Dune - Imperium

Spice up your life with Dune Imperium!TL:DR If you like Clank! Then you will love this. Just get it. Its definitely different but has the great deck building clank has.The long form:Let me start by sharing, I bought this after I saw the dune trailer. The trailer looked good and my FOMO kicked in and I clicked buy now straight away. Then I started regretting my decision and didnt pick up the game for a week because I thought my kids (10 and 12) might not get it, might think its too bland and complicated for them. Boy was I wrong, we had a blast and played 4 times on saturday through to sunday morning. Thats a lot for us.I introduced my colleague to the game and he bought it the next day!But why do I think this game good?Firstly, the deck building. If you ... MoreSpice up your life with Dune Imperium!TL:DR If you like Clank! Then you will love this. Just get it. Its definitely different but has the great deck building clank has.The long form:Let me start by sharing, I bought this after I saw the dune trailer. The trailer looked good and my FOMO kicked in and I clicked buy now straight away. Then I started regretting my decision and didnt pick up the game for a week because I thought my kids (10 and 12) might not get it, might think its too bland and complicated for them. Boy was I wrong, we had a blast and played 4 times on saturday through to sunday morning. Thats a lot for us.I introduced my colleague to the game and he bought it the next day!But why do I think this game good?Firstly, the deck building. If you dont know what deckbuilding is, i am not talking magic the gathering.I love starting with a hand and as your rounds progress you buy more cards with greater abilities to one up your opponents, it’s even better whencards combo with other cards to make your play even more exciting. But there is an added thought here in Dune imperium where your cards also allow you to go to specific players so you don’t want to fill your deck with high value cards that go to desert only.Secondly, the worker placement which I previously had never played before but now I want more. Placing your agents to get resources, allowing you to get access to other places or buy more abilities really allowed us at the table to plan a few moves ahead to get some Spicey victory points. I almost forgot to add having several alliance tracks feels like there are many races to top happening in unison which gives all players a chance to gain a sweet alliance.The combat simple yet excellent for this game. It can lead you to change your plans to win the reward.Finally the playability at all player counts I tried (1,2,3) it works really well. It works just as well solo as it does at 3.From a replay perspective, there are many asymmetrical players to choose from with different abilities and there is a companion app which can switch up the play a tiny bit.This was worth the purchase, I can’t wait for the expansion. The only gripe I have is I wish the insert was a little higher quality but at the same time, the upgrade pack looks beautiful and I will definitely try to get my hands on it.

Love this game. These sort of thematic games often don't play particularly well but tend to sell well based on the movie or TV series. However, in this case, the game is fantastic. I have only had two games and love the depth of game and options available.The game isn't really 90 minutes, more like 2-3 hours, well at least this was my experience, but the different characters available and strategies to win, give it a lot of playability. At a price tag of $75 there isn't anything to complain about.I think it plays best with 3 players. I doubt it would be enjoyable with only 2 players and 4 players may be too crowded.

A Dune game for fans and newcomers

Dune: Imperium is now my favorite game I have in my collection. It keeps the players engaged the entire time even during other people's turns which don't take forever like with some strategy games.The deck building part is also a great addition to deepen your strategy. At first I thought it would make the game clunky but it fits in with the other aspects seamlessly.I've played with three players and have done solo games as well. Each offers a different experience and both are fun! I actually lost my second solo game because I put it on the hardest difficulty. That doesn't usually happen with the solo board games I've played before so it was a welcome surprise!With other actual players it was always intense I felt I was in the Dune universe scheming against my ... MoreDune: Imperium is now my favorite game I have in my collection. It keeps the players engaged the entire time even during other people's turns which don't take forever like with some strategy games.The deck building part is also a great addition to deepen your strategy. At first I thought it would make the game clunky but it fits in with the other aspects seamlessly.I've played with three players and have done solo games as well. Each offers a different experience and both are fun! I actually lost my second solo game because I put it on the hardest difficulty. That doesn't usually happen with the solo board games I've played before so it was a welcome surprise!With other actual players it was always intense I felt I was in the Dune universe scheming against my opponents.The combat is great as well as thats where things can change in an instant with Intrigue cards that someone has been saving to steal the victory for themselves.I would recommend this game to anyone.

A Very Re-playable Worker Placement/Deck Builder

Worker placement(e.g. Lords of Waterdeep, Agricola) and deck builders(e.g. Clank!, Dominion) are my two favorite types of games. Dune: Imperium elegantly ties those two mechanics together into a highly entertaining game that can be very strategic but also approachable for new players. Here are a few things I like:- 8 different leaders to play as with different abilities. Each leader has a distinct feel that affects your strategy in a game. Some leaders with more straightforward abilities are available for new players- Ease of setup. The components are high quality and there's not a lot of them. I stored most of the pieces in a small Plano tackle organizer box (See picture). Setup takes about 10 minutes.- Theme. It feels were Dune-like. You could comfortably be ... MoreWorker placement(e.g. Lords of Waterdeep, Agricola) and deck builders(e.g. Clank!, Dominion) are my two favorite types of games. Dune: Imperium elegantly ties those two mechanics together into a highly entertaining game that can be very strategic but also approachable for new players. Here are a few things I like:- 8 different leaders to play as with different abilities. Each leader has a distinct feel that affects your strategy in a game. Some leaders with more straightforward abilities are available for new players- Ease of setup. The components are high quality and there's not a lot of them. I stored most of the pieces in a small Plano tackle organizer box (See picture). Setup takes about 10 minutes.- Theme. It feels were Dune-like. You could comfortably be holding Arakeen when one of your opponents pays a small fortune in spice for the Spacing Guild to drop in an overwhelming force of Sardaukar. Of course, your opponent doesn't know that you have a Fremen force in reserve but you'll let him think he has the upper hand, for a while.

Amazing Mechanics

Dune Imperium is easily one of my favorite games now. The hybrid of worker-placement and deck-building mechanics flows perfectly and creates a fantastic playing experience. As a big Dune fan, the thematics themselves weren’t super immersive, but the artwork on the components and cards is unbelievable. The variability of strategies allows for a lot of different playing styles and ways to win. While the game can take some time to teach, the symbology on the game is ridiculously intuitive and allows for rapid learning as you start playing through the game. I highly recommend this game to anyone that even moderately enjoys board games!

Dune: Imperium is top game of 2020 for me

Game was delivered in a timely manner and well-packaged. Included the Jessica promo card. The game itself: brilliant. This blend of deck-building (from same designer as Clank!) and worker placement (like Agricola or Stone Age) moves along nicely with some great tension between players (yes, even in solo mode with automated bots) and thanks to the many paths to victory you always have options to pursue. The combat isn't overly complex and plays out quickly each round but you don't need to rely on combat alone to win -- you could also pursue the deck-building, or you could pursue the worker placement and gain alliances with the great houses of the Imperium. The design of the game may be deceiving as first impressions could leave you thinking it unpolished or ... MoreGame was delivered in a timely manner and well-packaged. Included the Jessica promo card. The game itself: brilliant. This blend of deck-building (from same designer as Clank!) and worker placement (like Agricola or Stone Age) moves along nicely with some great tension between players (yes, even in solo mode with automated bots) and thanks to the many paths to victory you always have options to pursue. The combat isn't overly complex and plays out quickly each round but you don't need to rely on combat alone to win -- you could also pursue the deck-building, or you could pursue the worker placement and gain alliances with the great houses of the Imperium. The design of the game may be deceiving as first impressions could leave you thinking it unpolished or simplistic (I certainly had that feeling when the game was first revealed), but there is something almost magical about the design (and game) because for me that all falls away and I feel like I'm really have a Dune experience, and, wow, what a great experience it is, too. Even the length of the game feels good: whoever gets to 10+ points first or is the leader when the Conflict deck runs out wins the game. So there is plenty enough time to do what you want to do and yet there is a sort of timer that keeps it from dragging (it just feels right). Even in a non-horrible year this game would've been great but I'm grateful it came out in time for the holidays and it lifted my spirits and exceeded my expectations. Highly recommended.

Fun deck building and resource management game. Not for kids.

This game is a lot of fun if you enjoy deck building and resource management style board games, especially if you get the expansion which buffs spices value which is lacking a bit in the base game. The key point of the game is to end the game with more success points than your opponents. There's multiple ways to achieve this and the RNG elements are controlled so you can feel in control to plan ahead. I will say this games elements can take a while to pick up on since they're so varied but the code gameplay is turn based, everyone starts with 2 actions per turn, you play cards that determine your actions, then the remaining cards in your hand have behaviors when unused and are laid down at the end of a round. This is not a simple family game and will be far too ... MoreThis game is a lot of fun if you enjoy deck building and resource management style board games, especially if you get the expansion which buffs spices value which is lacking a bit in the base game. The key point of the game is to end the game with more success points than your opponents. There's multiple ways to achieve this and the RNG elements are controlled so you can feel in control to plan ahead. I will say this games elements can take a while to pick up on since they're so varied but the code gameplay is turn based, everyone starts with 2 actions per turn, you play cards that determine your actions, then the remaining cards in your hand have behaviors when unused and are laid down at the end of a round. This is not a simple family game and will be far too involved for children. I recommend 12 . I think this is the trap the other reviewer fell into. This is a game you buy for hanging out with buddies, not for a young family.

Great Game - heaps of replay value

My current favourite game - plenty of replay value and plenty of different strategies players can take to get to victory. If you are going to play it as much as I have - I recommend getting card protectors as you do a lot of shuffling of cards and they definitely get some wear and tear.The game is pretty straight forward but on first look can be visually intimidating to new players/gamers. Especially if they haven't played another worker placement game or deck building game before. I try to ease in new players by playing something like stone age (worker placement) and dominion (deck building) first.Knowing anything about the DUNE IP can help in explaining the game but it is not necessary for enjoyment of the game.

Worth the hype

Dune Imperium does a great job of capturing the theme in a playable and engaging way. As a fan of both deck builders and science fiction this game immediately got my attention but I wasn’t sure if the theme would work well as a game. To my surprise it was an extremely thematic experience combined with great game play.Things I love about the game:-It combines worker placement and deck building in a way that works quite well.-Each of the leaders have different abilities creating great replay ability.-The game production is high quality.-Setup takes ~5 minutes.-Game provides a rich experience while being easy to learn and smooth to play.

Zero play value - merchandising scheme to maximize the franchise revenue. INSULT TO ALL DUNE FANS.

This game has ZERO gameplay dynamic. You will find many pieces and they are all beautifully designed. But that doesn’t help with the play value of the game. There is no sense to how the turns take place. There is no clear objective or a well-defined path to achieving it. You will spend all your time looking up references for non-sensical repositioning of pieces that will give you no insight into why you are doing anything. This game is simply a merchandising scheme by the publisher to maximize revenues from the movie. It has no bearing to the actual story of the book. It has no sense of dynamism of play. It has NO VALUE. Do not waste your money. I am a huge fan of the Dune universe. I have read all the books. Unfortunately, even with my deep love for the story, i ... MoreThis game has ZERO gameplay dynamic. You will find many pieces and they are all beautifully designed. But that doesn’t help with the play value of the game. There is no sense to how the turns take place. There is no clear objective or a well-defined path to achieving it. You will spend all your time looking up references for non-sensical repositioning of pieces that will give you no insight into why you are doing anything. This game is simply a merchandising scheme by the publisher to maximize revenues from the movie. It has no bearing to the actual story of the book. It has no sense of dynamism of play. It has NO VALUE. Do not waste your money. I am a huge fan of the Dune universe. I have read all the books. Unfortunately, even with my deep love for the story, i found this game to an insult to my intelligence and to anyone who is actually a fan. Stay away.