GameTimeline

Release & story order

Dishonored games in order

Plan Dishonored games in order here—Release ship dates and Story chronology including Knife of Dunwall and Brigmore Witches. Arkane Studios' Dishonored from the 2012 stealth debut through Dishonored 2 and Death of the Outsider—US release dates, Dunwall-to-Karnaca chronology, Daud DLC placement, and where to start in 2026. Release covers ship dates: When Arkane shipped each chapter—Dishonored (October 2012), Knife of Dunwall and The Brigmore Witches DLC (2013), Dishonored 2 (November 2016), Death of the Outsider (September 2017). Story follows fiction: Empire of the Isles chronology: Corvo's Dishonored 1 → Daud's Knife of Dunwall → Brigmore Witches → Dishonored 2 (Emily or Corvo) → Billie Lurk in Death of the Outsider. Use Start Here and Essentials for a 2026 default path; FAQ covers remasters, spin-offs, and skip costs.

Updated August 2026

Pick your path:

Full release list Story order

Release order

When Arkane shipped each chapter—Dishonored (October 2012), Knife of Dunwall and The Brigmore Witches DLC (2013), Dishonored 2 (November 2016), Death of the Outsider (September 2017).

  • Newcomers → Dishonored Definitive Edition → Dishonored 2 → Death of the Outsider
  • Include Knife of Dunwall + Brigmore Witches between 1 and 2 for full Daud arc
  • Death of the Outsider → valid standalone if you skip 1–2 (spoilers reduced)
  • Low vs high chaos changes endings—not separate story-order titles
Story order tips

Empire of the Isles chronology: Corvo's Dishonored 1 → Daud's Knife of Dunwall → Brigmore Witches → Dishonored 2 (Emily or Corvo) → Billie Lurk in Death of the Outsider.

  • Core path: Dishonored 1 → Knife of Dunwall → Brigmore Witches → Dishonored 2 → Death of the Outsider
  • Dishonored 2 → play as Emily (canon sequel lead) or Corvo
  • Death of the Outsider → Billie vs the Outsider—closes the Void arc
  • On Story order, late-game entries may be hidden—reveal when ready

Timeline

0/5 played

When each game was released. Click a game for platforms, dates, and where it fits in your playthrough.

Release order

  1. Dishonored

    Dishonored

    PCPS3Xbox 360StealthMainlineImmersive sim

    Dishonored (2012) casts Corvo as a supernatural assassin in plague-era Dunwall—chaos stealth from Arkane. Release tab year here is 2012.

    Overview
    Blink traversal, non-lethal options, and systemic AI that reacts to your body count. Sequel debates still measure new games against what Dishonored established.
    In-game setting
    Dishonored (2012) casts Corvo as a supernatural assassin in plague-era Dunwall—chaos stealth from Arkane. Saga start. Add Knife/Brigmore DLC for Daud before Dishonored 2.
    Should you play it?
    Essential immersive-sim entry. Cousins: BioShock, Elder Scrolls stealth-adjacent RPGs.
    Release date
    US October 9, 2012. Platforms called out for this beat: PC, PS3, Xbox 360.
  2. Dishonored: The Knife of Dunwall

    Dishonored: The Knife of Dunwall

    PCPS3Xbox 360ExpansionStory

    The Knife of Dunwall plays as Daud during Corvo's timeline—Whaler contracts and moral mirrors. Release tab year here is 2013.

    Overview
    Assassin-protagonist DLC expanding Dunwall's underworld. Sequel debates still measure new games against what Dishonored: The Knife of Dunwall established.
    In-game setting
    Pair with Brigmore Witches; Story merges both Daud campaigns. The Knife of Dunwall plays as Daud during Corvo's timeline—Whaler contracts and moral mirrors.
    Should you play it?
    High-value story DLC—play before Dishonored 2. Treat Dishonored: The Knife of Dunwall as required story only when Start Here or FAQ marks the expansion as mandatory.
    Release date
    US April 16, 2013 (requires Dishonored). Platforms called out for this beat: PC, PS3, Xbox 360.
  3. Dishonored: The Brigmore Witches

    Dishonored: The Brigmore Witches

    PCPS3Xbox 360ExpansionStory

    The Brigmore Witches finishes Daud's arc against Delilah—direct follow-up to Knife of Dunwall. Release tab year here is 2013.

    Overview
    Closes the Whaler saga and seeds Delilah for later games. Sequel debates still measure new games against what Dishonored: The Brigmore Witches established.
    In-game setting
    Required with Knife for full Daud story-order titles context. The Brigmore Witches finishes Daud's arc against Delilah—direct follow-up to Knife of Dunwall.
    Should you play it?
    Do not skip if you care about Delilah before Dishonored 2. Treat Dishonored: The Brigmore Witches as required story only when Start Here or FAQ marks the expansion as mandatory.
    Release date
    US August 13, 2013. Platforms called out for this beat: PC, PS3, Xbox 360.
  4. Dishonored 2

    Dishonored 2

    PCPS4Xbox OneStealthMainlineImmersive sim

    Dishonored 2 moves to Karnaca with Corvo or Emily—Clockwork Mansions and denser powers. Release tab year here is 2016.

    Overview
    Dual protagonists, non-lethal inventiveness, and legendary level design set pieces. Sequel debates still measure new games against what Dishonored 2 established.
    In-game setting
    After Dunwall + Daud DLC. Continue into Death of the Outsider. Continuity with Dishonored 2 is easiest if you play neighboring required titles first.
    Should you play it?
    Main sequel—play Daud DLC first for Delilah context. Follow Start Here if you want the shortest 2026 checklist that still includes this chapter.
    Release date
    US November 11, 2016. Platforms called out for this beat: PC, PS4, Xbox One.
  5. Dishonored: Death of the Outsider

    Dishonored: Death of the Outsider

    PCPS4Xbox OneStealthStandaloneImmersive sim

    Death of the Outsider follows Billie Lurk against the Void's god—standalone-leaning finale to the Dunwall era. Release tab year here is 2017.

    Overview
    Contract structure and powers that break older stealth rules. Sequel debates still measure new games against what Dishonored: Death of the Outsider established.
    In-game setting
    Death of the Outsider follows Billie Lurk against the Void's god—standalone-leaning finale to the Dunwall era. Story endpoint after Dishonored 2.
    Should you play it?
    Capstone for Arkane's original Dishonored run. Follow Start Here if you want the shortest 2026 checklist that still includes this chapter.
    Release date
    US September 15, 2017. Platforms called out for this beat: PC, PS4, Xbox One.

FAQ

Release vs story order, DLC between 1 and 2, low-chaos routes, and Arkane cousins.

Release order

US ship order: Dishonored (October 9, 2012) → Knife of Dunwall DLC (April 16, 2013) → The Brigmore Witches DLC (August 13, 2013) → Dishonored 2 (November 11, 2016) → Death of the Outsider (September 15, 2017). Definitive Edition bundles 1 + both DLC for modern stores.

Full saga: Dishonored (Definitive Edition) → Knife of Dunwall → The Brigmore Witches → Dishonored 2 → Death of the Outsider. Shortcut: Dishonored 2 alone works mechanically; DotO is marketed standalone but hits harder after 2. Story order inserts Daud's DLC between 1 and 2 in the same 1837 year.

Full saga: Dishonored (Definitive Edition) → Knife of Dunwall → Brigmore Witches → Dishonored 2 → Death of the Outsider. Shortcut: Dishonored 2 alone works mechanically; DotO is marketed standalone but rewards full lore.

Story & DLC

Dishonored 1 and its Daud DLC chapters are set in 1837 in the Empire of the Isles (Dunwall and surrounding regions). Dishonored 2 jumps to 1852 in Karnaca. Death of the Outsider follows immediately after 2 in the same era. Release order differs only by ship dates (2012–2017)—Story order follows these fiction years.

Optional & related

More timelines

Other release-order and story-order guides on this site.