Overview
Thief meets superpowers. Dishonored gave players Corvo Attano’s revenge quest alongside the Outsider’s supernatural gifts—Blink teleportation, possession, time manipulation. Each assassination target offered lethal and non-lethal options. The chaos system tracked violence, affecting world state and ending. Arkane proved immersive sims still had commercial potential.
Fast facts
- Developer: Arkane Studios.
- Directors: Raphael Colantonio, Harvey Smith.
- Year: 2012.
- Setting: Dunwall (steampunk empire).
Supernatural abilities
| Power |
Function |
| Blink |
Short teleportation |
| Dark Vision |
See through walls |
| Possession |
Control creatures/people |
| Bend Time |
Time manipulation |
Chaos system
| Level |
Consequence |
| Low chaos |
Fewer enemies, better ending |
| High chaos |
More rats, plague, bleaker world |
| Non-lethal |
Specific options per target |
| Player reflection |
Actions have weight |
Level design philosophy
| Element |
Purpose |
| Multiple routes |
Player choice |
| Verticality |
Blink exploitation |
| Secrets |
Exploration reward |
| Replayability |
Different approaches |
Creative solutions
| Example |
Method |
| Target possession |
Walk them to death |
| Rat swarms |
Indirect killing |
| Environmental |
Accidents, traps |
| Ghost runs |
Never seen |
Series continuation
| Title |
Year |
| Dishonored |
2012 |
| Dishonored 2 |
2016 |
| Death of the Outsider |
2017 |
See also