Dishonored 2 returns to the setting of the 2012 hit in a first-person action spectacular that sees the return of the first game's protagonist, the silent bodyguard Corvo Attano. Corvo isn't the only protagonist, though; you can choose between him and new hero Emily Kaldwin, last seen as a youthful princess in the first game. Either character can choose to complete the game using violence, stealth, supernatural powers or other methods.

Varied challenges, varied strategies

Fans of the original Dishonored will recognize the core morality system at the heart of Dishonored 2: destabilizing the world by killing characters gains you Chaos. Accumulate enough Chaos, and you'll change the game's ending. However, you're now able to incapacitate characters without killing them, and the more complex magic system allows you to choose lethal or non-lethal power upgrades. The world is richly imagined and populated with a cast of interesting NPCs, including characters voiced by Jamie Hector, Vincent D'Onofrio, Rosario Dawson and Sam Rockwell. Perhaps most interestingly, each level has its own narrative and mechanical theme, which helps keep the action from getting repetitious.

Once more for the Empress

If you enjoyed the first Dishonored, or if you just like first-person games that give you a wide range of different options to play with, the lush production and diverse mechanics of Dishonored 2 make it a good choice.