Dune: Spice Wars Reviews

Shiro Games has created an excellent, Dune-themed 4X strategy game. Borrowing mostly from the recent Dune (2021 and 2023) films, with a healthy amount of Dune book influence to supplement, the game allows you to play as a number of iconic houses/factions from the franchise; each faction being very distinct in play style, but still generally accessible. The art and sound direction are top notch, with thematic buildings and fully voiced units. The overall game play has a deceptive amount of depth, as learning how to play each faction AND the map is a core requirement for success. I highly recommend this game, especially if you like Dune and/or Northgard.

love everything about the game, Highly recommended for players that love slower RTS games my only down side is that you need to dedicate yourself to learning the game (which takes more hours then what the negative reviews put in) but once you get the hang of it, it play's smoothly and is very fun. playing campaign mode is the best way to learn

Dune Spice Wars is a fun game, but the tutorials are vague, I love it, but others may not, the authority system is irritating at times, Landsraad, CHOAM, and other mechanics make it in depth, but I find it can be difficult, given the previously mentioned vague tutorials.

The game itself is definitely an 8/10. It's not quite perfect from a critical standpoint, but for me, it's my favorite strategy game. The game offers different ways to win, matches that don't drag on, and every faction is very balanced and has viable strategies. The community is incredibly strong, with balance mods and occasional tournaments.

A more complicated Northgard in a Dune skin. If you love Dune you will be disappointed. There's no story or missions or any kind of narrative like that, just a sandbox 4X thing with vaguely Dune looking (although cartoon versions) stuff. Honestly kind of a waste of the IP.

The more I play this game the deeper it becomes, it has a lot of strategic depth and has a nice pace of slow paced RTS with 4X mechanics.

Been looking at this game for a while, watched a few hours of youtube videos on it and picked it up on the Steam Summer sale because I'm poor. I've put 8 hours into it and I'm not touching it again. I've played 4 games so far. The first one was on easy and it went pretty well, so I bumped it up to hard on the next one. I've been unable to to play on hard difficulty. The combat isn't unintuitive, it is opaque. It is mentioned in the tutorial but not explained. Every combat I get into I get my pants beat off of me. It doesn't matter if I have more units. I doesn't matter if my military power is higher. It doesn't matter if its a surprise attack or if I focus fire, or whatever tactics I try. I keep losing every time and it doesn't make sense. You might say I'm just bad at the game. Sure, I probably am. I'm a new player. And I'm not going to get good at it because I'm not going to waste my time banging my head against a wall trying to figure it out when I can go play a game where I can actually figure out the mechanics by playing the game, like Rimworld or Starcraft 2 or Stellaris (if I wasn't boycotting Paradox because of their garbage DLC policy). Can we please just get back to making games fun instead of opaque and hard to play? Please?

Dune: Spice Wars is a captivating real-time strategy game that plunges players into the intricate and politically charged universe of Frank Herbert’s Dune. Developed by Shiro Games, the title successfully marries classic RTS gameplay with deep strategic layers, set against the backdrop of the unforgiving desert planet Arrakis. It offers a fresh take on the Dune franchise by combining base-building, resource management, and faction rivalry with a strong emphasis on diplomacy and espionage. For fans of strategy games and the Dune lore alike, Spice Wars provides a rich and immersive experience that balances tactical warfare with complex political maneuvering. One of the game’s most impressive aspects is how it captures the essence of Arrakis, not just visually but through gameplay mechanics that reflect the harshness and value of the desert environment. Players must manage precious resources, chiefly spice, which is essential for building armies, upgrading technology, and gaining influence. The desert is a living, dangerous place—sandstorms, giant sandworms, and shifting alliances add layers of unpredictability that keep the gameplay dynamic. The challenge of maintaining supply lines and resource extraction in such a hostile environment adds an authentic tension that feels true to the source material. Gameplay in Dune: Spice Wars blends traditional RTS elements with innovative strategic choices. Players pick one of several factions, each with unique strengths, abilities, and political agendas, and strive to dominate Arrakis through military might, economic power, or diplomatic finesse. Building and upgrading bases is crucial, but equally important is managing your faction’s standing with other houses and neutral parties. The game’s diplomacy system allows for alliances, betrayals, and intrigue, meaning no victory can be secured through brute force alone. This interplay between war and politics adds depth and replayability, encouraging multiple strategies and approaches. Combat in Spice Wars is tactical and rewarding, emphasizing unit positioning, terrain advantage, and timely use of abilities. Battles can range from quick skirmishes to larger, more complex engagements involving multiple factions. While the scale of combat is not overwhelming, it is satisfying and requires thoughtful planning to leverage each faction’s unique units effectively. The addition of environmental hazards, like sandworms that can devour entire squads, forces players to adapt their tactics and remain vigilant. This constant risk-reward balance elevates encounters beyond simple RTS fare. Visually, the game does an excellent job bringing the Dune universe to life with a stylized yet detailed art direction. The desert landscapes, spice fields, and faction bases are distinct and atmospheric, while UI elements are clean and intuitive, making it easy to manage complex information. The soundtrack and sound effects complement the mood perfectly, with haunting melodies and the sounds of the desert reinforcing the immersive experience. The game runs smoothly and offers plenty of options to customize the experience, ensuring accessibility for both newcomers and seasoned strategy players. In summary, Dune: Spice Wars is a thoughtfully designed strategy game that successfully captures the spirit of the Dune saga through its engaging blend of resource management, tactical combat, and political intrigue. It offers a fresh and challenging experience that rewards careful planning and adaptability. While it may not reinvent the genre, its faithful adaptation of the source material combined with solid gameplay mechanics make it a must-play for fans of strategy and science fiction alike. Whether you favor military domination or subtle diplomacy, Spice Wars invites you to carve your own path on the deadly sands of Arrakis. Rating: 8/10

Smart game, true to the Dune vibe and doesnt feel like another generic rts. I like the political mechanics involved . While complex, easy to learn if u are new to the genre. Likethe tutorial.

-Boot up game -Load Skirmish -Pick Smugglers cause why not -Choose Harkonnen, Fremen, and Atreides as the AI factions (I think you can have three AI in a skirmish match) -Load in -Conquer Spice fields, pillage worthless villages -Such is the way of a smuggler -I'm pretty big now -For some reason, didn't invest into army -Harkonnens come out of nowhere with an army the size of my stupidity (REALLY MASSIVE) -Destroys my fuel cell territory -Self esteem crashes -Wait 400 light years to build up army -Send army to Harkonnen territory to retaliate -Harkonnens have airfields everywhere (I'm flash freezed, then double deep fried) -Harkonnens send a "small" part of their army my way -I get destroyed -Self esteem is then swallowed up by a sandworm -Alt F4, never touch the game again for a few weeks -Hop back on, cycle repeats 8.5/10, target the Harkonnens