Summary
There’s no doubt that the universe ofFrank Herbert’sDunenovelsis one of the most iconic science-fiction worlds. It should come as no surprise, then, that creatives have been using its setting as the foundation of tabletop games since 1979.
With the recent release of director Denis Villeneuve’sDune: Part 2, theDuneintellectual property has reached a new height of popularity. As a result, more designers are bringingDune’siconic Arrakis to the tabletop, as seen withDune: War Of Arrakisand the less recent,Dune: Imperium.
11Dune: House Secrets
Board Game Geek Rating: 5.1
Dune: House Secretsis a legacy game, and as such it can only be played once, as the components will be permanently marred as players progress. While players do play the game over multiple sessions, and legacy games have managed to be worth the time in the past (seeGloomhaven),Dune: House Secretsfalls flat.
One major issue withDune: House Secretsis that it requires an app (with an internet connection) to play. While this may not bother some players, it directly contrasts withHouse Secrets’core systems, which are that of a cooperative, narrative-driven adventure. This is only made worse by the fact that the game lacks solid mechanics.Dune: House Secretsleans heavily on its story elements, where it arguably fails, and leaves little else for players to sink their teeth into.
10Dune (1984)
Board Game Geek Rating: 5.7
Based on David Lynch’s rough-edged film adaptation, 1984’sDuneboard game leaves much to be desired. Due to its age, 1984’sDuneisn’t widely available, but it’s arguably one of the worst of theDunetabletop adaptations, failing to surpass its 1979 predecessor (though the two are nothing alike).
1984’sDunefeatures a more classic gameplay loop that has players moving tokens around a thematic board and rolling dice. However,Dunedoes manage to tie in many of the ideas represented in the film, including spice harvesters and the iconic Gom-Jabbar, among other things.
9Dune CCG
Board Game Geek Rating: 6.4
Set in theDuneuniverse, this collectible card game was, unfortunately, short-lived. This is arguably due to the sheer inaccessibility of theDunecollectible card game; the rules called for deep, strategic thinking, making the overall demographic much more niche.
These complexities, however, stayed as true to the source material as a collectible card game could possibly get. It’s not perfect, but at the time, being a fan of bothDuneand card games alike would have made theDuneCCGa perfect fit. Unfortunately, this game is long out of print.
8Dune: Betrayal
Board Game Geek Rating: 6.3
This social deduction game is reminiscent of designer Don Eskridge’s previous foray into social deduction,The Resistance. However,Dune: Betrayallacks the simplicity that madeThe Resistanceso quick to learn and easy to play.
Most of whatDune: Betrayaldoes differently is in its variety of cards, which adds a layer of strategy to the game at the cost of accessibility. While some may argue that added complexity allowsDune: Betrayalto feel fresh, and the game itself is hardly rocket science, there are simply better social deduction games - and betterDunegames - on the market.
7Arrakis: Dawn Of The Fremen
Board Game Geek Rating: 6.6
This old-school territory control war game has players playing as one of several Fremen tribes.Arrakis: Dawn Of The Fremenis a perfectly capable war game, but while it does feature thematic mechanics in line withDune, it’s not nearly as thematic as other tabletopDunegames.
However,Arrakis: Dawn Of The Fremendoes include a few thematic nods to the culture of the Fremen, including water debts, which can be used as a diplomatic resource. Although the game’s diplomacy elements certainly add to the experience, it can be relatively cutthroat. For players who enjoy negotiation and old-school territory control games alike,Dawn Of The Fremenis a solid game, but it’s arguably not the best tabletop experience in theDuneuniverse.
6Dune: Adventures In The Imperium
Board Game Geek Rating: N/A
This tabletop RPGtasks players with building their own fledgling Noble House in theDuneuniverse, and playing multiple characters within that House throughout a campaign. This alone makesAdventures In The Imperiuma unique TTRPG, but the addition of a meta-currency to manage (as both a player and a GM) makes it a distinct experience.
The rulebook itselfis tremendously helpful and faithful to its source material. However, this faithfulness makesDune: Adventures In The Imperiuma game that can be inaccessible to those unfamiliar with theDuneuniverse. For fans of theDuneIP and tabletop RPGs alike, however,Adventures In The Imperiumis a strong product.
5Dune: A Game Of Conquest And Diplomacy
Board Game Geek Rating: 6.8
This streamlined version of the 1979/2019Dunetabletop war game is very similar to its predecessors. However, this most recent version of the game is massively stripped back and tweaked to optimize play time and accessibility.
Unfortunately, these changes come at the expense of strategic depth, replay value, and overall scale.Dune: A Game Of Conquest And Diplomacycan only be played with a maximum of four players, and many of the changes it makes in the name of accessibility arguably lessen the experience for more experienced tabletop fans. However,Dune: A Game Of Conquest And Diplomacyis perfect for fans ofDunelooking for an accessible war game, or those looking for a game that doesn’t take an entire afternoon to play.
4Dune: War For Arrakis
Board Game Geek Rating: 8.4
From the designers who createdWar Of The Ring,a brilliant war gameset in Tolkien’s Middle-earth,Dune: War For Arrakisis a similar affair. However, it is different in enough notable ways to distinguish itself fromWar Of The Ring.
LikeWar Of The Ring,Dune: War For Arrakisis a miniature-heavy war game about territory control, featuring two asymmetric factions that have entirely different playstyles. Furthermore,War For Arrakisfeatures a unique action-dice system and thematic mechanics, such as spice harvesting.
3Dune (1979/2019)
Board Game Geek Rating: 7.6/8.0
Thislegendary tabletop adaptationofDunewas, and is, a widely regarded war game. InDune, players battle for strongholds across the deserts of Arrakis as one of several asymmetric factions. Throughout the game, players will have to muster garrisons and contend with the desert itself, tactically positioning troops to avoid deadly sandstorms and catch valuable spice.
Duneis a dramatically thematic and accurate representation of theDunenovel, making it perfect for fans of Frank Herbert’s universe. However, this comes at the expense of accessibility, makingDuneone of themost complex and demandingDuneexperiences on the tabletop. Although 1979’sDunewas long out of print, Gale Force Nine thankfully remastered the classic board game back in 2019.
2Dune: Imperium
Designed by the creator of the popular tabletop game,Clank!,Dune: Imperiumis a highly polished, strategic deck-builder for up to four players.Dune: Imperiumcombines the mechanics of deck-building games and worker-placement games alike to offer a truly distinct and strategic experience.
InDune: Imperium, players take on the role of a unique Leader, each with their special ability. Throughout a match, players use their cards to place agents across the board, attempting to build wealth, gain influence, or muster armies.Dune: Imperiumis deceptivelysimple and easy to learn, but packed with strategic decisions at every turn. Furthermore, the game has a fantastic digital version available on Steam.
