Dune: Imperium

You would be forgiven for thinking it’s easy to design a top selling board game these days. Step 1 – acquire the licence to use the IP of a classic book title that has recently been made into a ‘blockbuster’ movie. Step 2 – take the most common design elements of the modern era and add them all into the melting pot. Step 3 – add some plastic miniatures. Step 4 – releases some expansions. No wonder Dune Imperium has rocketed up the BGG charts in the last 18 months. Of course, if it was this simple then I would already have released my own roll and write game entitled Wuthering Heights with 3” inch miniatures depicting Heathcliff and Cathy – and followed it up with the sequel “Cathy Comes Home” featuring an even bigger mini of Kate Bush

However, Dune Imperium is an excellent example of how good design can turn a few basic concepts into a very good game. It is full of difficult choices. Where do I want to send my agents? Should I send them to the Bene Gessirit to gain influence and get intrigue cards or should I send them to Sietch Tabr to harvest that Spice that I desperately need? But if I use that card to deploy my agent, I won’t get the 2 persuasion I needed to get the card that I really want. So which cards should I hold over to my Reveal action? But I also want to win the combat as it is worth a vp and an influence with the Fremen, but that means I need to find a way to get more troops into my garrison but I only have two agents and ……

In a way it’s a shame that the game is about gaining vp’s. Understandable given its nature but it’s in an example of where the theme starts to feel a little pasted on. I’m pretty sure Paul Atreides didn’t spend all his time out in the desert drugged up on Spice thinking about where he was going to get his next vp from.

Solid "euro" Dune with deck building and worker placement elements. Battle system is also great, with its surprises and turning points.

I prefer to play with Rise of Ix and Immortality expansions, but base game is great enough to show her talent.

Played once, with both expansions included. Not having a play of the base game to compare against I can't definitely say whether I'd prefer the game with or without.

I enjoyed what Rise of Ix brought to the game. But Immortality didn't add much really and the extra board was mostly superfluous and ignored.

I think if I were to buy the game I'd be happy with just the base, maybe plus RoI.

The Rise of Ix Jessica of Arrakis Promo Card Boundless Ambition Promo Card

I thought this game had to much hype, then I watched the 2021 motion picture and I felt the need to try it out. After playing it I wanted to try Lost Runes the game is very suspenseful and tight.

euro, but different. Tense, direct fight (and loses!, oh loses), adaptation to cards available...

One of the best games ever made, with two 10 out of 10 expansions in short order right after.