| Dishonored 2 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Arkane Lyon |
| Publisher(s) | Bethesda Softworks |
| Director(s) | Harvey Smith |
| Designer(s) | Dinga Bakaba |
| Programmer(s) | Hugues Tardif |
| Artist(s) | Sébastien Mitton |
| Writer(s) |
|
| Composer(s) | Daniel Licht |
| Series | Dishonored |
| Engine | Void Engine |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | 11 November 2016 |
| Genre(s) | Action-adventure, stealth |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Dishonored 2 is a 2016 action-adventure game developed by Arkane Lyon and published by Bethesda Softworks for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. It is the sequel to 2012's Dishonored. After Empress Emily Kaldwin is deposed by the witch Delilah Copperspoon, the player may choose between playing as either Emily or her father/Royal Protector Corvo Attano as they attempt to reclaim the throne. Emily and Corvo each employ their own array of supernatural abilities, though the player can opt not to use these abilities at all. Due to the game's nonlinear gameplay, there are a multitude of ways to complete missions, from non-lethal stealth to purposeful violent conflict.
Ideas for Dishonored 2 began while developing the downloadable content of its predecessor, which spawned the decision to create a voice for Corvo Attano after being a silent character in the first installment. The advancement of the timeline was brought about once Emily Kaldwin, a child in Dishonored, was proposed as a playable character. The game's aesthetic was influenced by paintings, sculptures, architecture, fashion, and technologies around the year 1851; set in the fictional city of Karnaca, based on the Cypriot city of Larnaca, it also drew inspiration from other Mediterranean countries like Greece, Italy, and Spain. Voice actors include Rosario Dawson, Sam Rockwell, Robin Lord Taylor, Jamie Hector, Pedro Pascal, and Vincent D'Onofrio.
Dishonored 2 received positive reviews. Praise went to the improvements made since the first game such as more challenging stealth, the adaptability of Emily and Corvo's abilities to both play styles, the creative design of individual missions, the realization of the game's world, and the artificial intelligence. Criticism was directed at the storyline's lack of focus, while the PC version became subject to technical issues at launch. The game won Best Action/Adventure Game at the 2016 Game Awards and Costume Design at the 2017 NAVGTR Awards. It has since become regarded as one of the greatest games ever made. A standalone sequel, Dishonored: Death of the Outsider, was released in 2017.