Set in the medieval city of Dunwall in the 1800s, a group of conspirators have taken over the city by assassinating Empress Jessamine Kaldwin, driving the city into chaos. A "Rat Plague" has spread throughout town causing the infected citizens to weep blood and become violent, further isolating the rich but killing the poor. The new government is a cruel regime ruled by the Lord Regent, Hiram Burrows, who masterminded the assassination of the Empress and blamed Corvo Attano, her bodyguard for it. Take control of deadly assassin, Corvo, and avenge the Empress of her murder while redeeming your name and making choices that will change the fate of the city of Dunwall.

Sneak your way past guards, or leave a line of corpses on the way - the choice is yours. Through an adventurous, yet sinister city, Dishonored will take players through a dark journey modeled on London and Edinburgh in the 1800s - 1900s where technology and supernatural forces coexist.