Unless you’ve been living under a Baron Harkonnen-sized rock for the last week, Denis Villeneuve’s sci-fi epic Dune: Part Two has stormed the box office and bewitched every movie buff under the influence of Spice. The sequel, which adapts Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel, is en route to becoming the film of the year, and fans are keen to walk into more Dune media.
Players Are Clambering To Play Dune: Spice Wars After Dune: Part Two Release
Arrakis is calling.
With the anticipatedDune: Awakening- the upcoming survival MMO from Funcom - on the horizon, it’s time to glance back at the franchise’s history in video games, as there are a few titles as precious as the Water of Life to continue the magic of the cinematic marvel. Here is every Dune game ranked.
6Frank Herbert’s Dune
An Average Stealth Attempt To Match The 6.4 Metacritic Score
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This 3D game was one of the last projects by Cryo Interactive before going bankrupt, as the critical failure of the PC adventure contributed to the developer’s downfall. Each mission corresponded to the plot points from Herbert’s novels, but the mechanics couldn’t keep up with the scope.
Considering this game promoted and relied primarily on stealth and gunplay, the disappointment that came with poor combat and underwhelming secrecy tactics was resounding. This somewhat interactive movie may have its pocket of followers, but the inability to capture the grandeur of the Dune universe and deliver a spicy experience leaves this title in last place.
Frank Herbert’s Dune (2001)
The Franchise’s First Dip Into The Strategy Genre
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It will become apparent on this list that the Dune series is designed to be RTS-focused in video games, and the 1992strategy adventureentry for PC and Sega CD kickstarted that pairing. Including footage from the 1984 film with improved 3D-rendered traveling, this title draws you into David Lynch’s fever dream more than the miniseries adaptation did for its material.
With an audio track by Stéphane Picq and Philip Ulrich that appeared on the album Dune: Spice Opera, fans were also lucky enough to receive a limited edition poster with their copy of the strategy game back in the day. If that wasn’t incentive enough, the game’s ability to translate Herbert’s complex world into a compact strategy adventure is commendable.
Dune (1992)
4Dune II: The Building Of A Dynasty
Arrakis In Full Real-Time Strategy Swing
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Paving the way for Command & Conquer, Warcraft, and other RTS games, Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty is a sequel to the previous 1992 game, but it’s a huge departure. Building settlements and pitting houses against houses in power plays is the name of the game, with a story loosely based on the novel.
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The Building of a Dynasty is a really good strategy game wearing Dune’s clothing. There’s little to elevate the sci-fi experience, but as a pivotal title in theRTS genre, this pioneering game deserves a middle ranking and is a lot more refined than the first two entries.
Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty
3Dune 2000
A High 8.4 Metacritic Score Renders This A Classic
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Intelligent Games delivered the first pure real-time strategy Dune game, beginning with a black fog of war that opens up as players explore, construct settlements, and build infantry for the Houses Harkonnen, Atreides, and Ordos to strengthen them.
Fans of the game have been calling for a remake in recent years, which is a testament to the RTS’ pleasing mechanics and world-building. The music and aesthetic have also been widely praised despite the title’s inability to allow the construction of multiple units. Overall, this is a classic Dune experience that learns from Dynasty and builds something better, and it also sets a precedent for future titles of this ilk.
2Emperor: Battle For Dune
Another High 8.5 Metacritic Score For A Thrilling RTS
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The same rules apply in Emperor: Battle for Dune: farming Spice, building bases, and strengthening the Houses at play with unstoppable forces. House Atreides utilizes mechs and sonic weapons, the Harkonnens boast tanks and flame weapons, and the Ordos lean on energy shields and self-healing.
With an easy mode that’s accessible to newcomers combined with simple strategies for entertaining gameplay in the world of Arrakis, this sequel has it all to make a stunning Dune adventure. With the perfect amount of challenge, it dials it up a notch from Dune 2000 and stands the test of time as one of the best RTS games.
Emperor: Battle For Dune
1Dune: Spice Wars
A Lower 6.1 Metacritic Score, But Overall, The Best Dune Immersion
More about Dune: Spice Wars (2022):
Protect your House units from Sandworms and fly ornithopters across the desert to scout base foundations and discover new technologies via the skill tree. A combinatiSolarisolaris, military power, water, and authority will have you ruling Arrakis in no time, but watch out for the Landsraad keeping an eye on the Spice trade.
The finer details ofDune: Spice Wars’lore building and the explosive power moves from each house make this the most immersive Dune experience on this list, combined with attractive, modern graphics to tell the story. If political scheming is your forte, you’ll lose yourself in this acclaimed RTS that’s the best in the franchise - possibly untilDune: Awakening’s tense sand battlesdebut.
Dune: Spice Wars
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