The Dishonored series, with titles like Dishonored: Death of the Outsider and The Brigmore Witches, can be a bit confusing. To clarify, here's the Dishonored game order.
Dishonored Games in Release Order
Unlike some game series, Dishonored's timeline is straightforward. There are no prequels, so the release order is also the chronological order. Here's how to play the games:
- Dishonored – 2012
- The Knife of Dunwall (Dishonored DLC) – 2013
- The Brigmore Witches (Dishonored DLC) – 2013
- Dishonored 2 – 2016
- Dishonored: Death of the Outsider – 2017
The World of Dishonored
The Dishonored games are set in a steampunk world ruled by emperors and empresses, with nations existing in uneasy peace. Magic, connected to The Void (a parallel dimension inhabited by The Outsider), grants supernatural abilities. Inventions are powered by whale oil, a potent substance derived from supernatural whales, making whaling a significant industry. The genius inventor Anton Sokolov plays a key role in this technological landscape.
Dishonored Timeline in Chronological Order
Here's a chronological breakdown of each game and DLC, with some mild spoilers:
1837 – Dishonored: In Dunwall, Empress Jessamine Kaldwin is assassinated. Corvo Attano, her bodyguard, is framed and imprisoned. He escapes with The Outsider's help, aiming to rescue Emily, clear his name, and find the true assassins. A rat-borne plague ravages the city.
1837 – Dishonored DLC The Knife of Dunwall: Playing as Daud, the empress's assassin, you embark on a quest directed by The Outsider, leading you to hunt the Brigmore Witches, including Delilah Copperspoon.
1837 – Dishonored DLC The Brigmore Witches: Daud's quest continues, revealing Delilah's attempt to possess Emily, which Daud must stop.
1852 – Dishonored 2: Emily, now empress, with Corvo as her protector, faces a new threat: Delilah Copperspoon, claiming to be the rightful heir. You play as either Corvo or Emily (the other is petrified), traveling to Karnaca to thwart Delilah's plot. The plague is gone, but a new serial killer emerges.
1852 – Dishonored: Death of the Outsider: Billie Lurk, Daud's former apprentice, rescues him from the Eyeless cult and investigates their activities.
Playing the Games in Order
While not strictly required, playing Dishonored first provides a better understanding of The Outsider and his influence, enriching the experience of subsequent games. The DLCs enhance the narrative, especially Death of the Outsider, which benefits from playing the previous DLCs to understand Billie Lurk's relationship with Daud. The Dishonored Definitive Edition includes all DLC.
Main Characters
Corvo Attano: Empress Jessamine's protector, lover, and Emily's father.
Emily Kaldwin: Corvo and Jessamine's daughter, growing from child to capable ruler.
The Outsider: A mysterious entity granting powers from The Void.
Daud: An assassin who kills Jessamine, later regretting his actions.
Billie Lurk/Meagan Foster: Daud's apprentice, becoming the protagonist of Death of the Outsider.
This article was updated on 1/21/25 to include additional information.
