Is Dune Awakening Worth Playing?
TLDR: Yes
Introduction
(Apologies for the audio on many of the videos. Steam replay was didn’t pick up the game for whatever reason.)
So today I'm writing a review for Dune Awakening. I've been waiting for this game a long time. As a matter of fact, it's been top of my wishlist for what must be four or five years now. Since I started bits and pixels, I have been reaching out to the developers monthly to try to get an early copy of the game. unfortunately, that never materialized but now the game is out and I’m hooked.
Gameplay Experience
I put about 20 hours into the game so far and, amazingly, I don't think I've made it to the mid-game yet. I've been taking my time with it, enjoying the game, and just appreciating the systems, and the harsh reality of surviving on the hostile world of Arrakis.
Initial Impressions
First off, I'd like to say that initially, the presentation of the game is fantastic. There's nothing about the game I don't like. The fact that at the beginning you choose a backstory for your character implies that there's some level of alternate playthroughs available where the paths your character takes are different based on the backstory you chose, which I really like.
Survival Mechanics
The game is a survival game but with only one repeating draining mechanic. In survival crafting games like Subnautica or other games I reviewed recently (see the review for Runescape Dragon Wilds), you not only have to deal with your health but also with constantly depleting resources such as food and water. These resources often become tedious, especially when systems automate them for you. I appreciate when games circumvent this and allow these mechanics to incorporate into the settings without exploitation.
Dune Awakening feels inspired by the methodology of *Doom 2016*, where healing and ammo replenishment occur through direct combat actions like glory kills, making you feel like a badass. Similarly, in Dune, the major currency resource to manage is water due to the planet's hostile environment. Water is primarily obtained by killing scav NPCs, draining their blood, and refining it into water. This visceral system encourages exploration and combat, rewarding players with essential resources.
Combat
The combat in Dune Awakening feels really good. Initially, it felt a little janky, but as I’ve gotten the hang of it, I’ve learned to enjoy it—especially since I picked the soldier class, which offers many combat options. Other classes also look cool, and I’ve envied their abilities.
Crafting System
The crafting system is very intuitive. Unlike No Man’s Sky, where crafting resources are derived from the same core materials, Dune Awakening uses specific relics from diverse groups of people on Dune.
For example:
· To craft a Fremen water suit, you must find relic spots, usually located in caves.
· For a modern Holtzman shield (the blue thing from the movie), you loot from scientific abandoned sites.
· Military equipment requires raiding military ships.
This approach encourages exploration and combat while intuitively guiding you toward materials.
Exploration
Exploration in Dune Awakening is fantastic. Players must stick to shadows during the day to avoid heat stroke—an engaging mechanic that aligns with the game's theme without being overly intrusive. Crossing open areas and facing sandworms adds thrilling tension. The sandworms provide dramatic spectacles while warning players of danger, offering a balance between immersion and gameplay.
Missed Opportunities
The absence of sandwalk techniques from the books and movies is noticeable. Although lore-wise, your character probably wouldn’t know them, their inclusion could have added an interesting mechanic.
Story and Worldbuilding
The game’s story unfolds in an alternate reality where Paul Atreides was never born, leading to the Fremen being wiped out. This is disappointing for me as the Fremen were my favorite cultural group in the original books. Their absence makes the world feel somewhat hollow, as the overworld factions (like House Harkonnen and House Atreides) lack the depth Fremen brought to Dune’s universe.
House Building System
Building houses is fun, offering creative possibilities despite occasional restrictions. Seeing other players’ houses scattered across the world in this server-based MMO is particularly enjoyable.
Co-op and MMO Features
The game feels more like a co-op survival experience than a traditional MMO until the late-game. Playing solo or with my girlfriend has been equally fun, maintaining consistent difficulty regardless of player count. Resource sharing in co-op can add minor challenges.
Vehicles
Vehicles are impressive, and I’m eager to access more as I progress.
User Experience Improvements
The user experience needs refinement in several areas:
· Switching to the blood sucker after killing enemies is tedious.
· Building mode feels overly complicated and should have a hotkey.
· The building menu and controls are unnecessarily complex.
Although these issues are frustrating, the overall launch of the MMO has been the best I’ve ever seen.
Conclusion
If you’re a fan of Dune and want to immerse yourself in its world, I highly recommend Dune Awakening. The game offers a generous amount of gameplay time and an authentic experience that captures the essence of the Dune universe. Despite minor flaws, the sound effects and immersive elements make it a fantastic game. I look forward to discovering more and sharing additional thoughts in the future. Let me know what you think of the game if you’ve played it or if this review inspires you to try it. Thank you for reading, and I’ll see you in the next one.
Find it on steam along with all of my other recommendations here: Dune Awakening