Dune: Imperium 9+

Great Game, Great UI, Great Dev Support

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.

What is going on…?

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.

Developer Response ,

Hi there!

First up: The AI in Dune: Imperium does not cheat, or play by any special rules: It's playing the game exactly the same way that you are (though it's got more experience!). There's absolutely a learning-curve as you begin the game, and it's our hope that the Tutorials, followed by Easy AI games and the Challenges give players some space to explore and discover the strategies available. And if you're stuck, we've got a great player community on Discord that's happy to answer questions. Hope that helps!