No, Dishonored does not have a new game plus mode.
Many players wonder, does Dishonored have a new game plus? The series is known for its replayability, encouraging different playstyles, but unfortunately, a true new game plus experience isn’t part of the core design.
You can replay missions, but you won’t be carrying over your powers or upgrades from previous playthroughs. This encourages a fresh start with each play session. While some games offer the option, Dishonored sticks to its original format of starting with an empty slate.
Does Dishonored Have a New Game Plus?
Let’s jump right into the heart of the matter: Does Dishonored, the awesome stealth-action game with cool powers, let you play again with all your stuff? The short and sweet answer is: No, the original Dishonored does not have a traditional New Game Plus (NG+) mode. That means that when you finish the game, you can’t just jump back in with all your powers, runes, and bone charms. But don’t throw your whale oil lamps out of the window just yet! There’s more to the story than a simple yes or no.
Why No Traditional New Game Plus?
It’s important to understand why Dishonored doesn’t offer a standard NG+ like some other games do. The game’s design strongly focuses on player choice, and these choices impact the story significantly. The developers at Arkane Studios wanted each playthrough to feel unique. Starting a brand new game without any upgrades forces you to rethink your approach, experiment with different powers, and possibly even make different story decisions. If you had all your powers from the start, it might take away from that feeling of figuring things out.
Think of it like this: in Dishonored, your character starts as a framed bodyguard without any special abilities, but your choices mold you. You become a master of stealth, a terrifying assassin, or something in between, based on what you did in the game. A New Game Plus would diminish the journey that the developers meant for you to experience. They designed the game in such a way that your first experience should be a journey to power. Replaying the game should feel like a new start each time.
The Intent Behind a Fresh Start
The lack of NG+ in Dishonored is actually part of the game’s brilliance. Each playthrough is designed to be a fresh experience. You need to adapt, find new ways to use your powers, and face the challenges differently. Here’s why this is actually great:
- Experimentation: Without your previous loadout, you’re pushed to try out different powers and combinations you might have overlooked before. Did you spend most of your time using Blink and Dark Vision in your first playthrough? Now you might start focusing on Possession or Bend Time to see how they change your tactics.
- Story Impact: Your actions in Dishonored change the game world and how the characters see you. Playing with a clean slate lets you make new choices and see how they alter the story. It’s very cool to see how your decisions affect the ending of the game and replay it again to change it.
- Challenge: Starting without all your upgrades and abilities increases the difficulty, providing a new challenge for experienced players. You cannot simply depend on your over-powered gear from the previous playthrough, which will ultimately help you get better.
- Replayability: While some people crave starting strong, the lack of NG+ actually boosts replayability for others. Each time you begin, it’s a true fresh experience where you aren’t just steamrolling the bad guys.
What Happens After You Beat the Game?
Okay, so there is no traditional new game plus mode. But what can you do after finishing Dishonored? Well, your save files remain intact, allowing you to return to any completed mission at any time, but remember, you are not starting the mission with your previous set of upgrades.
This way, you can:
- Revisit Missions: Go back to any mission and try different approaches. Did you sneak through the first time? Maybe now you go loud! This can help to see how the environment changes and affects the ending.
- Collectibles: Go back to search for missing Runes, Bone Charms, or paintings. This is for all completionists. Some Runes are well-hidden, so this gives you a reason to look around everywhere.
- Achievement/Trophy Hunting: You can work on getting all the achievements or trophies that you may have missed. This can take quite some time but will be fun as you complete your objectives.
Dishonored’s Approach to Replayability
Instead of a classic NG+, Dishonored encourages multiple full playthroughs. The game is designed for you to be inventive and flexible on each go. Each time you play, you should try a new way of playing. The game world reacts to your play style, and this is an exciting thing to see. This provides a more varied and engaging experience each time you decide to play it again. It’s not just about seeing the story again but experiencing the story in different ways.
Dishonored’s Unique Experience Compared to Other Games
Games with traditional New Game Plus often let you feel really strong and powerful right from the beginning. That’s fun, but it can make the game too easy. Dishonored takes a different approach by making you feel like you’re growing in power each time you play. Let’s compare it to some games that do have NG+:
| Feature | Dishonored | Games with Traditional NG+ |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Power Level | Starts with no powers. Develops over the game. | Starts with all/most powers from the end of the previous playthrough. |
| Focus | Character progression throughout each playthrough. Encourages different power sets and playstyles each time. | Power fantasy; the game may become much easier on subsequent playthroughs. |
| Replayability Style | Encourages multiple full playthroughs with different choices and styles. | Often focuses on replaying the same content with an advantage. |
| Challenge | Consistent challenge that scales. | Challenge may decrease in NG+ as you are already powerful. |
As you can see, the game is designed in such a way, that instead of giving an easy replay, the game rewards you to play and complete it in different ways. If you make a lot of noise and kill everyone on your first playthrough, then you should try the stealth method in your next attempt, and vice versa. This can be very satisfying for many players.
Dishonored DLC and Its Impact
While the core game doesn’t have a proper NG+, it’s worth mentioning that Dishonored’s DLCs, specifically “The Knife of Dunwall” and “The Brigmore Witches,” offer different perspectives and characters, with new powers and challenges. These DLCs provide a new experience within the Dishonored universe. These expansions offer a unique experience that further enhances the base game experience.
- The Knife of Dunwall: You play as Daud, the assassin who killed the Empress. This DLC provides a new story perspective, which helps you understand more about the events in the game. It includes new powers and challenges different from the base game.
- The Brigmore Witches: The continuation of Daud’s story, letting you deal with the consequences of the decisions you made in the “Knife of Dunwall”. This further expands on the narrative.
While they aren’t a traditional New Game Plus, these DLCs provide new ways to explore the game’s world and mechanics with a fresh set of abilities. The powers from base game of Dishonored are very fun to use, but with these new powers, you will experience the game in a different and exciting way. It’s a great way to get more of what you love about Dishonored.
A Look at Dishonored 2 and Death of the Outsider
It is worth noting that while the original Dishonored lacks an NG+, its sequels, Dishonored 2 and Dishonored: Death of the Outsider, do offer a form of NG+ mode. This was a welcome addition for fans. In these games, you can carry over certain elements from a previous play through to the new game plus experience. This lets you play them again using the full power from your previous playthrough.
Dishonored 2 allows you to play as either Corvo or Emily, with their own set of abilities. In addition, Death of the Outsider brings you to Billie Lurk and her interesting set of powers. These powers are so much fun to play with, and you can have an awesome time using them in new playthrough.
Fan-Made Mods for New Game Plus
The Dishonored community is creative and supportive. If you really want a New Game Plus experience in the original Dishonored, you can explore some fan-made mods. These mods can be found online through sites like Nexus Mods. These mods may have glitches or bugs because they are not official, so try these mods at your own risk. Some of these mods may add a New Game Plus option, but they are not made by the official developers and their quality may vary. These are great when you have completed the original game in every possible manner and want to experience something new. When you are using mods, always remember to be cautious and back up your save files first.
The Bottom Line
So, to wrap it all up, the first Dishonored does not have a New Game Plus mode in the traditional sense. However, its design encourages multiple playthroughs, and you can revisit any mission to achieve different results. Dishonored doesn’t need a New Game Plus mode. It wants you to start fresh. The developers wanted the game to challenge you every time you play, and its replayability comes from this approach to make you change your play style on each playthrough. If you have not yet given the game a try, then you should definitely experience the masterpiece that it is, and try all the possibilities that it offers.
Dishonored 2 – New Game Plus – What You Must Know Before You Start NG+
Final Thoughts
Yes, Dishonored does have a new game plus mode. This allows players to carry over powers and bone charms from a previous playthrough. It’s a great option for experiencing the game with unique combinations.
This feature lets you replay with enhanced abilities. Experiencing Dishonored in this way provides a fresh and more powerful experience. Does dishonored have a new game plus? Yes, absolutely, which is a must for those seeking further challenges.
