Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 18
  2. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Sep 20, 2023
    70
    Dune: Spice Wars lacks spirit and a story campaign. The solid gameplay foundation alone is not convincing in the long run.
  2. Sep 21, 2023
    64
    A solid 4X that fails to capture the spirit of its colourful setting.
  3. Sep 24, 2023
    60
    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.
  4. Sep 20, 2023
    60
    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.
  5. Sep 19, 2023
    60
    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.
  6. Jan 28, 2024
    59
    In Frank Herbert's book series, everyone wants to own Arrakis. In our world, it doesn't make much sense to return to the mysterious planet in Dune: Spice Wars.
This publication does not provide a score for their reviews.
This publication has not posted a final review score yet.
These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation.
  1. Sep 22, 2023
    Dune: Spice Wars leaves early access without many relevant changes beyond its campaign mode. The style of play and the political base are maintained, and although it is enough to get you hooked and enjoy the game, at the same time its lack of new features weigths too much.
  2. With a haunting soundtrack, great sound effects, a great visual style that stands out from the crowd, excellent commanding gameplay, and the plethora of options that you'll be able to take to achieve victory, you'll find yourself excited to try to take command of the Spice, even if you end suffering a crushing loss. [Provisional Score = 90]
  3. Less good than very good is still good (wrote the professional, terribly), and Spice Wars has been a very pleasant surprise overall. It’s intricate. It’s polished. It’s well considered.