Dishonored Review: A Masterclass in Immersive Stealth

Dishonored, the 2012 assassination sim from Arkane Studios and Bethesda Softworks, is a gorgeous, complex, and slick experience that remains a high-water mark for immersive sims. Even years later, the game stands out for its unique steampunk city of Dunwall and its commitment to player freedom. Whether you prefer to be a ghost or a whirlwind of chaos, the game provides the tools to let you play your way.

Freedom Through Simulation

The core of Dishonored is its refusal to force you into a single playstyle. You don't have to kill anyone, and you don't even have to hide if you’re confident in your swordplay. The game excels in its breadth, allowing you to explore chunks of the plague-infested city of Dunwall. You can sneak through rat-riddled alleys, navigate the rooftops, or loot apartments for secrets and upgrades.

The standout mechanic is Blink, a short-range teleport that makes traversal and stealth feel incredibly precise. Combined with other supernatural powers like Possession, which lets you inhabit guards or animals, the game creates a sandbox where emergent problem-solving is the norm rather than the exception. You can rewire security systems to turn Arc Pylons against your enemies or use whale-oil batteries as improvised explosives. The systems are deep, and they work together in ways that reward curiosity.

The Cost of Choice

While the game offers immense freedom, it also features a morality system that can be frustrating. The more lethal you are, the more plague zombies and rats you will encounter in later levels. The game explicitly punishes high-lethal playstyles with less satisfying endings and even features characters who will openly criticize your actions. It is a strangely sanctimonious approach for a game that provides so many inventive ways to commit murder.

Furthermore, the non-lethal path can feel repetitive. Because your arsenal of gadgets—pistols, crossbows, springrazors, and grenades—is almost entirely focused on killing, a peaceful player is left with only sleep darts and a slow chokehold. The game is at its most exciting when you have the full range of toys at your disposal, making the pacifist route feel like a self-imposed challenge rather than a fully realized alternative.

A World Worth Visiting

Despite some pacing issues in the second half of the 13-hour campaign, Dishonored remains a brilliant example of a developer being given the space to build a truly reactive world. The aesthetic—a mix of 19th-century vibes and sci-fi technology—is beautiful and unique, captured with an oil-painted art style that makes every scene feel intentional. With excellent PC-specific features like field-of-view options and responsive mouse controls, it is a title that feels right at home on the platform.