Dishonored 2 earned broadly favorable reviews, with critics especially recognizing its flexible stealth-and-combat systems and inventive mission design. The reception was not unanimous: some reviewers objected to the story and character choices. On Metacritic’s snapshot accessed October 8, 2026, the PS4 and Xbox One editions each had an 88/100 critic score, while the PC edition had an 86/100.
How critics rated Dishonored 2
Metacritic classified the PS4 edition’s critic reception as “Generally Favorable.” Its platform aggregates and review counts, accessed October 8, 2026, were:
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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| 1 |
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Dishonored 2 - Xbox One | $8.44 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Dishonored 2 Limited Edition - Xbox One (Renewed) | $9.36 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Dishonored 2 - Xbox One - Standard Edition | $11.03 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Bethesda Dishonored 2 Limited Edition (Xbox One) | $12.12 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
![Xbox One - Dishonored 2 - [PAL EU - NO NTSC]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51unO3KCkgL._SL160_.jpg)
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Xbox One - Dishonored 2 - [PAL EU - NO NTSC] | $8.06 | Buy on Amazon |
| Platform | Metascore | Critic reviews |
|---|---|---|
| PS4 | 88/100 | 62 |
| Xbox One | 88/100 | 26 |
| PC | 86/100 | 42 |
These are separate platform aggregates, not a technical comparison. The snapshot does not establish why the scores differ or how the game performs on particular hardware configurations. The PS4 breakdown was 59 positive, 3 mixed and 0 negative reviews among 62 critic reviews.
Metacritic also displayed an 8.1/10 user score for PS4, based on 2,120 user ratings at the same access point. That is user-submitted reception, not a critic score; it represents those ratings rather than all players. Aggregates and counts can change.
#1 Best Overall
- The Assassins: As fully voiced characters, Emily Kaldwin and Corvo Attano now bring their own perspectives and emotional responses to the world and story.
- Supernatural Powers: Advanced bone charm crafting and all-new upgrade trees allow you to customize your powers in vastly different ways.
- Imaginative World: The world is a character in its own right, rich with story, architecture and eclectic characters.
- Challenge: Customize your gameplay options and difficulty settings for an even more tailored adventure.
- The Void Engine: Dishonored 2 is beautifully brought to life with the new Void Engine, a leap forward in rendering technology, built from id Tech and highly-customized by Arkane Studios.
What reviewers liked
Freedom of approach is the clearest recurring strength. The game lets players favor stealth, direct combat or a mixture, with different powers, weapons and gadgets supporting those choices. Bethesda’s launch announcement describes a choice between Empress Emily Kaldwin and royal protector Corvo Attano, whose distinct abilities shape how missions can be tackled.
Review excerpts also point to the level design and setting. Critics praised exploration in Karnaca and elaborate missions, with the Clockwork Mansion and a time-shifting mission cited as standouts. Bethesda’s November 2016 roundup selected positive coverage from outlets including IGN, which praised the “two unique sets of skills” and “10 themed chapters.” The roundup also quoted Game Informer calling the game a “must-play revenge tale among the best in its class.” These are examples chosen by the publisher, not a complete or independent survey of reviews.
Rank #2
- The Assassins: As fully voiced characters, Emily Kaldwin and Corvo Attano now bring their own perspectives and emotional responses to the world and story.
- Supernatural Powers: Advanced bone charm crafting and all-new upgrade trees allow you to customize your powers in vastly different ways.
- Imaginative World: The world is a character in its own right, rich with story, architecture and eclectic characters.
- Challenge: Customize your gameplay options and difficulty settings for an even more tailored adventure.
- The Void Engine: Dishonored 2 is beautifully brought to life with the new Void Engine, a leap forward in rendering technology, built from id Tech and highly-customized by Arkane Studios.
Where reviews disagreed
The positive consensus has limits, particularly around story and character. Metacritic’s excerpts include an Easy Allies review that praised freedom and powers but called the story bland and combat a weakness. The Jimquisition rated the game 50/100 and described it as a “tiresome retread,” criticizing its story and its use of a new playable character. That is a documented dissenting review, not evidence that most critics shared the view.
In its November 15, 2016 roundup, Bethesda stated that “Dishonored 2 is among the top-rated games of 2016.” That is the publisher’s promotional characterization of the reception; Metacritic’s aggregates offer a broader snapshot, while the individual reviews show why the game did not work equally well for everyone.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsRank #3
Is Dishonored 2 worth playing?
The reviews point to a strong fit for players who value experimentation: choosing a character, powers and tools, then testing different routes through carefully designed missions. The clearest reasons for hesitation are a story some critics found bland or disappointing and combat that did not satisfy every reviewer. Those are review-based observations, not a claim about how every player will respond.
Which platform’s reviews should you use?
Use the aggregate for the platform you intend to play: the October 8, 2026 Metacritic snapshot showed 88/100 on both PS4 and Xbox One, and 86/100 on PC, with different numbers of critic reviews behind each score. The two-point PC gap does not by itself show a performance problem or establish which edition is technically best. The game launched on PS4, Xbox One and PC; Bethesda announced a worldwide release of November 11, 2016, while Metacritic lists November 10, 2016 as the initial release date on its page. Those dates reflect the respective sources and should not be collapsed into one universal date.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What kind of game is it?
Dishonored 2 is an action-adventure sequel developed by Arkane Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. Its supernatural-assassin setting brings mysticism and industry together, with a choice to play as Emily Kaldwin or Corvo Attano. The core appeal reflected in reviews is the room to pursue missions through stealth, combat or a combination, with choices shaping outcomes across handcrafted levels.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Sources
- Metacritic: Dishonored 2 platform scores, critic breakdown and user ratings (snapshot accessed October 8, 2026).
- Bethesda: Dishonored 2 review roundup (November 15, 2016).
- Bethesda: Dishonored 2 launches November 11 (May 3, 2016).
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
