Dune: Imperium

96%
Game Brain Score Based on 2,695 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
Dune: Imperium Game Cover
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Dune: Imperium is a strategy game that combines deck-building and worker placement mechanics, allowing players to experience the politics and battles of the Dune universe. Compete against AI or human opponents in various game modes, complete challenges, and battle for badges in the ever-changing Skirmish Mode. Your choices will determine the fate of the Empire as you navigate the dangerous alliances and betrayals of Arrakis.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

96%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,695 reviews
gameplay86 positive mentions
stability12 negative mentions
  • Excellent digital adaptation of a beloved board game, maintaining the core mechanics while streamlining gameplay.
  • The user interface is intuitive and visually appealing, making it easy for both new and experienced players to navigate.
  • Challenging AI and various game modes, including solo challenges and skirmishes, provide high replayability.
  • Currently lacks expansions, which limits gameplay variety and depth compared to the physical version.
  • AI can sometimes make questionable decisions, leading to frustration for players seeking a more competitive experience.
  • The online multiplayer experience can be hindered by connection issues and a lack of a robust ranking system.
  • gameplay218 mentions

    The gameplay of Dune: Imperium is praised for its intricate blend of worker placement, deck-building, and resource management mechanics, offering a deep and strategic experience that remains engaging throughout. Players appreciate the smooth digital adaptation, intuitive interface, and helpful tutorial, which enhance the overall experience, although some mechanics can feel punishing or poorly explained. Overall, the game successfully captures the thematic essence of Frank Herbert's universe while providing a rich and competitive gameplay environment that encourages strategic thinking and adaptability.

    • “This game shines in its ability to balance deep strategic gameplay with the rich lore of Frank Herbert’s classic novel.”
    • “The core mechanics of Dune: Imperium are a well-crafted blend of worker placement, card management, and area control.”
    • “The gameplay always offers lots of interesting and impactful choices.”
    • “The mechanics don't make much sense, and are boring.”
    • “The game mechanics are quite punishing; if you get last in turn order and bad cards, you waste an hour with no real chance to win.”
    • “Mechanics are so poorly explained that it makes it impossible to play (even after playing through the tutorial).”
  • graphics107 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their exceptional quality, featuring stunning artwork and a well-designed user interface that enhances gameplay without distraction. Players appreciate the faithful adaptation of the board game's aesthetics, complemented by atmospheric music and smooth animations that immerse them in the Dune universe. While some reviewers noted a desire for more thematic visuals, the overall consensus is that the graphics and sound design are top-notch, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “The game's production quality is exceptional, with stunning artwork and components that truly immerse players in the world of Dune.”
    • “From the moment you start, you're greeted with stunning visuals and atmospheric music that instantly transports you to the harsh desert world of Arrakis.”
    • “The attention to detail in the artwork and animations is commendable, bringing the iconic factions and characters to life in vivid detail.”
    • “Ps: the artwork needs to be more 'polished' and up to date with the actors from Dune Part 2.”
    • “My only gripes are that the graphics are a bit limited; I wish that there were more thematic visuals that would enhance the atmosphere instead of just representing the pure physical board game.”
    • “As mentioned, the graphics are a bit static but optimized for a maximum amount of information and just a representation of the board game.”
  • music83 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric and ambient qualities, effectively complementing the visuals and enhancing the overall experience. While some users desire a more epic or varied soundtrack, many appreciate the non-intrusive nature of the music, which allows for personal soundtracks to be played alongside. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing to its immersive world-building.

    • “From the moment you start, you're greeted with stunning visuals and atmospheric music that instantly transports you to the harsh desert world of Arrakis.”
    • “It's like a personalized soundtrack for your game session, where sudden outbursts give you an adrenaline rush and sharpen your senses.”
    • “Not only that, the digital transposition is delightful to say the least: great soundtrack, great graphics, great mechanics, useful tutorial ... everything works, sounds and looks so damn good.”
    • “Visually, while it faithfully recreates the physical board game and is perfectly functional, it has practically no animations or exciting music. I think the game could be more flashy and exciting without losing focus on the strategy.”
    • “The music is suitable but nondescript; who cares about that when you'll probably just put on your own music anyway.”
    • “There is some neat background music, but don't expect the world here.”
  • replayability35 mentions

    The game boasts exceptional replayability, driven by its unique deck-building mechanics, diverse challenges, and strategic depth. Players appreciate the constant freshness brought by new skirmish conditions and the ability to explore various strategies, ensuring that each playthrough feels unique. With a wealth of content and the potential for endless enjoyment, it stands out as a highly addictive experience that encourages repeated play.

    • “With its immersive theme, strategic depth, and replayability, Dune Imperium stands as a shining example of the potential for innovation within the board gaming hobby.”
    • “This ensures that each playthrough is unique and keeps the game fresh and replayable.”
    • “The challenges in this version keep the game fresh for replayability, and new skirmish battles every 3 days for veterans, and I haven't even tried multiplayer yet.”
    • “Also, the game has 10+ normal and heroic challenges that give this a ton of replayability, and these are not the solo modes either, so well worth the price of admission just for that. They could probably add even more challenges, and you can complete the challenges repeatedly with different characters.”
    • “You have all different kinds of strategy in the game to explore, which makes the game replayable for many years.”
  • atmosphere25 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and engaging qualities, effectively capturing the essence of the Dune universe through stunning visuals, atmospheric music, and sound design that evokes the harsh desert environment of Arrakis. While some users feel the art style could be more atmospheric, the overall presentation, including the user interface and ambient sounds, successfully creates a compelling and thematic experience. The game is noted for its ability to transport players into a dystopian yet elegant setting, enhancing the strategic gameplay with a rich atmospheric backdrop.

    • “From the moment you start, you're greeted with stunning visuals and atmospheric music that instantly transports you to the harsh desert world of Arrakis.”
    • “With its engaging gameplay, immersive atmosphere, and strategic depth, it faithfully captures the essence of Frank Herbert's iconic saga while offering a compelling digital board game experience.”
    • “The game itself is great, but on top of that I particularly like the overall sound design: great atmosphere created by the reverberated desert ambient sounds, wonderful Dune-themed setting.”
    • “My only gripes are that the graphics are a bit limited; I wish there were more thematic visuals that would enhance the atmosphere instead of just representing the pure physical board game.”
    • “The animations are just tweaked just right to give the game some life and create atmosphere and tension.”
  • stability21 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report a smooth experience with no bugs during single-player and early gameplay, others have encountered significant issues, particularly in online modes. Initial impressions highlight a stable performance, but updates indicate that after extended play, the game can become extremely buggy, especially in multiplayer settings.

    • “The digital adaptation seems stable and bug free from my 12 hours of gameplay.”
    • “After playing the tutorial and two online parties against other players, I can say: the game runs great and I didn't encounter any bugs. While the game does not capture the magic of sitting together with your friends playing Imperium, it certainly is a great alternative and even addition to the board game.”
    • “Runs great on Steam Deck as well, big plus.”
    • “Update after 30+ hours: the game in its current state is extremely buggy.”
    • “Online play does sometimes have issues; people leave and the game freezes once in a while.”
    • “I like the board game and this PC adaptation is well done...except for one crucial thing: online gaming against other players is painfully buggy.”
  • story20 mentions

    The game's story effectively integrates the Dune lore, providing a rich narrative experience that resonates with fans of the franchise. Players appreciate the well-crafted tutorial and challenge missions, which enhance the storytelling through engaging gameplay mechanics and character dynamics. However, some feel that certain characters, like Paul, do not embody the underdog role as expected, which may affect the narrative tension.

    • “The game also keeps with the Dune story and lore very well and has very nice art and design.”
    • “I suppose the Baron does need to be a tough opponent, but I still don't think that Paul is ever an underdog in the story.”
    • “But it also tells me a Dune story.”
    • “I suppose the baron does need to be a tough opponent but I still don't think that Paul is ever an underdog in the story.”
    • “End of story.”
  • optimization12 mentions

    Overall, the game demonstrates strong optimization, particularly on Mac, with smooth performance and an organized layout that enhances user experience. However, some issues remain, such as ghost clicks not registering, indicating that further optimization is still needed. The attention to detail in the game's mechanics and functionality reflects the developers' commitment to improving the overall experience.

    • “The layout of the Steam game is just very organized where you can really see everything you need to know and runs smoothly.”
    • “I can see all the love and time put into this by how smooth and optimized the cards and nuances of the game function, including the undo button.”
    • “The game is also obviously quite optimized for the Mac, not draining too much power, which is nice.”
    • “Some optimization still required (ghost clicks not registering, for example), but we'll get there.”
    • “From the animations to the interactivity, matchmaking, single-player modes, and performance, there are areas that need improvement.”
    • “As mentioned, the graphics are a bit static but optimized for a maximum amount of information and just a representation of the board game.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and stressful, particularly in multiplayer mode where the lengthy turn times—3 minutes in live mode and 3 days in asynchronous mode—can exacerbate the experience. Overall, the repetitive nature of grinding detracts from enjoyment.

    • “No need for sound and light effects; at some point, it's just tedious and stressful.”
    • “The multiplayer mode can get a bit tedious as there are 3 minutes per turn in live mode and 3 days per turn in async mode.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has drawn mixed reactions, with some users perceiving the sale of expansions as a cash grab, while others express satisfaction with the overall value despite initial skepticism about it being another IP cash grab.

    • “I guess expansions will be sold as DLC, obvious cash grab...”
    • “I thought this was going to be another IP cash grab like most game versions, but I finally caved in to demands and I'm not disappointed.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

53hMedian play time
52hAverage play time
12-75hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 17 analyzed playthroughs

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