How To Play the Dishonored Games in Order

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 series, Dishonored's timeline is straightforward; the release order is also chronological. Here's the optimal play order:

• 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 unfold in a steampunk world ruled by emperors and empresses, existing in a fragile peace. Magic, connected to The Void—a parallel dimension inhabited by The Outsider—grants supernatural abilities, but its origins and purposes remain enigmatic. Many inventions run on whale oil, a potent substance derived from supernatural whales, thanks to the ingenuity of Anton Sokolov. This reliance on whale oil heavily influences the world's economy and technology.

Dishonored Timeline in Chronological Order

Here's a chronological breakdown of each game and DLC, with minor spoilers:

1837 – Dishonored: In Dunwall, Empress Jessamine Kaldwin is assassinated, and her bodyguard, Corvo Attano, is framed. Aided by The Outsider, Corvo must rescue the Empress's daughter, Emily, clear his name, and expose the true assassins amidst a city-wide rat plague.

1837 – Dishonored DLC The Knife of Dunwall: Playing as Daud, the Empress's assassin, summoned by The Outsider, you embark on a quest to track down 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 thwart.

1852 – Dishonored 2: Emily, now Empress, is targeted by Delilah Copperspoon, who claims to be the rightful heir. You play as either Corvo or Emily (the other is petrified), traveling to Karnaca to counter Delilah's plot.

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 enhances your understanding of The Outsider and his influence. The DLC is less crucial for Dishonored 2, but recommended before Death of the Outsider for a deeper appreciation of Billie Lurk and her relationship with Daud. The Dishonored Definitive Edition (PS4, Xbox One, PC) includes all DLC.

Main Characters

(Spoilers ahead) Key characters include Corvo Attano, Emily Kaldwin, The Outsider, Daud, and Billie Lurk.

This article was updated on 1/21/25 to include additional information about the order of the Dishonored games.