Dishonor – Stealth, Strategy, and Surprising Depth

Hello PGN Arcade, Panda here with another review! Today, I’m sharing my first deep dive into Dishonor, a game I picked up because of its uncanny resemblance to Thief. As a long-time fan of Thief, I’ve always craved more of that tense, sneaky gameplay, but with a richer story and larger scale. Dishonor promised exactly that and it delivered more than I expected.

Starting Out on Very Hard Mode

When I fired up the game, I decided to challenge myself right away by playing on Very Hard Mode. At first, it felt manageable. The stealth systems, puzzles, and enemy patrols seemed fair, and I thought I had made the right choice.

But everything changed the moment I faced more than three enemies at once. Suddenly, the difficulty spiked, and I realized that Very Hard isn’t just harder—it’s brutal. In this mode, combat is basically “one punch man”: take one or two hits, and you’re dead. Every mistake is punished, every slip-up costs you progress, and rushing in is the fastest way to see a game-over screen. It forced me to slow down, think carefully, and treat every encounter like a chess match.

Breaking Expectations

I’ll admit, I was hesitant about Dishonor at first. The idea of a supernatural assassin didn’t really appeal to me—I thought it might lean too heavily on flashy powers instead of grounded stealth. But I couldn’t have been more wrong.

The combination of supernatural abilities with classic stealth creates an incredible layer of strategy. It’s not just about sneaking past guards; it’s about deciding how you want to play. Do you use your powers to blink across rooftops, quietly avoiding enemies altogether? Do you set traps, lure targets, or take them out with precision? The freedom of choice makes every mission feel unique, and the parkour-inspired movement adds a satisfying flow that reminded me of Assassin’s Creed, but with a darker, more tactical edge.

A Long, Hard First Mission

My first real test of patience came with the opening map. What might take an average player a few hours ended up being a 12-hour experience for me. Part of that was deliberate—I explored every corner, hunted down map secrets, and experimented with different approaches. The other part? Death. Lots of it.

I counted at least nine failed attempts where I got too bold in combat and paid the price. But even those failures felt like lessons. Each retry taught me the importance of patience, awareness, and creative problem-solving. By the time I finally completed the map, I had a deeper appreciation for the game’s design and how it rewards careful, deliberate play.

Final Thoughts

Dishonor isn’t just a stealth game—it’s a test of strategy, creativity, and persistence. Very Hard Mode makes it punishing, but also incredibly rewarding when you succeed. The blend of stealth, parkour, and supernatural powers gives you the freedom to approach missions in your own style, and the world itself is packed with secrets waiting to be discovered.

What started as a gamble turned into one of the most surprisingly enjoyable gaming experiences I’ve had in a while. If you’re a fan of stealth and you’re looking for a game that challenges both your reflexes and your creativity, Dishonor deserves a spot on your list.

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