An asymmetric bis(dithienylethene-acetylide) ruthenium(II) complex trans-Ru(dppe)(2)(L1o)(L2o) (loo) incorporating two different dithienylethene-acetylides (L1o and L2o) was designed to modulate multistate photochromism in view of the well separated ring-closing absorption bands between L1o and L2o. Upon irradiation with appropriate wavelengths of light, complex 1 undergoes stepwise photocyclization and selective photocycloreversion to afford four states (loo, lc, loc, and lcc). As a contrast, symmetric complexes trans-Ru(dppe)(2)(L1o)(2) (2oo) and trans-Ru(dppe)(2)(L2o)(2) (300) with two identical dithienylethene-acetylides were synthesized, and the corresponding photochromic behavior was investigated. The photochromic properties of the oxidized species (1oo(+)/1co(+)/1oc(+)/1cc(+), 2oo(+)/ 2co(+)/2cc(+), and 3oo(+)/3co(+)/3cc(+)) were also investigated. The ring-closing absorption bands of one-electron oxidized species 1oo(+), 2oo(+), and 3oo(+) show obvious blue shifts relative to those of loo, 2oo, and 3oo, respectively. The ring-closing absorption bands in both neutral and oxidized species grow progressively following oo -> oc/co -> cc and oo(+) -> oc(+)/co(+) -> cc(+). As revealed by spectroscopic, electrochemical, and computational studies, complex 1 displays eight switchable states through stepwise photocyclization, selective cycloreversion, and a reversible redox process.