Dune: Spice Wars

Critic reviews

• Windows Central

  Samuel Tolbert · Dec 08, 2023

  8.0

  Dune: Spice Wars is a solid strategy experience that allows players to win or lose through politics, not just combat. The game clearly uses Dune as a setting, not just an aesthetic. The Xbox controls can be convoluted to learn, however, and the tiny UI elements could present a challenge for some prospective players.

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• COGconnected

  Jaina Hill · Sep 28, 2023

  7.8

  Spice Wars is the kind of power struggle fantasy game that we’ve been seeing for decades, but its a winning formula. Sure Spice Wars might mostly be porting over a lot of the mechanics from Northgard and dressing them up with a new coat of paint, but it’s an incredible court of paint. If you were distraught to learn that the second Dune movie will be pushed back into next year, Spice Wars will probably hold you over until the big day for the big worms.

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• PC Gamer

  Alexander Chatziioannou · Sep 21, 2023

  6.4

  Dune: Spice Wars is a faithful homage to its inspiration and a fine entry point for 4X newcomers, but there's not enough depth in its interlocking systems nor a compelling narrative hook to engage the genre veteran. I was happy to have conquered Arrakis once, but I'm unlikely to roam the dunes again anytime soon. After my initial excitement had passed, Herbert's majestic world started to feel, shall we say, a little dry.

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• Euro Gamer

  Andrei Pechalin · Sep 21, 2023

  6.0

  A wide range of systems make Dune: Spice Wars an enjoyable 4X, but the depth of Frank Herbert's world-building is largely lost in translation.

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• Finger Guns

  Miles Thompson · Sep 21, 2023

  6.0

  A lack of the promised single-player story mode, middling graphics and relatively shallow combat systems threaten to consume Dune: Spice Wars in the maws of a Sandworm. Thankfully, it’s somewhat rescued by an authentic recreation of the Dune universe and the scope of available ways to play. It won’t be usurping the Imperial council, but the launch of Arrakis’ mining wars is a solid, if unspectacular one.

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• techradar

  Cat Bussell · Sep 19, 2023

  6.0

  A competent strategy outing, Dune: Spice Wars provides a range of strategic systems that offer engaging decision points for players. However, without a narrative campaign, options for play are limited, and immersion into this classic sci-fi setting is held back by samey environments and shallow combat.

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