GameTimeline

Release & story order

Dishonored timeline

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.

Updated August 2026

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Release order 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

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
    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. Pair Dishonored with startHere guidance before optional side titles.
    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.
    Should you play it?
    High-value story DLC—play before Dishonored 2. Pair Dishonored: The Knife of Dunwall with startHere guidance before optional side titles.
    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.
    Should you play it?
    Do not skip if you care about Delilah before Dishonored 2. Pair Dishonored: The Brigmore Witches with startHere guidance before optional side titles.
    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. Pair Dishonored 2 with startHere guidance before optional side titles.
    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
    Story endpoint after Dishonored 2.
    Should you play it?
    Capstone for Arkane's original Dishonored run. Pair Dishonored: Death of the Outsider with startHere guidance before optional side titles.
    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

Release order is ship dates (2012 → 2013 DLC → 2016 → 2017). Story order inserts Knife of Dunwall and Brigmore Witches between Dishonored 1 and 2—same 1837 year, Daud's perspective. Death of the Outsider follows Dishonored 2 in both.

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

For full story, yes—Knife of Dunwall and The Brigmore Witches introduce Delilah and explain threads Dishonored 2 assumes. They are mid-length campaigns, not cosmetic packs. Included in Definitive Edition.

Arkane designed Death of the Outsider as a standalone entry—Billie Lurk, shorter campaign, no chaos meter. It spoils less of 1–2 than you'd expect but hits harder if you know the Outsider and Daud. Recommended after Dishonored 2 for full saga.

Optional & related

More timelines

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