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; the release order is also the chronological order. Here's the playing order:

• Dishonored – 2012
• The Knife of Dunwall (Dishonored DLC) – 2013
• The Brigmore Witches (Dishonored DLC) – 2013
• Dishonored II – 2016
• Dishonored: Death of the Outsider – 2017

The World of Dishonored

The Dishonored games unfold in a steampunk-inspired world ruled by emperors and empresses, where nations exist in uneasy peace. Magic, linked to The Void—a mysterious parallel dimension inhabited by The Outsider—grants supernatural abilities to select individuals, though his motives remain enigmatic. Many inventions rely on whale oil, a potent substance derived from supernatural whales, thanks to the ingenuity of Anton Sokolov. You play as Corvo Attano within this unique world.

Dishonored Timeline in Chronological Order

Here's a breakdown of each game's place in the timeline, along with a brief summary (minor spoilers ahead):

1837 – Dishonored: Empress Jessamine Kaldwin is assassinated in Dunwall, and her bodyguard, Corvo Attano, is framed. He escapes with The Outsider's help, aiming to rescue 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, 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 counter Delilah's scheme. Unlike the first game, supernatural powers are optional.

1852 – Dishonored: Death of the Outsider: Billie Lurk, Daud's former apprentice, rescues him from the Eyeless cult and investigates their activities.

Playing Order Considerations

Do you need to play Dishonored before Dishonored 2? While not strictly necessary, it enhances understanding of The Outsider's influence and the overarching narrative.

Do you need to play the Dishonored DLC before Dishonored 2? The DLC is less crucial for Dishonored 2, but highly recommended before Death of the Outsider to fully appreciate Billie Lurk's connection to Daud. The Dishonored Definitive Edition includes all DLC.

Easiest playing order? Starting with Dishonored allows you to grasp the mechanics and powers before progressing, making it a slightly easier starting point.

Main Characters

(Spoilers ahead) Key characters include Corvo Attano (Jessamine's protector and father of Emily), Emily Kaldwin (empress and skilled fighter), The Outsider (enigmatic figure granting powers), Daud (assassin who killed Jessamine), and Billie Lurk (Daud's apprentice and protagonist of Death of the Outsider).

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