Dune: Imperium

Gift was appreciated and enjoyed.

I like the deck building elements and that isnt not just a race to get the best card. Cards you add to your deck have different ways to play it which means its not a matter of picking the best cards faster or being lucky. The game is also rather intuitive while still having a lot to calculate. The only critique I would give, other then the somewhat muted color of the board, is that it feels like there could be more things. Maybe its me, but I can see expansions giving more houses with more interesting play styles. Though its not meant to be a highly Asymmetric experience, still like the game and would completely recommend if you like worker placement or deck building .

Excellent worker placement! Very good solo mechanic!

This review is for game contents only (not for the gameplay). The quality of game components is great. Wooden pieces, high quality cards. High quality board. All packed very neatly. Game comes with a few zip lock baggies for the small pieces. Also aincludes a link for video tutorial on how to play game (via YouTube). Game manual is high quality as well. Game instructions are easy to understand and well thought out.

Still enjoy the game after playing for more than 20 times.

FANTASTIC hybrid of deck-building and worker-placement. All the real flavor of DUNE without the complexity of previous games. My favorite game of this year.

Sent an email to the publisher to see if theyll send me out the missing pieces. Cant play otherwise.

The fun and complication of play, along with the detail and thought that went into the different actions that certain cards allow to happen as realted to their Dune Lore (specific to each character or item) more than makes up for THE HORRENDOUS ATROCITY that is the rulebook. Whoever wrote that price of **** needs to be fired. Do yourself and the game a favor and just watch the Watch It Played video to learn how to setup and play the game. Sure the rulebook comes in handy for a reference for further questions once you get deep into a round, but even some eventualities have to be intuited and agreed upon by the players. This is especially true when playing with two players (the House Hagal rules for the fake player 3 doesnt cover everything). Still, one of the best worker games Ive played!!!

A worker placement/resource management/deck builder game based on the new DUNE movie. This is easily a top ten game for me now. It just has that perfect balance of depth and playability. Games run pretty short (an hour…not 20 minutes), set up doesn’t take too long and it’s pretty easy to teach. The game comes with a deck of cards (or, use the free app) for solo/2 player games but we play two player all the time WITHOUT the AI deck. I really don’t think it’s needed. It may add a bit of uncertainty and/or excitement if that’s what you feel might be missing from the 2 player experience but for us, the pacing, board space selection…it’s good enough. Each player chooses a character (1 of 8) from the DUNE universe. Each has an ability that’s usually ongoing but then another that can only be activated when you play a certain card. Players start with the same 10 card deck that they randomize and draw five from. These cards have special markings on them that unlock spots in the board for you to place an agent (meeple) on. Card doesn’t show an orange triangle? Then you can’t put an agent on any of the orange triangle spaces. Each of the spots grants resources and/or some minor action like unlocking your third agent (you start with only two). To me, this is all very reminiscent of Lords of Waterdeep - one of the best games ever made, IMO. Cards may also have additional bonuses like drawing a card, etc. that happen in addition to allowing you to place an agent. The nitty gritty however, is in the THIRD spot of the cards that can only be used when you pass for the rest of the round and “reveal” what’s left in your hand. These bonuses might be income (to buy additional cards in the market place - the deck building aspect of the game), combat strength or a combination of other things. Do you use a card to place an agent or do you save it because it will grant combat strength when you reveal? Tough choices! At the end of the round comes the “combat” which is basically just how many troops (cubes) you’ve committed to the current combat round, plus those additional combat strength cards plus special, “Intrigue” cards you can play (they are earned from spots on the board) for that extra, “ah HA!” Moment. …and so much more. You have influence tracks that you need to move up on in the hopes of acquiring victory points…but wait! You need Spice first! No! You can’t get the Spice without paying Water…and you don’t have enough water. No no no!!!! Your opponent just went to the spot you wanted!!! This is a great game and I’m glad it didn’t just turn out to be a money grab coasting off of the hype/popularity of the new movie. An absolute must buy in this veteran board gamer’s opinion.

The box is damaged when I receive it.