The World of Dune: Imperium and A Desert Challenge
Control the planet through a series of carefully calculated combat and influence victories in Dune: Imperium.
Being almost completely new to the world of Dune outside of the recent movie, I wasn’t particularly drawn to try out Dune: Imperium. Yet with highly regarded mechanics and a multiplayer experience I’ve enjoyed, it was time to enter the setting! With any luck, I would be able to influence the different factions and pull together my troops. Onward!
Game Overview
Game Name: Dune: Imperium
Publication Year: 2020
Designer: Paul Dennen
Artists: Clay Brooks, Raul Ramos, and Nate Storm
Publisher: Dire Wolf
Solo Mode: Included in the Base Game
Cards provide the options for worker placement each round as Agents take various actions. Combat forms a central element, yet gaining influence with the main factions provides a pivotal source of victory points. In the end, the planet weaves a story from beginning to end.
First Play
June 22, 2022
Complexity
3
Latest Play
October 27, 2022
Expansions
1
Setup Time
5 Minutes
Lifetime Plays
10
Play Time
50 Minutes
High Score
12
Game Area
40" x 28"
Low Score
6
Choosing a Leader
I randomly chose from the simpler leaders, as I wanted to focus on learning the core elements over any nuances.
Earl Memnon Thorvald was the winner! His special ability on the left was only usable once per play, yet it allowed for an increase on a single influence track. Very powerful!
With the Signet Ring card, he would gain an extra spice. More resources always help, and this was easy to learn.
Actually, as I read through all of the rules again, I was impressed by how clear nearly everything was. The large text and added examples certainly helped me out a lot.
Amazing Player Aids
In a lot of my solo games, player aids range from barely useful to rulebook replacements. These were some of the best I had come across! So clear and filled with details.
While I played, I only had to check some small edge cases in the main rulebook. Solo required a little more work, yet that only held true during my initial play.
For solo in particular, being able to be freed from the rules is important. Quick references save a lot of time.
The round order was also immensely useful to me, as I never missed anything nor felt like I was getting lost.
The Solo Opponents
At first, I was very curious about how playing against a duo of solo opponents would work. Was it going to feel overwhelming or like overkill over a single leader?
Of course not. Ha ha! This pair used a separate deck that randomized their decisions, yet kept everything clear.
Having both of them in play also added to the tension without requiring much bookkeeping. They could even be used against one another in carefully plotted ways!
Almost immediately, I could understand why this one was rated so highly. I was having a lot of fun about 2 turns in!
Agents in the Desert
The action selection process utilized a hand of cards. Most had just a handful of matching icons, meaning that I didn’t have the luxury of choosing just any space.
Yet there was also my favorite element… Multi-purpose cards! Each could provide benefits after taking actions, but only if it hadn’t been chosen to place an Agent.
There were a lot of decisions. Combat provided lucrative rewards, but focusing too much on my troops was foolish.
Holding sway with the 4 major factions was integral to victory. A quick look here might indicate who won… Me!
Intriguing Choices
Perhaps the most important element was a subtle one: Intrigue cards. This randomized deck wasn’t easy to get to, and I probably only saw about 3-5 cards per play.
Yet the swings in combat were amazing! In the final combat, for example, I needed to win. No doubt about it!
Count Ilban had a sizeable army, but I had a little trick up my sleeve, courtesy of the extra spice I collected. This card was the secret to my ultimate victory. Very exciting!
It was a very satisfying and close experience, even at the lowest difficulty level. Easy, but with complex strategies.
The Intersection of Simple and Complex
Sometimes, I label a solo game as being both simple and complex. How does that work? It’s not easy to put into words, but it comes down to the rules vs. the strategies. I’ve seen my fair share of in-depth rulebooks that can top 20-30 pages. Lots and lots of rules! These can be amazing games, of course, yet memorizing everything is nearly impossible.
With lengthy or complex sets of rules, I often focus my attention on making sure I’m playing within those same rules. I still have a chance to work on my strategies and make interesting decisions, yet that isn’t necessarily the core element.
In cases like this one, where the rules are straightforward and player aids provide guidance, I consider it easy to parse the limitations and sequences. My time isn’t spent on remembering or looking up what I can or can’t to: It’s almost entirely devoted to thinking through my options, which typically offer many decisions and can be more complex.
Game rules form the walls or boundaries of our actions or choices within that same game. I typically enjoy my time more when those rules are generally intuitive and straightforward. Then, I have the chance to see what happens! Bigger rulebooks still offer great experiences, yet I tend to enjoy the combination of simple rules and complex strategies.
Synergistic Cards
Over the course of play, my starting deck changed quite a lot. New cards offered me a way to focus on particular areas with their icons, or gain additional benefits.
Opulence only came out once when I purchased it late, yet it was excellent! Had I used it to place an Agent, it would have granted me 3 solari. Useful, but not what I wanted.
Instead, I saved it for the end of the turn. My pile of solari barely took a hit as I traded 6 solari for 1 victory point. Yes!
Finding synergies between the various cards was a lot of fun, too, particularly when I didn’t have the best choices.
Session Overview
Play Number: 1 and 2
Accessory: Dune: Imperium Deluxe Upgrade Pack
Solo Mode: Included in the Base Game
Play Details: Novice Difficulty Level
Outcome: 12-9-9 and 12-9-7 (2 Wins)
Maybe the final combat of my second play involved a bit of overkill… Ha ha! I won both plays, yet it was all very close. After all, I’ve played this with a group a few times. Still, it was nice to see the challenge at the easiest difficulty level. Onto the next level! This was a thrilling game that I enjoyed tremendously. I can’t wait to play again soon!
%
10 Plays
Affordability
Price & Value
9
Functionality
Challenges & Mechanics
10
Originality
Design & Theme
6
Quality
Components & Rules
9
Reusability
Achievement & Enjoyment
9
Variability
Distinctness & Randomness
9
+ Pros (Positives)
- Multi-purpose cards offer many decisions, and sometimes the best option is to not use a card to place an Agent.
- Excellent player aids provide almost all of the rules so the focus is solely on figuring out choices and strategies.
- The solo opponents are very simple to run with minimal downtime and clear instructions about what to do.
- Difficulty levels provide a way to customize the challenge, but even the easiest option isn’t a guaranteed win.
- A story can emerge from the way the leaders and factions advance, and no play feels exactly the same.
- Randomness with each solo opponent’s combat power makes for interesting outcomes during each round.
– Cons (Negatives)
- With the upgraded troop miniatures, the combat area feels just a little too tight to fit everyone comfortably.
- In the solo game, the card market row doesn’t refresh that much and the available options can be very limited.
- Gaining victory points when making a faction alliance can be easy to forget about without a clear icon.
- As important as intrigue cards are, sometimes randomness means the right ones remain hidden the entire play.
Victory Conditions
Score the Most Points
- Overall Goal Progress 100%
Goals and Milestones
Win at least 1 game as Earl Memnon Thorvald.
Win at least 1 game as Prince Rhombur Vernius.
Win at least 1 game at the novice difficulty level.
Win at least 1 game at the veteran difficulty level.
Win at least 1 game at the expert difficulty level.
Continue the Conversation
What are your thoughts about Dune: Imperium? Are there other solo games you enjoy that offer fairly simple rules and a complex decision space? I waited far too long to try this one out, and now it appears stuck on my game table for a little while! Discovering new games is such a joy, and I’m so glad I found the fun with this one. An excellent, excellent game!
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