How To Play the Dishonored Games in Order

Before we go any further, it’s helpful to know a little more about this game’s world. Here, then, is a summary of Dishonored‘s setting.

The Dishonored games take place in a Steampunk-style world. It’s ruled by emperors and empresses, and, at best, nations have an uneasy peace. Magic exists, but it’s not as prevalent as in your average Dungeons and Dragons universe. It’s tied to The Void, a mysterious parallel dimension whose current inhabitant is The Outsider. He can bestow supernatural abilities on others, and his motivations for doing so are unclear.

Many of the realm’s inventions are fuelled by whale oil, and devised by a genius by the name of Anton Sokolov. The world’s use of electricity relies heavily on whale oil, which is why whaling is such a massive trade in this world. Whales are supernatural creatures, so their “oil” is even more potent than it is in our world.

As Corvo Attano, you step into this strange world.

Dishonored Timeline in Chronological Order

So, just where does each Dishonored game and DLC fit on the games’ timeline and what happens? Here’s an explanation, alongside a summary of each game, with a little help from the Dishonored Wiki. However, be warned, there’ll be some mild spoilers here.

1837 – Dishonored: In the city of Dunwall, Empress Jessamine Kaldwin is assassinated. Corvo Attano, her bodyguard, is blamed for her assassination and falsely imprisoned. Played by you, he escapes with help from The Outsider and seeks to rescue Jessamine’s daughter, Emily, clear his name, and bring the real killers to justice. The city is also in the middle of a plague, apparently carried by rats.

1837 – Dishonored DLC The Knife of Dunwall: You play Daud, the assassin who killed the empress. He is summoned by The Outsider and goes on a quest to track down The Brigmore Witches, which includes Delilah Copperspoon, one of Empress Jessamine’s former friends.

1837 – Dishonored DLC The Witches of Brigmore: Daud’s quest continues, discovering that Delilah is attempting to supernaturally possess Jessamine’s daughter Emily, which Daud must foil.

1852 – Dishonored 2: Emily, now grown up, is the current empress, with Corvo serving as her bodyguard. The plague is gone but a serial killer is on the loose, and some suspect it’s actually Corvo, dispatching Emily’s enemies. One difference between this and Dishonored is that you don’t have to use supernatural powers at all.

Delilah Copperspoon arrives, claiming to be the late empress’s sister and, hence, the rightful heir to the throne. You play either Corvo or Emily, and the other is turned to stone. As that character, you fleet to the city of Karnaca and attempt to combat her plot.

1852 – Dishonored: Death of the Outsider: You’re Billie Lurk, one of Daud’s former followers. She rescues Daud from a cult known as the Eyeless, and proceeds to investigate their activities.

Related: How to Play the Dragon Age Games in Order

Do You Need to Play Dishonored Before Dishonored 2?

You don’t absolutely have to, but it helps. One of the common themes running throughout the game is the presence of The Outsider. Playing Dishonored will familiarize you with both the character and his influence on the world.

Do You Need to Play Dishonored’s DLC Before Dishonored 2?

Dishonored’s DLC is less essential if you’re about to play Dishonored 2. However, I would recommend you play it if you’re going to play Death of the Outsider because it’ll give you a greater understanding of who Billie Lurk is and her attachment to Daud.

If you buy the Definitive Edition of Dishonored, available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, you’ll get the DLC included anyway. And yes, we know there have been some shoddy pieces of DLC over the years (we’re looking at you, Dead Rising 4: Frank Rising). But from a gameplay and story standpoint, Dishonored’s DLC is absolutely worth your time.

Is It Easier to Play the Dishonored Games in Any Particular Order?

All the Dishonored games familiarize you with their mechanics. But, ultimately, Dishonored is a good place to start, since it’ll give you an appreciation of how the powers given to you by The Outsider work and their limitations. So, it’s slightly easier if you start with Dishonored and play the games in release order.

Who Are the Main Characters in the Dishonored Series?

We’re going to get into serious spoilers here, so you might not want to read ahead if you’ve not played the games. But here are the major players in Dishonored.

Corvo Attano: Corvo is Dishonored’s protagonist and Empress Jessamine Kaldwin’s Royal Protector and Spymaster. At least, publicly. He’s also her lover and the father of her daughter, Emily Kaldwin.

Emily Kaldwin: Corvo and Jessmine’s daughter, she has an interest in learning to be more like her father, but she’s still just a child in the first game. By the time the second game rolls around, she’s a capable fighter and diplomat.

The Outsider: The Outsider is a nameless character who dwells in The Void, deciding who gets to channel its power. He’s not an enemy, by any means, but his motives are inscrutable.

Daud: Another Outsider-powered character, he’s the leader of a group of assassins and ultimately kills Jessamine Kaldwin, though he later regrets his actions.

Billie Lurk / Meagan Foster: Daud’s apprentice and later second in command, they don’t always see eye to eye, but she has a strong attachment to him. She becomes the main protagonist of Dishonored: Death of the Outsider.

And that’s how to play the Dishonored games in order.

The above article was updated on 1/21/25 by the original author to include additional information about the order of the Dishonored games.