Dishonored has players assume control of Corvo Attano, a disgraced former bodyguard of the Empress, who must clear his name and rescue the Empress’s kidnapped daughter Emily. The world reacts to how the player goes about this, with Corvo’s actions having notable consequences and heavily influencing how the story ultimately concludes.
There are three main endings available in Dishonored, and if players aren’t careful, they may end up with a bleaker outcome than they were expecting. On the other hand, vengeful players might want to know how best to enact retribution against their enemies and plunge Dunwall into a dark age. Whatever players are looking for, here’s how to trigger each ending in Dishonored. Be warned – there are spoilers ahead.
About Chaos Level
What type of ending players get is largely determined by their chaos level at the end of the game. Chaos is a measure of how Corvo’s actions have affected Dunwall. High chaos can be achieved by killing lots of people and causing trouble over the course of the game. Low chaos, by contrast, is achieved by killing very few (if any) people and causing minimum collateral damage.
Different chaos levels change sections of the game as the player progresses, but more crucially, it determines how the final mission of the game, ‘The Light at the End,’ plays out. It also decides what kind of ending montage the player sees, with varying fates of the world and characters based on the actions that Corvo takes.
The Good Ending
This ending can only be achieved with a low chaos level. Samuel drops Corvo off at Kingsparrow lighthouse, and expresses approval of the way that Corvo has handled things throughout the game, saying Corvo has earned his respect. The player is then free to make their way across the island, which will be lightly guarded compared to other versions of the mission.
When reaching the top, Corvo will find Havelock ranting to himself after appearing to poison both Pendleton and Martin. He reflects on the mistakes of the conspirators, recognizing that Corvo is now coming for him and even admitting that everything has fallen apart. Even so, Havelock will still try to fight Corvo if he tries to free Emily.
If this ending is achieved, the final cutscene montage will show Emily taking the throne with Corvo at her side, guiding her as she rules in relative peace. Dunwall overcomes the plague, with Piero and Sokolov inventing a cure that propels the city into a golden age. Meanwhile, Samuel and Corvo are shown pouring drinks together in the Hound Pits Pub. Finally, Empress Emily the Wise, as she comes to be known, buries Corvo’s body in the same tomb as her mother’s. If Callista remains alive and players also saved Curnow in ‘High Overseer Campbell,’ they’ll also get a scene of the two embracing as they reunite.
The Bad Ending
This ending is achieved with a high chaos level, but it’s easy to accidentally get this one, so players should pay close attention to their chaos level throughout the game if aiming for the good ending.
In this ending, Samuel drops Corvo off at the lighthouse, but expresses disdain at Corvo’s actions, declaring Corvo the worst of them all, and demanding that he get out of his boat. The island will be in turmoil, with a storm raging as the conspirators fight among themselves. Martin has Pendleton under siege in the gatehouse, and if confronted, will run off to try and shoot himself. Pendleton, on the other hand, has taken a fatal bullet wound and is bleeding out.
Havelock is at the top of the lighthouse, struggling with Emily at the edge of a platform. To save Emily, players either need to remain undetected to eliminate Havelock, or if detected, use Blink or Bend Time to take him out before he jumps. Emily can then be rescued as she dangles from the ledge, but will tell Corvo she intended to have them all killed anyway, in a dark final note.
The final cutscene montage is noticeably bleaker, with Corvo and Emily ruling over a fractured and hostile population. Dunwall remains troubled with corruption and crime, and the plague is shown to persist, with bodies dumped on the streets to rot. Samuel is shown steering his boat in a violent storm, almost being overcome by a massive wave. Empress Emily will still visit Corvo’s grave, however, remembering fondly that when she needed him, he was there.
The Very Bad Ending
This ending is a slight deviation from the high chaos ending, with the main difference being Emily’s death. If Corvo fails to save Emily from Havelock (which happens when Corvo runs straight at Havelock instead of using any magic or ranged weapons to take him out before he jumps), Emily will fall to her death.
The cutscene montage will be even darker, showing the throne room in disarray as nobles fight over what’s left of the Empire. The plague is rampant, with swarms of rats attacking people on the streets, and tallboys massacring civilians. It is instead Corvo who presides over the grave of Emily this time, before fleeing Dunwall.
It’s also worth noting that in very high chaos runs, Samuel will not only condemn Corvo, but fire a shot in the air to warn the guards of his arrival. If Corvo chooses to kill Samuel, for this reason or any other, the ending montage will have Corvo standing solemnly over Samuel’s grave.
Dishonored is available on PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Windows.