Dune: Imperium

I love this game and cannot stop playing! First though I have to admit off the top that at the start I had some real problems getting the hang of this game. It is complicated even for seasoned gamers, and the tutorials only teach you a fraction of the gameplay, and the instructions are only for the physical board game version. There is a *steep* learning curve. But despite that, I was drawn in by how the game captures so much of and immerses you so deeply in the Dune universe, and so I was compelled to play more. By the fifth time I played (losing *badly* each time even on easiest setting) things started to click and it made a lot more sense to me. And now I am 💯 a huge fan. It’s complex enough to allow varied gameplay and strategy without being just too overwhelmingly much to keep track of. The pacing is excellent. The balance of players and cards and abilities is just right. My only ask is that, when AI players make moves, it goes by so quickly and the cards flash by so fast that you can’t appreciate what they’ve done, so you don’t know what other cards do and more importantly you can’t give their moves enough attention to think about what their strategy might be. I would LOVE LOVE LOVE expansions for “Rise of Ix” and “Immortality,” and for “Imperium: Uprising”—PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE release more! I’ve loved Dune Imperium so much I’ve even gone out and bought the physical games. This is by far one of the best board-game-adapted-for-iOS I’ve ever played, and I’ve played a lot.

Picked up Dune: Imperium for my phone a few weekends ago, having heard great things about the board game. And wow, does this game absolutely deserves the accolades it has received. First, the game itself is a perfect of a blend of tactics (adapt to your hand and the opponent’s worker placement), strategy (plan multiple turns ahead due to limited moves and resources), and luck mitigation (build your deck to accommodate your play style). Then, variable point system places all the elements of the game on even footing: you gain points from deck building, worker placement, and the conflict system. What seems like an easy-to-learn victory path blossoms into a complex web of options. The system is utterly brilliant. Then you throw in the static 26 (!) challenges that drastically modify the gameplay… the rotating skirmish gameplay features which do the same… and the promise to release Rise of Ix midsummer, which is believable after a short early access period… This game has dev supported variety coming out its ears! Finally if you’re worried about the UI on a phone, don’t be. I’ve played over 30 games on my phone at this point. The UI is seamless on a small screen. This app is completely worth your $12. It is mobile board gaming at its finest. Great mechanics, great variety, great UI, great support. I can’t wait for Rise of Ix.

You can say whatever you want about me not being an expert player and whatnot, but I feel like the AI gets exactly what they need- like every time. It seems very difficult to battle them: when I go for the combat win- they mysteriously always get the bonus plus 5 intrigue card to eek out my victory- or if I am trying to go up the faction ladders they always seem to have the right counter card to go higher. I’m just frustrated because I feel like I have to play 10 games to win one. (That’s even on easy…who wants that?) Because it is digital I feel like I’m playing poker on a computer where the computer is getting just what it needs to beat you. And not by a landslide- just enough to squeak by for the win and throw a sand pie in your face. And then when you are marauding them and the game is over, then all the sudden the triple faction bonus intrigue card pops of their hand and I loose by one as well. It’s not fun plain and simple. I feel like the AI is cheating or getting exactly what it needs. At least if I was playing the cardboard game I’d be able to verify they had been holding some junk intrigue cards or the real ones that led to victory. Lord knows when I get the intrigue cards they are situationally good or I have to pay some kind of price to use them… Wanted to like the game but oh well- you got my 11$. Good for you.