Dune: Spice Wars
Ornithopters soar in search of new Spice fields while my Sardauker finishes taking control of a small village. In the distance, I see signs of a sandworm, blocking any attempt to cross the empty dune by land. This is Dune: Spice Wars, a strategy game that asks players to take control of Arrakis in whatever way they see fit. Military might is one path, but there are also much more subtle ways to take control. It’s a fun experience that has been available on PC for some time and can now be played on Xbox Series X|S consoles, as well as accessible through Xbox Game Pass. There are some issues worth mentioning, with the controls taking some time to get used to, and the small user interface elements can definitely pose a challenge for some. Overall, this is a game that delves into the world of Dune, relying on factions in the foreground and in the shadows to create a solid strategic experience.
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What is Dune: Spice Wars?
Choose a faction and get started. (Image credit: Windows Central)
Dune: Spice Wars is a strategy game developed by Shiro Games (who previously developed Northgard) and co-published by Shiro Games and Funcom. Like Northgard, Dune: Spice Wars combines 4X strategy design elements with real-time gameplay, meaning that players focus on developing buildings and technology, but can still fight and advance in real-time, rather than waiting for turns. Conflicts of different scales are available, with “Duel of Kanly” one-on-one if you want a quick game against a single opponent, as well as longer format campaigns involving multiple ways to achieve victory. While different factions have advantages and disadvantages, ultimately you will want to boost your economy by harvesting Spice and not being invaded politically or militarily.
Dune: Spice Wars – Gameplay and Customization
Fight to control rare resources like water. (Image credit: Windows Central)
As mentioned above, all factions on Arrakis want to control the Spice, so a big part of the gameplay here involves placing harvesters to collect this rare substance in order to make money. Spice production is not only useful for your economy, but it is also required, with a tax to pay that increases more and more as the games last. You can also choose how much to sell immediately and how much to store, meaning you are constantly evaluating having more wealth in the moment and the possibility of running out of Spice later. And as always, there is the threat of the iconic sandworms, ready and waiting to swallow both your harvesters and your soldiers if you are not paying attention. In addition to constantly monitoring your Spice, there is a lot to manage, including other resources like water, placrete, and intelligence. Any newcomer should absolutely follow the tutorial to avoid being overwhelmed. You can build armies to subjugate villages or attack other major factions, recruit agents to start conspiracies to undermine or spy on your enemies, and vote using the political influence gathered in the Landsraad. Having enough votes to pass a vote can be more deadly than a stealthy attack. After all, it doesn’t matter if your enemy has an unbeatable army if suddenly they are hit by exorbitant maintenance costs. All of this helps this game to capture the spirit of Dune, and it really feels like you are in a battle of wits through subterfuge, not just military power.