Dune: Imperium

I used to be able to play the DLC content with my friends as long as the host of the lobby owned the necessary DLC(s). This is how it works with the physical editions of any board game and this is how it works with many digital adaptations of board games, as well as many digital strategy games in general. But recently the devs decided to no longer allow players to play in lobbies that are using any DLC content that we don't also own, so now I can no longer play this game with my friends unless I pay more than double the price of the base game to catch up on DLC purchases. As a side note, from what I've heard this has apparently happened with other digital Dire Wolf games as well. I don't mind the devs locking some of the game's game modes behind the DLCs (ranked mode, the solo challenges and maybe even skirmish mode) - I think it's fair that they do so, because they do need to make their money somehow - but this change to also lock custom lobbies just feels like an unnecessary punishment to the players (such as myself) who had been enjoying the way things were before. And unfortunately I'm certain it will serve as a deterrent to at least some prospective buyers, as having to buy multiple DLCs to catch up to the existing playerbase might seem like too big of an investment for people who might be interested in getting started with Dune: Imperium Digital. Regardless, I just want to play the game with my friends in custom lobbies like we used to be able to do previously in this game, and like we're able to do with many other physical and digital strategy games. This is a very good game and I enjoy playing it, but I do not agree with this decision by Dire Wolf and will not support it. If I were able to make this review be marked as "neutral" or "mixed" instead of "negative" I would've done so, but Steam does not provide that functionality as of the time of writing this review so I have no choice but to leave a "negative" review instead. If Dire Wolf reverts this change and allows all players to play DLC content in custom lobbies where the host owns the DLC(s), then I will update this review.

This is a good game and I´ve played it a lot. However, YOU ABSOLUTELY SHOULD NOT BUY THIS GAME anymore, since they removed the possibility of playing ranked games since the release of Dune Imperium Uprising - which is of course an effort to boost the sales of Uprising by making the regular game borderline useless. If you buy this plus expansions now for 40+ euros, all you get to do is play against bots. Yes, there are normal games you can play against real people if they happen to queue the same time as you do, but they will leave the game the instant they realize they are not winning and then you play against bots anyway. So just be warned: if you buy this, you are getting scammed. And you wouldn´t even have a possibility to know it, since DIre Wolf, to my knowledge, haven´t published a single announcement regarding this issue.

Dune: Imperium Uprising is my favorite board game in realspace. This adaptation is incredibly smooth, detailed, pleasing to look at, and has some pretty good music too. Dire Wolf Digital does board game adaptations very well, their digital version was my first experience with them, and this is an upgrade in almost every way. I will say, and this is not a critique of the digital version so much as the physical game, I don't care as much for Immortality and Rise of Ix, and I believe the base game isn't as good as Uprising, so if you want what I feel is the most enjoyable experience, I'd skip the first two expansions and go straight to Uprising - it changes nearly every part of the base game in some way. OH! Also, I highly recommend that if you're going to get it on both Steam and Mobile, buy your expansions on Steam - you'll also get them in mobile as long as you're using the same Dire Wolf account!

Changed game so $50 worth of expansion DLCs are worthless

I bought this game plus two expansions, spending almost 50 dollars on this game. I love it very much. It is a great board game and great digital adaptation. I have also the physical copy of the game and expansions. However, i feel scammed. They just put out the new expansion (Uprising). I like Uprising, but i much prefer the base game and i would like to be able to play the base game. However, they don't allow us to play multiplayer ranked games anymore. You can play ranked only if you buy the new expansion and you can only play Uprising. I don't want that, i just want to be able to play the game i have. Yes, i spent a 50 dollars on the game that is currently unplayable! Yes, you can technically play in the non-ranked player's lobby, but that lobby doesn't have big enough player base to provide you a match. So, it's basically ranked or you can't play. Or in the other words - you can't play Dune Imperium + Ix +Immo anymore! So i would strongly recommend against purchasing this game and its expansions, since you can't play it actually unless you buy every single expansion right after they release it!

The game itself is great, but the fact that you can't play ranked without expansions makes it unplayable. I spent 45$ on the game and DLCs and can't play without the last one.

Dune: Imperium is a worker-placement and deck-building board game. The store page rigthfully describes the game as the ultimate blend of strategy and intrigue. It is a thrilling struggle for dominance, best enjoyed by up to 3-4 players. This really is one of the best competative strategy board games and Dire Wolf did a phenomenal job with the digital adaptation as always. All the expansions are definitely worth buying even at full price, everyone of them add more variety and ways to enjoy the game. I'll recommend buying the Uprising DLC first. Uprising is basically a refined, standalone sequel to the base game. When the Bloodlines expansion comes to Steam, it will most likely be the best DLC to add for Uprising. Until then, if you have to choose between Immortality and Rise of Ix, I'll recommend buying the Immortality DLC before Rise of Ix. Keep in mind that the Conspiracy expansion was also announced recently and would hopefully be available soon. Don't worry, you don't have to own all the DLC's before you can get into the action. Your millage will differ, but there are plenty of ways to enjoy the game — in solo mode with "vs AI", "Challenges" (for each DLC), "Skirmish" and in online mode with "Lobby", "Ranked", "Events". Even though the DLC's are all quite affordable and well priced compared to the base game, I have to agree with other reviewers that Dire Wolf should rather use the host-only model in unranked lobbies. Whether their current practice is fair, is off course subjective and widely debated in the digital board game community. The host-only model is the standard for physical board games, if not only out of necessity. The fact is that requiring everyone to buy DLC's, splits friend groups up. Some friends might not be able to afford buying all the DLC's, and this can make it harder to play your favourite game with friends. This also cause a high barrier to entry for new players, and makes it more difficult to convince friends to start playing Dune:Imperium with you, since it becomes an expensive prospect the more DLC's get added.

The board game is good but there really should be some QoL fixes. The fact that you can't view more information about the game you just played is terrible. It tracks very little stats or game history. There should also be a tool tip guide during games on how cards operate. Also, expansions should be way cheaper for more rich matchmaking.

One of the best competitive board games, I'm really glad they made a digital variant of it.

One of the best digital board games I've ever played, maybe physical too. It is a bit more complex than most board games out there but with the tutorial you can easily grasp the basic gameplay. Very thematic to the Dune universe and very well balanced as far as character "powers", although some are obviously better than others. I would recommend the 'Rise of Ix' expansion if you only want to get one. They are all fun but that one is the best.