The award-winning board game of strategy and intrigue in the iconic universe of Dune. The Spice must flow.
In this deck-building worker placement game, players take on the roles of leaders of the Great Houses, competing to gain influence and control over the planet Arrakis and its vital Spice resources. The game unfolds over a series of rounds, with each round defined by a new Conflict on the surface of Arrakis. Players must carefully manage their resources, deploy their agents, and make strategic decisions to earn victory points and ultimately dominate the Imperium.
At the heart of the gameplay is a deck-building mechanic. Players start with a small deck of cards, which they can improve over the course of the game by acquiring new cards through various means, such as purchasing them from the Imperium Row or gaining them as rewards. These cards represent different actions, abilities, and resources that players can utilize to further their strategies. Carefully building and managing one's deck is crucial to success.
In addition to deck-building, the game features a worker placement system. Each round, players take turns placing their agents on various locations on the game board, such as the Spice Blow, the Landsraad, or the Factions. These placements allow players to gather resources, gain influence with the different factions, or take other important actions. Strategically placing agents and balancing their deployment is key to optimizing one's actions and progress.
A significant aspect of the gameplay is the competition for influence with the four major factions of the Imperium: the Emperor, the Spacing Guild, the Bene Gesserit, and the Fremen. Players can earn influence with these factions through various means, such as acquiring faction-specific cards or completing faction-related objectives. Maintaining a balance of influence with the different factions is crucial, as it allows players to gain access to powerful abilities and advantages.
At the end of each round, a new Conflict is revealed on the surface of Arrakis. These Conflicts award important resources or victory points to the players who can muster the most military might. Players must carefully allocate their forces and make strategic decisions about which Conflicts to prioritize, as well as how to outmaneuver their opponents.
The game offers a wealth of additional content beyond the core gameplay, including a variety of Achievements that players can earn, showcasing their prowess as a leader, as well as a set of Challenges that test players' wit and cunning with unique rulesets and scenarios. The Skirmish Mode also provides a rotating set of custom games, ensuring no two matches are the same.
Players consistently praise the seamless blend of deck-building and worker placement mechanics, creating a deeply engaging and thematic experience. The game's strategic depth, with its many paths to victory and tough decisions, is often cited as a major draw. The faithful adaptation of the beloved board game, complete with a polished user interface and excellent AI opponents, is also widely appreciated by players.