App Store Editors’ Notes

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.

AI cheats

I love this game but whenever Helena Richese is one of my AI opponents suddenly cards in my hand don’t math like they are supposed to. For instance, “carryall” is supposed to give you *double* the base amount of spice but every time I play the card while she is one of the opponents I only get the base amount and sometimes not even that. This can completely screw up future turn strategies. On that same note, Helena has also been able to get multiple cards at a much bigger discount than her character ability states with currency she doesn’t have so by late game she is able to be far more overpowered than what anyone else can generate. I don’t have this issue when playing the physical game or against any other AI opponent so I just opt out if she is auto selected. Amazing game otherwise.

No pass and play?

I already own this on steam and I just spent $21 on this for my iPad so I could play with my wife only, there is no pass and play. Why?? I feel like it would be the easiest thing in the world to take your turn, hit done which would hide all your cards, hand it to the next person, who would tap a button to start their turn. Doesn’t seem like a hard implementation…. That said, I do love the game itself which is why I gave 3 stars, but I’m dumbfounded as to why they wouldn’t have this feature. For steam I can fully understand why they wouldn’t have it. But this is an iPad! Just as easy to hide a screen as a hand of cards!

Great Digital Version of a Modern Classic!

Dune: Imperium is a modern classic in the world of board games and this digital implementation is excellent. There are a few bug issues that need ironing out but nothing game breaking or issues that can’t be fixed in the coming days or weeks. The UI is intuitive and the sound and visual effects really elevate the experience. Fun to play with friends online and really hits the board gaming itch in a pinch or right before bed. Dire Wold Digital continues to produce great digital board games and I hope they continue to in the future because so far I haven’t played a game produced by them that isn’t anything but amazing.

Amazing game, convinced me to buy the tabletop version

I love when board games get released on iPad. I have bought as many as I see on here, and 25% of the time it leads to me buying the tabletop. After playing this a few times, buying the board game was a no-brainer. It’s excellent. I actually got Dune Imperium Uprising, since it is the same game but seems to have more features. I will be playing it tonight with family and friends for the first time, and thanks to this app, I am confident I can teach the rules and gameplay to them in no time!

Good game but UI is confusing.

Don’t get me wrong. The UI is beautiful, however when you have tech tiles actions available, the only way to know is if there’s a green mist coming out of your deck/avatar area. You have to tap on your tech tiles to bring them all lined up, and then the available will be glowing gold. Also the cards that allows you to take another immediate turn is glitchy. Sometimes works and sometimes it doesn’t. Overall I love this game, and anyone that owns, and has played the board games should try this. Despite the ui, which also has weird window size limitations on the mac, it’s an amazing game. I know it’s only going to get better.

Great Game, Annoying Quirks

First, let me start by saying it pains me to leave this review. The board game itself is wonderful, but the app has too many bugs for the price tag. anytime you bring the app to the foreground, you have to completely reload the state. 9 times out of 10, that looks like seeing an error screen, being spit back to the main menu, go to lobby, select your game, and wait another 15sec to 30sec while the game replays about the last round worth of activity. something keeps login credentials from caching for very long, because every tenth or so time you're forced to log back in again. notifications don't work at all, they force you through the same path as above. I wish the game stored your last viewed state and only played you the changes since you last loaded. I've spent hours at this point rewatching things I've already seen there's a setting to speed up board game moves, but ultimately it's a hack - it impacts your ability to take in what's happening when you actually care. I've written a kind and lengthy email with feedback and never heard back. me and a few friends have been playing this game for over a year now - I'd say we tolerate the quirks.

Dire Wolf Digital will release Bloodlines, a new Dune Imperium expansion, into US retail in Q1 2025.

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Recruit Sardaukar Commanders and unlock brand new tech tiles for your Dune: Imperium games, with Dune: Imperium - Bloodlines.

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