Forget Cyberpunk 2077, this 2012 Steampunk RPG made choices and fallout feels inevitable

Dishonored came out 13 years ago, and since then it has remained a blueprint for how choice-based mechanics are done. There have been many games that have tough decision making since then Dishonored debuted, but its specific version of choice-based gameplay can be felt worldwide, making it a uniquely beautiful RPG, even over a decade later. Over the years, developers have tried to make the choices in the game more complex, and while most have been successful, Dishonored has a system that has much more depth than one might first think.

In Dishonored, your actions can quickly have dire consequences

Image via Arkane Studios

IN Dishonoredyou play as Corvo Attano, the sole bodyguard of the missing Empress Emily who is set to take the throne of Dunwall, a grim steampunk-inspired city suffering from a deadly plague.

Of course, a player's decisions that shape the outcome of a story or a character's fate are a staple of many strong RPGs, but Dishonored takes the concept and really makes it part of the atmosphere of the world. Instead of just a basic morale mechanic, Dishonoreds take on decision making is called Chaos System. The chaos system acts as a mirror of the protagonist Corvo's morality. It affects not only him, but also the world around him and ultimately the end of the game.

Sure, it's not necessarily anything new, but what sets it apart is just how drastically one's playstyle can really affect the overall outcome of the story and its characters. There are only three endings Dishonoredand they all hit hard, be they good or bad, and it all depends on Corvo's Chaos level at the end of the game.

What affects Corvo's chaos level in Dishonored?

• Killing people

• Some decisions made during side quests

On the surface, the chaos system is simple. If you kill a lot of people throughout the game, the Chaos level will increase. If Corvo kills fewer or no people, his chaos level decreases. But in addition to that, special measures must also be taken into account. For example, while playing “The Royal Physician”, Corvo meets a woman who is surrounded by a swarm of rats and later in Sokolov's house, a test subject. Saving these people will lower Corvo's chaos level, and it's just one of several instances where the protagonist can decide to save people or ignore the task. These special actions are not necessary to complete the game, but for those looking to lower chaos, they can come in handy. Consequences like these set Dishonored on some good list of good RPGs with hard choices.

Stealth makes its way Dishonored and killing as few people as possible is much easier said than done. Dishonoreds gameplay can be difficult, but it is not overly complicated. It just takes a lot of extra effort to get through the story while trying to keep Corvo a morally honorable person.

The chaos system makes the city of Dunwall feel very different with each playthrough

From the environment to how NPCs and allies interact with Corvo, Dishonored makes it reasonably clear what one's chaos level is. Ultimately a high level of chaos i Dishonored will make everything more difficult than it needs to be, but for those who like a good challenge, it can also be quite fun.

How Dishonored's chaos level affects the experience

Depending on what a player chooses, Corvo's quest to save Emily can be much more difficult and unpleasant, and it's entirely up to the player how this plays out. It might seem easier to just kill everyone throughout the story to not deal with slower, methodical stealth, but that's definitely not the case. The obstacles that high Chaos presents are only worth it if players are actually looking for extra difficulty and a dark conclusion. DishonoredThree endings can bring the story to an upbeat ending or a dark and grim finale, and while fascinating, it can be shocking to see how things turn out for Corvo and Emily.

Dishonored's three endings show the harshness of its world

Although there are three different possible endings, only one is good. So if Corvo's Chaos level isn't in good standing, players are out of luck when the final moments come. Of course, because there is one Dishonored sequel, there's obviously a canon ending, but the different story branching possibilities add fun replayability.

Dishonored's three endings explained

• The good ending — Emily takes the throne and Corvo remains her protector. Dunwall's plague is cured, ushering the city into a time of peace.
• The bad ending — Emily still takes the throne, but her rule is far from optimistic. Dunwall is still drowning in corruption and plague, leaving the city in a hopeless state.
• The even worse ending — In this outcome, Emily dies, leaving the throne without an heir, quickly causing conflict and further chaos. Plague-infected rats attack people in the streets and further spread the disease, and Corvo flees Dunwall.

There may have been many choice-based and story-driven RPGs that have wowed gamers since 2012, but Dishonored is still one of the best in this genre. It balances linear storytelling with strong RPG mechanics, and regardless of one's choice, the ending is sure to leave an impression.

Released

October 9, 2012

ESRB

M for mature 17+ due to blood and gore, intense violence, sexual themes, strong language

Engine

Unreal Engine 3