Dune: Awakening

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More than just survival, Dune: Awakening offers a large-scale, persistent and highly immersive world with social hubs bustling with other players, server-wide politics and intrigue, and a cinematic storyline that will leave you at the edge of your seat. The Fremen have vanished. Paul Atreides was never born. Lady Jessica obeyed the Bene Gesserit and gave birth to a girl. Duke Leto Atreides surviv…

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79%

Audience ScoreBased on 34,016 reviews

story1.5k positive mentions

grinding1.9k negative mentions

The game features stunning visuals and an immersive atmosphere that effectively captures the essence of the Dune universe.
The gameplay loop is engaging, with a blend of survival mechanics, base building, and exploration that keeps players constantly engaged.
The music is phenomenal and atmospheric, enhancing the overall experience and fitting perfectly within the game's setting.

The game suffers from numerous game-breaking bugs, glitches, and server issues that can lead to significant loss of progress and items.
Many players find the endgame to be excessively grindy and repetitive, diminishing the overall enjoyment and replayability.
The optimization is poor, with frequent performance issues such as stuttering and frame drops, particularly on lower-end hardware.

story
4,964 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
65%
4%
The story in "Dune: Awakening" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its immersive lore and engaging narrative that aligns with the Dune universe. However, criticisms arise regarding the repetitive nature of quests, often reduced to fetch tasks, and the abrupt ending of the main storyline, which leaves players wanting more. Additionally, some players express frustration over bugs and the requirement to enter PvP zones for certain quests, which detracts from the overall experience for those focused on PvE content.
- “The story is engaging so far, though I’ll admit that in the 30+ hours I’ve played, I’ve barely gotten past the third trial.”
- “The story is fantastic, and the graphics are stunning.”
- “The story greets the player with a mission and a mystery, then sends them off with satisfying twists.”
- “The story is dull, hard to follow, and gives you no reason to care.”
- “The main story isn't even finished in this full-priced game.”
- “The story feels extremely sparse.”
gameplay
4,020 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
56%
6%
The gameplay in "Dune: Awakening" is characterized by a blend of engaging survival mechanics, base building, and exploration, set against the backdrop of the Dune universe. Players appreciate the immersive atmosphere and the tension created by environmental hazards like sandworms and heat management, although some find the combat mechanics clunky and repetitive. While the early game offers a satisfying loop of resource gathering and crafting, many players express concerns about the endgame, which heavily emphasizes PvP and can feel unbalanced or frustrating, particularly for solo players. Overall, the game has potential but requires further refinement to enhance the gameplay experience.
- “The gameplay loop is incredibly addictive.”
- “Base building, survival mechanics, and character progression are amazingly fun!”
- “The blend of PvP, PvE, and deep resource-driven gameplay keeps you constantly engaged, whether you're harvesting spice, building a base, or battling rival factions.”
- “Mechanically, the combat is a little basic, especially melee combat, lacking depth overall.”
- “It's been a month since release, and each week I still struggle to get through gameplay without encountering some game-quitting frustration.”
- “The gameplay quickly becomes a grind of gathering materials and flying around, and not much else.”
grinding
1,942 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
2%
97%
The grinding aspect of "Dune: Awakening" has received mixed feedback from players. Many find the resource gathering and crafting processes to be excessively tedious, especially in the late game, where the need for materials can feel overwhelming and repetitive. While some players appreciate the immersive experience and the satisfaction of building and upgrading, others express frustration over losing hard-earned items due to bugs or PvP encounters, leading to a sense of wasted effort. Overall, the game is characterized as grind-heavy, appealing primarily to those who enjoy extensive farming and crafting mechanics.
- “It's rewarding and not grindy, and take it from the guy who got to at least duraluminum three separate times while only having two or three hours to play a day if I played at all because of lots of family time and 40-48 hour work weeks.”
- “Resource gathering feels natural and not grindy at all.”
- “Haven't reached end game yet but the PvE progression so far has been incredible, not too grindy but not quick either (except for building materials which is a plus, you can build as much as you want without having to farm hours for it) so everything feels very rewarding.”
- “A big waste of time; you will enjoy your first 40 hours, but after that, you will realize all this game is, is a farming simulator.”
- “You can spend an entire day farming, then all the resources you have farmed will disappear due to a bug.”
- “The endgame is extremely grindy for no reason other than to pad gameplay time, and it's just a complete lack of respect for people's time.”
graphics
1,567 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
42%
3%
The graphics of "Dune: Awakening" have received a mixed reception from players. Many praise the stunning visuals and immersive atmosphere that effectively capture the essence of the Dune universe, with particular commendation for the detailed environments and sound design. However, numerous players have reported performance issues, including graphical glitches, stuttering, and optimization problems, especially on lower-end hardware, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “The graphics and setting are excellent.”
- “The graphics are stunning, with a strikingly detailed world that captures the essence of Frank Herbert's iconic universe.”
- “The visuals are breathtaking, capturing both the stark beauty and the deadly hostility of the dune universe with cinematic detail.”
- “The graphics feel a generation old, lifeless and dull—hardly worthy of the Dune legacy.”
- “I heard a lot of nonsense about how 'cinematic' this game looks, but it is honestly truly graphically outdated: it has poor texture quality, low attention to detail, horrible shadow/lighting quality (especially on characters) everywhere is bland and repetitive, plenty of visual bugs.”
- “The graphics are straight out of 2010.”
stability
1,313 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
1%
94%
The stability of "Dune: Awakening" has been widely criticized, with players reporting numerous game-breaking bugs, glitches, and server issues that can lead to significant loss of progress and items. While some users note that the developers are actively working on patches, many feel that the game is currently too unstable and buggy to recommend, especially given the potential for losing hours of gameplay due to these issues. Overall, the consensus is that the game is a frustrating experience marred by technical problems, making it difficult to enjoy the gameplay fully.
- “I have to congratulate the devs for concentrating on taking the time to make a game that's solid and bug-free on the day of release, and they have certainly done that.”
- “Game is relatively bug-free and has little performance problems; the amount of content at launch with the base game is significant, and the gameplay loop is engaging.”
- “Incredibly fun, looks great, and runs great!”
- “Tldr: multiple game-breaking bugs, glitches that allow others to steal from you, lose tens to hundreds of hours of progress, and it's pretty quiet on the dev front.”
- “The game is super buggy; we lost a storage container full of in-game currency worth 300 hours combined, and two days later we lost a stack full of 'spice melange' that was another item that took hours upon hours worth of grind.”
- “I've lost so many resources to bugs and glitches; it's just not worth it to recover anymore.”
optimization
902 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
53%
26%
The optimization of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting severe performance issues such as frequent stuttering, frame drops, and lag, particularly during high-action scenarios or in populated areas. While some users with high-end rigs experience smoother gameplay, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, often requiring significant adjustments to settings just to achieve playable performance. Many reviewers recommend waiting for substantial optimization patches before purchasing, as the current state is deemed unacceptable for a game of this scale.
- “The game has a few minor problems, but only one I see being a problem for most players is performance, as I had some frame drops in certain areas; however, I wouldn't say it's bad enough to write the game off completely.”
- “The optimization is good and the storytelling feels organic.”
- “Overall, a solid 8/10 as there are very little bugs, graphics are tight, no performance issues thus far, and everything functions as I would expect.”
- “This game is the most unoptimized shit I ever played, and when you have a mechanic where you can die and lose everything if you stay out on the sand too long, the servers shouldn't be lagging and freezing constantly. When they finally catch up, you're dead because you can't tell what actions actually registered with the server.”
- “Performance will be poop on lower-end hardware unless you enable the laptop option in the graphic settings, which guts the engine of graphical effects.”
- “The performance is a joke. It's baffling why they opted for a full-blown MMO instead of a more focused solo or co-op experience with dedicated PvP zones, which might have better served the game's vision and performance.”
atmosphere
651 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
38%
The atmosphere in "Dune: Awakening" is widely praised for its immersive and authentic representation of the Dune universe, capturing the harsh beauty of Arrakis through stunning visuals, sound design, and environmental details. Players appreciate the tension created by dynamic elements like sandstorms and the presence of sandworms, which enhance the survival experience. Overall, the game is noted for its ability to draw players into a richly atmospheric world that feels alive and true to the source material.
- “The atmosphere is incredible—harsh, immersive, and true to the Dune universe.”
- “Dune: Awakening nails it — the atmosphere, the scale, the tension of surviving on Arrakis... it all just hits different.”
- “The atmosphere is absolutely surreal – the wind, the sand, the scale, the silence between chaos.”
- “Even the atmosphere — which should have been an easy win — falls flat.”
- “Game doesn't respect your time and assumes everyone including non-lore lovers will enjoy the traversal over a bunch of sand with barely any scenery or atmosphere to take in.”
- “Everyone else, your mileage will vary based on your tolerance for the 5000 annoyances the game will throw at you and the general bland environment/atmosphere the game provides.”
music
383 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
41%
2%
The music in "Dune: Awakening" has received widespread acclaim for its immersive quality and ability to enhance the game's atmosphere, effectively capturing the essence of the Dune universe. Players appreciate the dynamic soundtrack, which includes original compositions and nostalgic tracks from previous Dune games, as well as the in-game radio stations that add depth to the experience. However, some users have noted occasional issues with looping combat music and volume spikes, but overall, the music is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's engaging environment.
- “The music is phenomenal, atmospheric and fits the setting perfectly, there's really nothing else to be said.”
- “The atmosphere, the music and the environmental impact on how things hit you is phenomenal.”
- “The soundtrack fits perfectly, and the sound design really helps immerse you in the desert.”
- “Combat music can sometimes bug out and loop endlessly, forcing a logout/login to fix it, which is annoying.”
- “There are also volume spikes where the music suddenly blasts at full volume.”
- “The only big complaint I have is the music is lackluster and could use the movieverse soundtrack.”
humor
140 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
4%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with players finding both intentional and unintentional comedic moments throughout their experiences. Many highlight the amusing interactions with sandworms and the chaotic nature of PvP encounters, while others point out the game's glitches and bugs that lead to funny situations. However, some players feel that the humor can be forced or detracts from the overall experience, especially when it comes to repetitive dialogue and attempts at dark humor that don't resonate well. Overall, the game offers a blend of hilarity and frustration, making for memorable moments, especially when played with friends.
- “The nods to the novels have been perfectly executed in my opinion and I just can't stop laughing every time I see a donkey in a stillsuit, chef's kiss!”
- “The pseudo MMO style of the game is also very cool; there is nothing more hilarious than sitting up on a cliff with binoculars watching other players get eaten by the sandworms.”
- “Fleeing sandworms is as hilarious and lethal as I expected.”
- “It's not funny and it's not cool to do it to make people rage.”
- “The end game is just broken in so many ways it's not funny.”
- “This game is so cooked it's not funny; they have a solid foundation but they are catering to the bad players who want everything handed to them like every other trash game out there now.”
monetization
105 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
21%
73%
The monetization aspect of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players feeling misled by advertising that promised optional PvP but ultimately forced players into PvP zones for essential resources. While some reviews note the absence of microtransactions, others describe the game as a cash grab that capitalizes on the Dune franchise without delivering on its promises, leading to a perception of exploitation rather than genuine engagement with the player base. Overall, the sentiment reflects frustration over misleading marketing and a lack of meaningful content updates, raising concerns about the developers' commitment to the community.
- “No microtransactions.”
- “Incredible value for the amount of content here, especially considering there’s no subscription fee or microtransactions!”
- “Love the model of no subscription and no pay-to-win microtransactions.”
- “You’re not a player to them — you’re a quick cash grab.”
- “It feels like a cash grab.”
- “This is a cash grab for devs and their money hungry company.”
emotional
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
Players express a wide range of emotional responses to the game, from deep affection and moments of heartwarming connection to feelings of frustration and heartbreak due to gameplay issues and loss of progress. While some find the emotional impact of the story and world-building engaging, others are left feeling drained and disappointed by technical problems and the harsh realities of survival mechanics. Overall, the emotional experience is described as both rewarding and punishing, with many players feeling a strong attachment to the game despite its flaws.
- “In truth, the strong emotional reactions many players have toward Dune: Awakening likely stem from a deep affection for the game itself.”
- “Some moments hit emotionally in a way I haven’t felt from games in years.”
- “The story is great, it's emotional, it gives you different dialogue options that could end a quest early or take you on a crazy side quest.”
- “I would have forgiven the game for its poor audio design, bad voice acting, and horrendously boring story if the game weren't such a hot, steaming pile, buggy mess.”
replayability
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
70%
8%
The reviews on replayability for the game are mixed, with some players praising its potential due to diverse factions, unique gear, and engaging survival mechanics, while others criticize the current state of endgame content and repetitive gameplay. Many express hope for improvements that could enhance replay value, particularly in PvP and crafting systems, but some feel that once certain milestones are reached, the incentive to replay diminishes significantly. Overall, while there are elements that could support high replayability, the game's current issues leave many players feeling disappointed.
- “This game does not get old and is very replayable, especially when you have friends.”
- “What sets Dune: Awakening apart is its high replayability, with a wide range of unique gear and items to collect.”
- “The world feels alive, the crafting and base building are deep, and the clan dynamics add serious long-term replay value.”
- “Quests are pretty good, but for one playthrough, I would not do them again, so there is no replayability.”
- “To top it off, the endgame is not replayable. Once you've achieved MK 6, raided a base, and dueled it out on the ground at least once, I think to myself, why do it again? It doesn't feel good.”
- “However, there is no replay value right now, so once you've done it, you've done it.”
character development
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
47%
18%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its depth and unique build paths, particularly through mentor choices that significantly influence gameplay style. However, others criticize the lack of RPG elements and the overall quality of character and NPC design, suggesting it falls short of expectations for a AAA title in 2025. While many appreciate the immersive world and engaging character progression, there are calls for deeper narrative choices and more impactful development in future updates.
- “Rich character development: the characters are well-developed and each brings something unique to the table.”
- “Fantastic base-building, immersive and unique character development, and a seamless open world.”
- “Great progression, challenging gameplay, and interesting character development make this a worthwhile game to play.”
- “A bare-bones storyline stretched out between the most tedious fetch quests, with poor NPC and character design unworthy of a triple-A studio delivering a game in 2025.”
- “There are not enough RPG aspects to character development.”
- “The core narrative is interesting and full of potential, but I’d love to see deeper character development and more impactful story choices in future updates or expansions.”