All Simms’ Recordings in Directive 8020 – Complete Location Guide

TL;DR

• There are 10 Simms’ Recordings hidden across Directive 8020.
• They are video logs made by Pari Simms for her mother back on Earth.
• They appear in Episodes 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 8 of the game.
• None are permanently missable — you can replay sections anytime.
• Collecting all 10 unlocks the Dear Mum… trophy/achievement.
• Look for wall-mounted screens with the Corinth logo — that is how you spot them.

What Are Simms’ Recordings in Directive 8020?

Pari Simms is one of the two Sleep Technicians aboard the Cassiopeia in Directive 8020. While the rest of the science crew is in deep sleep for a four-year journey to Tau Ceti F, Simms stays awake and records personal video messages to send home to her mother.

These recordings are not just sweet diary entries. As you watch them one by one, it becomes clear that Simms had growing suspicions about the Cetus Mission. She noticed strange software patches, inconsistencies in the stasis fluid, and hints of something far darker going on behind the scenes.

There are 10 recordings in total, spread across six of the game’s eight episodes. Each one is stored on a wall-mounted screen that displays the Corinth logo before playing. That logo is your signal. If you see it on a wall, go interact with it.

For a full look at every collectible in the game, check our Directive 8020 All Secrets Guide.

Are Simms’ Recordings Missable?

No. None of the 10 Simms’ Recordings are permanently missable. The game’s Turning Points system lets you jump back to any episode or chapter at any time. So even if you blaze through the story on your first run, you can go back and grab what you missed without starting over.

That said, it is much easier to grab them as you go. Some are in small side rooms or off the main path, so slow down and explore whenever you have free movement.

All 10 Simms’ Recordings – Locations by Episode

Below are all 10 recordings in order of when they appear in the game, with the episode and exact area for each one.

1. Green Tea – Episode 1 (Crew Quarters)

This is the very first recording. Once you gain free movement in the early part of Episode 1, look in the room to your right inside the Sleep Technician’s Crew Quarters. The recording is on the wall between Simms’ work desk and the door leading back into the main Crew Quarters area.

What Simms says: She talks about sending video messages home to her mother, noting that there is a two-hour transmission delay between the ship and Earth. The tone is warm and light. She mentions wanting to drink green tea together over a video chat.

2. Patches – Episode 1 (Medical / Ship Shape)

Before you follow the objective marker toward the ship breach in the Medical area, head upstairs. The recording screen is right at the top of the stairs, clearly visible on the wall to the left of the door that is marked as your goal. You can spot the interaction prompt from the bottom of the stairs if you look up.

What Simms says: She talks about Earth sending encrypted software patches to the Cassiopeia throughout the journey. This is the first hint that something unusual is going on with the mission.

3. Red Alert – Episode 2 (Ship Snare)

In Episode 2, during the section where Young and Eisele work to restore power, you will start in a hallway near a panel. Do not go straight to the panel. Instead, run past it and look at the wall on the right side. The recording screen is there before you reach the main objective.

What Simms says: Simms talks about a red alert situation on board. The mood shifts here. She is clearly unsettled.

4. Sweet Dreams – Episode 2 (Sleuth / Crew Quarters)

This recording is found during the section where Eisele disobeys Stafford’s orders and investigates the Crew Quarters on her own. When you reach the staircase and are given a choice of paths, take the upper stairs. The recording is on the wall in the hallway at the top. The Locker Room in this area also holds this recording on a wall-mounted screen — interact with it as soon as you enter.

What Simms says: She reveals that the stasis fluid used for the return trip is different from the fluid used on the outbound journey. This is a major red flag, and it later connects to a much darker truth about how each crew cycle is handled.

Want to know more about what Eisele finds during this investigation? Read our guide on what happens when you save or lose Simms in Episode 1.

5. Slingshot – Episode 3 (Gear Up / Tool Shed)

During Episode 3, Cooper and Cernan explore the ship looking for a tool to override locked doors. You will enter a Tool Shed area. The tool you need is on the right side of the room. The Simms Recording screen is on the left side as you walk in. It is easy to miss if you only focus on the objective. You can also grab it on your way back out if you miss it going in.

What Simms says: Simms discusses the concept of a slingshot maneuver, describing the physics behind the ship’s trajectory and hinting at things the mission team may have concealed from the crew.

6. Special Permission – Episode 3 (Search / Mess Hall)

After you have fully explored the Mess Hall and moved the battery between doors to restore power to the lower level, head down the stairs. Look to your left as you descend, just before reaching the large Cassiopeia sign at the bottom. The recording screen is right there on the wall.

What Simms says: Simms mentions receiving special permission for something on the ship. The exact nature of what she was allowed to do adds more layers to the broader conspiracy around the mission.

7. Hostile Fire – Episode 5 (Radio Silence)

In Episode 5, you will pass through an area near an airlock. When you spot the airlock, do not go through it yet. Instead, turn left and restore power to a storage room nearby. Once the power is on and you enter the storage area, the recording is inside.

What Simms says: This one is a big lore drop. Simms talks about the possibility of hostile fire coming from enemy planets. It is a chilling message that raises serious questions about what Corinth and its CEO LaMarcus Williams knew about the dangers of the Cetus Mission.

8. Field Agent – Episode 6

In Episode 6, progress through the stealth section and head downstairs. Re-route the power to the locker room in the lower area and go inside. The recording is on the wall in the same type of position as earlier recordings — a wall-mounted screen you interact with. Do not rush through the stealth part or you might miss the detour.

What Simms says: Simms talks about field agents and the idea that someone on board may be reporting back to Corinth. The trust between crew members is starting to fracture in her mind.

If you are trying to unlock Carter’s PC during this part of the game, our Carter’s PC Key Code guide will help you out.

9. Rabbit Hole – Episode 6 (Colony Control)

Also in Episode 6, when you control Stafford, do not turn right toward the Mess Hall as the objective suggests. Instead, go straight into Colony Control. Walk through the halls and the recording screen is in the last room on your right. It is well hidden and easy to skip entirely if you follow the main path without exploring.

What Simms says: At this point, Simms is going deep into her suspicions. She describes a rabbit hole of information she has uncovered — and makes it clear she no longer fully trusts what she has been told about the mission.

10. At Peace – Episode 8 (The Way Back)

This is the final and most hidden recording in the game. During Episode 8 at the Turning Point called “The Way Back,” do not take the direct route through the door. Instead, use the fuse next to the door and backtrack slightly to a vent around the corner. Go through the vent and complete the short server room puzzle using your Utility Strap. The recording is in the room you unlock at the end of the puzzle. The Obol coin needed to unlock The Curator is also on the floor nearby.

What Simms says: This final message is the most emotional. After everything she suspected and everything she discovered, Simms tries to find acceptance. It is a quiet, personal note that brings her story full circle.

For help navigating this part of the game, see our guide on how to consult or reboot the Oracle in Directive 8020.

What Do You Unlock for Collecting All Simms’ Recordings?

Finding all 10 Simms’ Recordings unlocks the Dear Mum… trophy on PlayStation and the equivalent achievement on Xbox and PC. It is one of the key collectible trophies in the game alongside the one for collecting all 50 regular secrets.

Beyond the trophy, the recordings also give you a much richer understanding of the story. Simms’ logs reveal that she suspected the Cetus Mission was compromised long before the events of the game begin. Her gradual shift from warm and casual messages to unsettled, suspicious ones is genuinely compelling storytelling.

Tips for Finding All Simms’ Recordings

• Watch for the Corinth logo. Every recording screen shows this logo before it plays. If you see it on a wall, interact with it.
• Check your pause menu. The game’s Turning Points section shows how many secrets and recordings are in each episode and sub-chapter. Use this to track what you are missing.
• Explore before advancing. Most recordings are off the main path. Take your time in every new area before triggering the next story beat.
• Use Explorer Mode to revisit. If you finish an episode and miss a recording, you can use Explorer Mode to go back without replaying the whole episode.
• The last one is hidden behind a puzzle. Recording 10 in Episode 8 is not just off the path — it requires you to go through a vent and solve a server room puzzle. Do not skip this step.

Struggling with performance while exploring? Check our Directive 8020 best PC settings guide to keep things running smoothly. And if you are curious how long a full collectible run takes, our how long to beat Directive 8020 guide has the answer.

Where to Play Directive 8020

Directive 8020 is available now on multiple platforms. You can grab it on PlayStation Store, Xbox, and Steam.

Frequently Asked Questions