The Dishonored games remain highly acclaimed even 10 years after the release of the original. The series is full of dark secrets and diverse gameplay that has left fans eager to jump back into the universe.
However, the end of Dishonored 2 and its DLC have seemingly wrapped up the story of main protagonists Corvo Attano and Emily Kaldwin, meaning a third entry in the series would have to introduce a new line of characters. However, this would allow the game to move past its original setting and gives it the potential to further explore the world of Dishonored.
How Dishonored 3 Could Carry on the Story
By the end of the sequel, the player successfully restored Emily to power and all seems well with Dunwall. During the events of the Death of the Outsider DLC, Meagan Foster, also known as Billie, successfully avenges her former mentor and eventually kills the Outsider, the apparent cause of all the dark magic and chaos in the world.
Though it does seem that the story of Dishonored is wrapped up by the end of the DLC, there is a lot of potential left in the world. The mysteries of the Void are never fully explained and the elimination of the Outsider does not end the cycle but creates a new opening for his position as a guide for the protagonists.
Before his demise, the Outsider claims that he was created to be a god-like being and will likely not be the last, meaning anybody within this world could potentially take his place in the Void. Even though their storylines are finished, it would be interesting to reintroduce Corvo, Emily, or Billie as the new Outsider who grants a new protagonist power and allows players to further understand the existence of the supernatural.
A Change of Scenery From Dunwall
Most of the first two games take place in either Dunwall or Karnaca, both of which are seen as high-society, upper-class cities that have become overrun and impoverished by the plague. Though each game has different settings with a few stand-out locations, they are similar in structure and design and often have players go through areas multiple times with slight alterations.
In-game lore and maps establish a larger world outside the islands the player explores. One area, in particular, the Pandyssian Continent, is often referred to and is described as the potential origin of the magical charms and runes, as well as the origin of the rat plague that has now engulfed Dunwall. Expanding Dishonerd 3 to this unexplored continent could widely diversify the settings of each level, while also allowing players to explore the origins of magic and the plague.
Expanding Upon Dishonored's Gameplay
Arkane Studios has launched new IPs since the release of Dishonored 2, but most of its titles feature similar characteristics. These games often include some sort of magical or supernatural element as well as a morality system. The most recent entry from Arkane, Deathloop, adopted many mechanics and abilities from Dishonored but did away with the in-game morality system and instead allowed players to actively make different choices that would affect the ending. Deathloop leaned into combat and encouraged combining different weapons and abilities to achieve stylized kills without punishing the player. Another entry in Dishonored would have all the framework to add a larger variety of weapons and abilities and would benefit players by allowing them the freedom to utilize their arsenal to its full extent.
Dishonored 3 should adopt the idea of choice changing the course of the game. Though the series puts a focus on stealth, it seemingly penalized players for playing more lethally. In the first two games, if a player chooses to be chaotic, the world follows suit and also becomes more chaotic by introducing larger groups of nuisance enemies that act as more of a hindrance rather than a plot point.
Dishonored is fast-paced and fluid with plenty of variety in gameplay that perfectly suits the various different weapons and abilities. It has set up a large and interesting world that is full of questions left unanswered that could be further explored in Dishonored 3.
Dishonored 2 is available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.