Here’s every Dune game you should know about

With all of its warring homes, assassinations, spycraft, and sandworms, the world of Dune accommodates no fewer than three of the important thing substances wanted for an superior game. Loads of builders have drawn inspiration from Frank Herbert’s universe to create some fascinating, and infrequently legendary video games.

Whereas our checklist isn’t solely complete (apologies to Dune Monopoly) and doesn’t embrace any canceled titles from the Dune franchise, our harvesters have managed to unearth a radical checklist of necessities that deserve your consideration, together with a number of oddities. Beneath, you’ll discover every adaptation listed in chronological order, divided into board video games, and video video games.

Dune board video games

Dune Board Game by Parker Brothers (1984)

The Dune board game produced by Parker Bros. seems like one thing of a misunderstood relic, sort of like David Lynch’s 1984 movie adaptation. The game is filled with obtuse, poorly defined guidelines, nonetheless, a deeper examination of the principles manages to disclose some fascinating, RPG-lite mechanics as gamers accumulate tools and transfer round a board in an try and outwit and get rid of their opponents. Whereas few would take into account this discontinued game a traditional, it undoubtedly stands as an ideal instance of the bizarre licensed Dune merchandise, even that includes pictures of the forged from the film on its playing cards and tokens. —Alice Jovanée

Dune collectible card game (1997)

Picture: Mark Zug

Initially launched in 1997 within the wake of the success of Magic: The Gathering, the unique collectible card game, Dune is an out-of-print CCG that you can nonetheless discover right here and there on eBay. It’s a relic of a bygone period in tabletop game improvement the place uncooked complexity was king. Gamers took on the function of rival homes vying for management of the Landsraad, and even the game’s preconstructed decks featured variations inside every field. The artwork, impressed by the Lynch movie, is hanging. –Charlie Corridor

Dune: Imperium and Dune: Imperium – Rebellion (2020)

Photograph: Charlie Corridor/Polygon

The unique Dune: Imperium is outwardly MrBeast’s favorite game. If true, he has actually good style in technique board video games. This one’s a sluggish burn, a spicy melange of deeply interconnected programs that reward repeated play. Dune: Imperium – Rebellion is, for all intents and functions, an improve of the unique with an emphasis on spycraft and fight. Each video games are suitable with all launched expansions, together with Dune: Imperium – Immortality and Dune: Imperium – Rise of Ix. –CH

Dune: Adventures within the Imperium (2020)

Picture: Eren Arik/Modiphius Leisure

Modiphius’ 2d20–primarily based tabletop role-playing game is as distinctive as it’s sprawling. That’s as a result of it asks gamers to create not only a single character however a whole royal home of the Landsraad with many potential characters that may be dropped at the desk over the course of a marketing campaign. Occasions might be drawn from just about any level within the huge Dune timeline. A brand new enlargement, titled Dune: Fall of the Imperium, will carefully observe the occasions of Dune: Half Two. –CH

Dune: A Game of Conquest, Diplomacy & Betrayal (2021)

Picture: Gale Pressure 9

First printed by The Avalon Hill Game Firm in 1979 as Frank Herbert’s Dune, this legendary technique game was re-released precisely 40 years later by Gale Pressure 9 as Dune: A Game of Conquest, Diplomacy & Betrayal and continues to be in print. The game is exclusive in that it asks gamers to position bets utilizing their out there fight troops as forex in a sort of bluffing game, with every participant revealing the ultimate disposition of their forces solely within the break up second earlier than a victor is set. I spent greater than $300 making a replica whereas it was caught in 40 years of licensing hell, however you can get yours for a fraction of the value. –CH

Dune Home Secrets and techniques (2021)

Picture: Portal Video games

Dune: House Secrets is a cooperative, narrative-based card game with some slick art work, tailored from Portal’s Detective: A Fashionable Crime Board Game. Home Secrets and techniques might be performed solo, however helps as much as 4 gamers who tackle the function of authentic characters in a three-part narrative journey that performs out like an in depth “choose your own adventure”. You’ll make the most of property and chase down leads in an try and unravel a labyrinthine plot nestled within the lore of Frank Herbert’s universe. –AJ

Dune: Battle for Arrakis (2024)

Picture: Beastie Geeks

Developed by the identical group liable for the favored War of the Ring board game, Dune: Battle for Arrakis is a miniature-heavy, uneven, territory-control game, within the type of Twilight Imperium, or The Game of Thrones Board Game. Gamers compete for management of Dune as both Home Atreides or Home Harkonnen. This large, crowdfunded board game doesn’t launch till Mar. 22, however already has two deliberate expansions that includes the smugglers and the spacing guild. Pre-orders for the bottom game are at the moment out there by way of Asmodee and Miniature Market. —AJ

Dune video video games

Dune (DOS, Amiga, Sega CD) (1992)

Picture: Cryo Interactive

The unique Dune video game is one thing of a curio that takes parts of turn-based technique video games and combines them with some lean adventure-game mechanics to play by way of the occasions of the primary ebook. Gamers tackle the function of Paul Atreides, touring to totally different sietches and interacting with characters to maneuver the story alongside. Finally, you’ll be liable for dealing with spice manufacturing and managing armies as you earn the belief of the Fremen to retake Arrakis. Whereas formidable, the cumbersome gameplay and wild voice-acting make it tough to suggest, nonetheless, if you’re feeling notably affected person, you can strive the game out for your self by downloading it out of your favourite abandonware web site. —AJ

Dune 2: Constructing of a Dynasty / Dune 2: Battle for Arrakis / Dune Legacy (1992)

Picture: Westwood Studios

Dune 2, my liege, my king, my emperor of the identified universe. Dune 2 by Westwood Studios (R.I.P.) is the title many individuals will level to as popularizing the real-time technique style. Playable on DOS, Amiga, or Sega Genesis, Dune 2 let you construct bases and management items by way of a rudimentary sidebar interface that may grow to be a staple of Westwood’s Command & Conquer franchise. Dune 2 is abandonware and might be downloaded totally free, nonetheless, one of the simplest ways to play this historic title is thru the Dune Legacy fan venture.

Legacy retains the entire authentic property in place, however emulates them for current-gen {hardware}. Legacy additionally sands down a number of the tough edges from the unique launch, by modernizing the interface and controls to be extra in step with what you’d count on from a up to date RTS title. —AJ

Dune 2000 (1998)

Picture: Westwood Studios

The 1998 remake of the unique 1992 game that jump-started the real-time technique style, Dune 2000 added a streamlined interface, FMV cutscenes that includes the irreplaceable John Rhys-Davies, a remastered soundtrack, and assist for a whopping 640×480 decision. Dune 2000 launched about a 12 months after the unique Command & Conquer: Crimson Alert, and makes use of the same interface to modernize the traditional Dune with a recent coat of paint and quicker gameplay. Dune 2000 has been made suitable with trendy programs because of the OpenRA fan venture. The supply recordsdata required to play are thought of abandonware, and out there to obtain totally free on-line. —AJ

Emperor: Battle for Dune (2001)

Picture: EA / Westwood Studios

Emperor: Battle for Dune was the final RTS developed by the legendary Westwood Studios, however was largely misplaced within the shadow of the way more fashionable Crimson Alert 2, which launched across the similar time. Emperor nonetheless contains Westwood’s trademark FMV cutscenes (with Michael Dorn filling the function of Duke Atreides), however options dynamic, non-linear campaigns that enable you to ally with totally different factions to customise your military. Emperor’s graphics have aged like milk and the gameplay has some tough spots, however it nonetheless contains some fascinating concepts and a killer soundtrack. Whereas the game is downloadable from a wide range of abandonware websites, getting the game to run on trendy programs is a sophisticated course of. —AJ

Frank Herbert’s Dune (2001)

Picture: Widescreen Video games

If the legacy of Dune video games had a black sheep, it’d be Frank Herbert’s Dune from 2001. This third-person shooter made for PC and PlayStation 2 loosely follows the occasions of the ebook and was supposed to capitalize on renewed curiosity within the franchise following the discharge of a three-part Dune miniseries produced for the Sci-Fi channel a 12 months prior. The gameplay for Frank Herbert’s Dune is a spotlight reel for early-2000’s licensed tie-in shovelware, full with horrible voice appearing, awkward gameplay, and goofy animations. If you’d wish to expertise this fever dream of a game for your self, and try and get it operating on trendy {hardware}, you can obtain it totally free from a number of abandonware websites. —AJ

Dune Wars Revival (Civ 4 Mod) (2009)

Picture: Dune Wars Group / Firaxis

A really exhaustive mod initially launched in 2009 for Sid Meier’s Civilization 4: Past the Sword, Dune Wars Revival continues to be receiving continued assist and updates on the time of this submit with refreshed property impressed by the Villeneuve Dune movies. Dune Wars contains a reworked tech tree, buildings, wonders, and distinctive items for every of its seven factions. Whereas Dune Wars is technically a complete conversion, it nonetheless depends on traditional Civ guidelines, making it accessible to anybody who remembers Civ earlier than it turned six-sided. Dune Wars is accessible to obtain from ModDB, but additionally requires Civilization 4, and the Beyond the Sword enlargement which might be bought by way of Steam. —AJ

Dune: Spice Wars (2022)

Picture: Shiro Video games/Funcom

The place to play: Home windows, Xbox Sequence X/S

The newest video game within the Dune franchise may truly be its finest. Dune: Spice Wars is a real-time technique game that makes use of a number of mechanics usually reserved for titles within the turn-based Civilization franchise. Along with elevating armies and capturing territories, gamers must cope with managing diplomacy and spycraft to get an edge on competing homes. Spice Wars is finest skilled on PC, however can be out there on Game Pass and performs moderately nicely with a controller. —AJ