Directive 8020 and The Quarry are both Supermassive Games titles built on the same branching-narrative skeleton — but they aim at different players. Directive 8020 is the disciplined AA anthology entry with sci-fi horror and authored endings. The Quarry is the sprawling AAA-priced summer-camp slasher with the most granular ending tree the genre has shipped.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Directive 8020 | The Quarry |
|---|---|---|
| Released | May 2026 | June 2022 |
| Genre | Sci-fi survival horror | Summer-camp slasher horror |
| Engine | Unreal Engine 5 | Unreal Engine 4 |
| Playable cast | 5 protagonists | 9 protagonists |
| Length (main) | ~8 hours | ~10 hours |
| Ending count | 6 (A–E + Curator's S) | 186 micro-variants |
| Permadeath | Yes | Yes |
| Multiplayer | Movie Night + Shared Story online co-op | Movie Mode + Couch Co-op |
| Curator framing | Yes — anthology entry | No — standalone |
| Launch price (USD) | $49.99 | $69.99 |
| Metacritic launch | Tracking low-to-mid 70s | 78 |
Which one should you play?
- Buy Directive 8020 if — you want sci-fi horror, authored endings, AA pricing, anthology continuity, and a tighter ~8 hour runtime.
- Buy The Quarry if — you want slasher tone, a bigger cast (9 vs 5), maximum ending granularity, and you don't mind waiting for a sale to hit $20–$30.
- Buy both if — you loved Until Dawn. They're complementary: Directive 8020 = restrained AA, The Quarry = sprawling AAA.
Where Directive 8020 wins
- Pacing — 8 episodes of ~1 hour each, no filler.
- Pricing — $20 cheaper than The Quarry at launch.
- Mechanics — Bearings premonition system is the most novel verb Supermassive has shipped.
- Series continuity — the Curator's framing pays off if you've played prior anthology entries.
Where The Quarry wins
- Cast breadth — 9 protagonists vs 5.
- Ending count — 186 micro-variants if you replay obsessively.
- Production values — UE4-era but Hollywood-grade performance capture (David Arquette, Lin Shaye, etc.).
- Couch co-op — local multiplayer is more polished than Movie Night.
FAQ
Is Directive 8020 better than The Quarry?
Different strengths. Directive 8020 has tighter pacing and AA pricing; The Quarry has a bigger cast and more granular endings. Reviewers split roughly evenly. Pick Directive 8020 for sci-fi horror, The Quarry for slasher tone.
Are Directive 8020 and The Quarry made by the same studio?
Yes. Both are Supermassive Games titles. Directive 8020 is part of The Dark Pictures Anthology (entry #5); The Quarry is a standalone spiritual successor to Until Dawn.
Which game has more endings?
The Quarry has 186 micro-variants; Directive 8020 has 6 named ending states (A–E plus Curator's Cut Ending S). The Quarry feels more granular; Directive 8020 feels more authored.
Which is cheaper, Directive 8020 or The Quarry?
Directive 8020 launches at $49.99 (AA pricing). The Quarry launched at $69.99 but is now usually available for $20–$30 on sale.