Turning Points is one of two new systems Supermassive built for Directive 8020 (alongside Destinies). It's a controlled rewind for the chapter's most consequential choice — a soft-reset that respects permadeath but gives you a single mulligan per episode.
How it works
- When a Turning Point trigger fires, a small ◆ rewind icon appears on the dialogue wheel.
- Make your choice and continue normally.
- If the outcome is bad (relationship hit, branch lock, etc.), open the pause menu → Turning Point.
- The chapter rewinds to the moment of that single choice. The rewind is consumed for that chapter even if you re-pick the same option.
What Turning Points cannot do
- Cannot undo a death caused by a missed QTE.
- Cannot rewind across chapter boundaries.
- Cannot be re-used in the same chapter.
- Cannot rewind exploration choices (e.g. which path to take), only flagged dialogue beats.
Per-episode Turning Point
| Episode | Flagged choice | Worth rewinding? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 — Cassiopeia | Trust / Question Akin | Only if you accidentally questioned him. |
| 2 — Tau Ceti F | Send Naomi / Riley up the ridge | High — locks Ep 5 death gate. |
| 3 — Quarantine | Shoot now / Wait for proof | High — biggest first-permadeath risk. |
| 4 — Vital Signs | Side with Akin / crew | High — locks Ep 7 mutiny vote. |
| 5 — The Hold | Stay hidden / shout warning | Medium. |
| 6 — Bearings | — | No Turning Point (no lethal branches). |
| 7 — Last Transmission | Stay on Cassiopeia / Evacuate | Critical — sets ending family. |
| 8 — Directive | Sacrifice / Escape / Reveal | Critical — final ending letter. |
Tips
- Don't burn it early. Save Episode 1's Turning Point — Episode 2's ridge choice is the first high-consequence pick.
- Pair with Bearings. If you scanned a premonition before the choice, you'll know which option leads to the warned-of death gate.
- It's not a save-state. If you fail the QTE that follows the rewound choice, you're stuck with that outcome.
FAQ
What are Turning Points in Directive 8020?
Turning Points are flagged decision moments that you can rewind to and replay once per chapter. The first time you reach a Turning Point an icon appears on the dialogue wheel; if the choice goes badly, the chapter rewind menu lets you re-attempt that specific decision without restarting.
How many Turning Points are there per episode?
One per episode — eight total across the campaign. Episode 6 (Bearings) has no Turning Point because it has no lethal branches.
Does Turning Points break permadeath?
No. Turning Points only let you rewind a single flagged decision per chapter. QTE failures, exploration deaths and chained-cause deaths are not rewindable.
Can you save-scum with Turning Points?
No. The system is single-use per chapter and consumed even if you don't change your choice. Once used, it's locked until the next episode begins.