Overview
#Dishonored emerged October 2012 as Arkane Studios’ steampunk assassination immersive sim. The Thief/Deus Ex-inspired game empowered players to choose chaos (lethal) or stealth (ghost), sold 10+ million copies across trilogy, and established Arkane as the immersive sim kings (Prey 2017, Deathloop 2021).
The Design
Play as Corvo Attano (framed for Empress murder) or Emily Kaldwin (Dishonored 2). Blink teleport, supernatural powers, creative kills (possess rats, stop time, summon swarms). Chaos system: high chaos = plague rats, dark ending; low chaos = redemption. Every mission: 10+ approaches.
Legacy
The Outsider’s Mark, Corvo’s mask iconography, whale oil punk aesthetic, and Dunwall’s Victorian plague city. Dishonored 2 (2016) added Emily, Clockwork Mansion level (masterpiece), and Karnaca setting. Death of the Outsider (2017) standalone. The trilogy sold 30+ million total. Arkane’s golden era before Redfall disaster (2023).
Sources:
- Bethesda sales: https://bethesda.net/en/article/dishonored-celebrates-10-million-players
- Eurogamer retrospective: https://www.eurogamer.net/