fight.
5. Keep choosing crew-focused and sympathetic options when they appear.

Refusing the firearm helps Eisele’s Humanitarian route. Passing the action checks keeps the survival route stable.

7. Episode 5 – Mr. Williams

Save Anders

Episode 5 is where the earlier Fire Control setup pays off. If you made the right Episode 2 choices, you can save both Anders and Mitchell.

1. During Suspicions, help Anders sedate Williams.
2. At Under Pressure, choose to save Anders.
3. If Fire Control was kept active earlier, Mitchell can also survive.
4. When Stafford needs backup, send Eisele with him.

Saving Anders only works cleanly if Fire Control is active from Episode 2. Without that setup, choosing Anders can cost Mitchell; with Fire Control active, both can survive.

8. Episode 6 – Hostile Takeover

Shooting fake Eisele

Episode 6 has three major checks: Williams, Eisele, and the Bridge message. The biggest mistake here is shooting Williams or sparing the wrong Eisele. Williams is real, and the real Eisele is the newcomer.

1. Survive Close Encounter as Stafford and Cernan.
2. At Point Blank, do not shoot Williams.
3. During Eisele’s Test, test both Eiseles.
4. Spare the newcomer.
5. Do not spare the Eisele who arrived with the group on the left, because she is the fake.
6. At the Bridge, choose Save Our Souls.
7. At Making the Call, sympathize with Stafford.
8. During The Crown Falls, plead with Stafford when Young visits him at the Bridge.

9. Episode 7 – Revelation

Finding Anders

Episode 7 is mainly about finding the real Anders and getting everyone back safely. At the scanner fork, take the right path to stay on the real Anders route; the wrong direction can break the clean save-everyone run.

1. During Search Party, keep checking messages to identify the real Anders.
2. When the scanner shows two signatures at the fork, take the right path.
3. Follow the route toward the cave with stalactites on the ceiling.
4. At the Charybdis pod, send an SOS as Young.
5. Survive Pod Room as Young.
6. Survive Geoscience as Cernan.
7. In Holdout, have Young think about the rest of the team and show concern about the mission.

10. Episode 8 – Come True

Ordering William to stay with group

Episode 8 is the final survival chain. If Young has enough Loyal progress, The Hero route becomes available here. Before choosing Humanity First, make sure you have been picking crew-focused Young responses throughout the run.

1. At Wish, choose Humanity First.
2. At Second Chances, keep Williams with the crew.
3. In Atrium, do not approach the crying Mitchell.
4. In Snap Decision, save Stafford.
5. In Knock Knock, let Mitchell in.
6. Pass every remaining QTE until the crew reaches the S.E.V. safely.

11. Best Destinies for the True Ending

Eisele Destiny

Saving the crew is enough for the survival route, but the true ending also depends on key Destiny outcomes. Eisele’s Humanitarian path is the most important one because it decides whether she stops the cycle after the finale. Young’s Hero path also matters because it supports the final Humanity First route.