Reference checked 15 September 2026; see sources and scope.
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💀All Death Scenes Index

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What counts as a death scene

Directive 8020's 44 death scenes span lethal QTEs, trust-gated doors and branch choices. Any single miss can end a crew member — and with them, your path to the good endings. This index groups them by episode so you can pre-plan every lethal check. Full route details live in the Save Everyone guide.

1️⃣Episodes 1-3: Setup Deaths

The opening chapters are low-lethality but establish the trust economy that gates later deaths. No permanent deaths here — but skip the wrong honor/compassion choices and you lock out the trust required to pass Ep 7 doors.

EpisodeLethal checkDeath risk
Ep 1Escape Simms as Carter; choose Honor for OsmondNo permanent deaths
Ep 2Crew-split decisions build or break trustTrust loss compounds
Ep 3Mimic attack segments — early reaction QTEsLow, but a miss drops trust

4️⃣Episode 4: The Power Surge

The first true kill window. The three-stage rhythm QTE is the chapter's signature — failing stage 2 kills Thomas instantly. Triage order also matters: treat Naomi → Riley → Akin, and side with the crew when forced to choose.

Lethal checkDeath triggerAvoid it
Power surge rhythm QTEFail stage 2 → Thomas diesMemorize the 3-beat rhythm; pause before stage 2
Triage orderWrong order drains the medical windowNaomi → Riley → Akin, always

5️⃣Episode 5: The Loadlifter Chain

Two death risks stack here. The Loadlifter chain is five inputs with no margin — a single fail = Naomi or Riley. Separately, the fire scene demands you prepare the sedative unprompted and save both Mitchell AND Anders.

Lethal checkDeath triggerAvoid it
Loadlifter input chainAny fail → Naomi or Riley diesFive inputs, no margin — rehearse the pattern
Fire rescuePick one, lose the otherPrepare sedative early; save both Mitchell and Anders

6️⃣Episode 6: The Eisele Choice

Episode 6's death scene is a choice, not a QTE. Trusting the wrong Eisele permanently locks the best endings — and failing the scanner checks lets a duplicate slip through into the escape, setting up the Hitchhiker ending.

Lethal checkDeath triggerAvoid it
Eisele newcomer choiceTrust wrong Eisele → lose best endingTrust the newcomer Eisele; never shoot Williams
Scanner checksMissed scan → mimic smuggles aboardScan everyone clean before the escape

7️⃣Episode 7: The Stalactite Cave & Defensive Waves

The earlier exact trust threshold or unlock shortcut was not substantiated. Track the actual save state and consult the corrected achievement and survival-planning pages.

Lethal checkDeath triggerAvoid it
Stalactite cave forkLEFT → Anders diesAlways turn RIGHT
Defensive wavesLow trust → door fails, crew diesThe earlier exact trust threshold or unlock shortcut was not substantiated. Track the actual save state and consult the corrected achievement and survival-planning pages.
Williams persuasionFailed seduction/persuasion chainSedation chain + persuade him in Ep 7

8️⃣Episode 8: The Final QTE Chain

The finale runs seven back-to-back checks with no failures — any missed QTE can kill someone. The closing choice decides the ending: Reveal (Humanitarian) vs. protect the data (Scientist). Let Mitchell in and pass every check to reach the true ending.

Lethal checkDeath triggerAvoid it
Final 7-QTE chainAny miss can kill someoneSeven checks, zero failures — slow down
Final choiceWrong prompt locks an endingReveal = Humanitarian; protect data = Scientist

FAQ

How many death scenes are there in Directive 8020?

The game counts 44 death scenes across the 8 episodes, spanning lethal QTEs, trust-gated doors and branch choices.

Which death scene is easiest to miss?

Episode 7's stalactite cave fork — turning LEFT looks like the natural path but kills Anders instantly. Always turn RIGHT.

Can I avoid all deaths in one run?

The earlier exact trust threshold or unlock shortcut was not substantiated. Track the actual save state and consult the corrected achievement and survival-planning pages.

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