Dune for me is far better than arnak because there is a meaningful combat system which is so interesting! And so intense! Arnak unfortunately felt like I was playing a solitaire game. Player interaction in games is one of my favorite parts and Dune nails it. The extra leaders and shipping track are really great!
Dune Imperium and Lost Ruins of Arnak are both part of my 7-game Top 5 list haha. Looking forward to picking up Rise of Ix eventually. I love the idea of all of the changes, and as sad as I am to lose Rally Troops, I'm very excited with the new actions that replaced it, and I'm glad it keeps the tightness by not just adding more board spaces.
Dune Imperium is my most played game this year. I agree that Rise of X really enhances the game and opens up the strategic options. I always play with it and teach new players with it included.
Thanks for review, Interesting that Shelfside (BG YT channel) -Ahston rated base game 8/10, but expansion as 5/10 with a variety reasons why it dropped so badly. Had You watched their review and do You have some comment to their critique for expansion? Because Your review was mainly positive :) Thanks!
I've been a Dune fanboy since '84 or so. This game brings the novels to life and lets me immerse myself in the universe. Arnak is in the backseat to Dune for this reason. I like Arnak but one player in my group just turned off to it so it gets no love on the table. I don't agree that the base game has an A B C formula you can script every play nor would I put Ix on the table for first timers. There's far too much to absorb to play effectively against seasoned hands in the base game let alone put an extra layer on top of it and just presume it's a breeze to grok for anyone who sits down to play because they saw the film or it looks shiny.
"It is not an essential expansion" - "I would never play this without this expansion" ;) I disagree with half of it, it really is an essential expansion, it adds just enough of what was missing from the core and once you add it, well like most of the rest of us, we would never want to play without this expansion either
I also enjoy Arnak more but thought Dune really had something going for it. Unfortunately, I have only played it solo and want to play it multiplayer before adding any expansion content. As a solo game it is very enjoyable but I feel like there are so many things that would be better with human opponents.
I don't understand the love for arnak. It's just a basic resource conversion game with a very shallow deck building element. What am I missing? It's completely different from dune.
@@grog3514 it really is different than Dune. Some games just don't click for some people. I know there are plenty of games that I do not enjoy that others rave about. Arnak offers an ideal level of puzzle affected by other players that it keeps me coming back.
You probably are in the minority but it's not an overwhelming one, plenty that prefer Lost Ruins. I get kinda annoyed people treat it as a competition though, I enjoy both.
DI is a top 10 game for me and Arnak only bests it when played solo...but I fully agree with you that DI isn't optimal at 4 (at which Arnak is still good). The best player count of Dune is 3 players with 2 players also being really solid. Those are my most common player counts so that's no strike against it for my part.
i don't know... the digital base game seems more fun for me than with the Rise of Ix expansion. all those newfangled strategies seem to fizzle out before the 10 Rounds expire...
I would like to try Dune at some point. I have Lost Ruins, really like it, and I am waiting for Endless Winter. My wife does not like Dune, so it would be harder to table.
If you have not already tried it, you should check out Arctic Scavengers - one of my favorite deck builders that was the first to use a "poker hand" mechanic at the end of each turn to set up a fight for extra cards/rewards at the end of each round (much like the combat system in Dune:imperium)
@@GI-JOEs You’re very welcome. 😁 And no need to apologize! With so many games coming out and with repeating themes and IP’s, it’s only normal that one might get confused at some point xD
DI was an amusing but broken game and ROI fixed it. There were too many turns where you were frozen out of every optimal action and couldn't do anything meaningful. ROI opens up alternate strategies that allow you to STILL WIN if the previous optimal path is claimed.
Dune for me is far better than arnak because there is a meaningful combat system which is so interesting! And so intense! Arnak unfortunately felt like I was playing a solitaire game. Player interaction in games is one of my favorite parts and Dune nails it. The extra leaders and shipping track are really great!
Dune Imperium and Lost Ruins of Arnak are both part of my 7-game Top 5 list haha. Looking forward to picking up Rise of Ix eventually. I love the idea of all of the changes, and as sad as I am to lose Rally Troops, I'm very excited with the new actions that replaced it, and I'm glad it keeps the tightness by not just adding more board spaces.
Same thought, Rise of Ix brings Dune to a much higher level, would never go back to base game.
Dune Imperium is my most played game this year. I agree that Rise of X really enhances the game and opens up the strategic options. I always play with it and teach new players with it included.
Thanks for review, Interesting that Shelfside (BG YT channel) -Ahston rated base game 8/10, but expansion as 5/10 with a variety reasons why it dropped so badly. Had You watched their review and do You have some comment to their critique for expansion? Because Your review was mainly positive :) Thanks!
Shelfside made some really good points about it in their Ix review.
Like the metal coins you're using. Where are they from?
This game is so damn good. I haven't tabled Arnak since getting Rise of Ix, it catapulted Dune over it for me.
I've been a Dune fanboy since '84 or so. This game brings the novels to life and lets me immerse myself in the universe. Arnak is in the backseat to Dune for this reason. I like Arnak but one player in my group just turned off to it so it gets no love on the table. I don't agree that the base game has an A B C formula you can script every play nor would I put Ix on the table for first timers. There's far too much to absorb to play effectively against seasoned hands in the base game let alone put an extra layer on top of it and just presume it's a breeze to grok for anyone who sits down to play because they saw the film or it looks shiny.
"It is not an essential expansion" - "I would never play this without this expansion" ;) I disagree with half of it, it really is an essential expansion, it adds just enough of what was missing from the core and once you add it, well like most of the rest of us, we would never want to play without this expansion either
When I saw this on my phone I read it as "Rise of 1x" and was thinking ... man, I wonder what the 1x of 4x would be?
Lol yep
Has rise of ix been out long? I can’t seem to buy it in the U.K.
Curious what sleeves you use.
Sleeve kings :)
I also enjoy Arnak more but thought Dune really had something going for it. Unfortunately, I have only played it solo and want to play it multiplayer before adding any expansion content. As a solo game it is very enjoyable but I feel like there are so many things that would be better with human opponents.
I don't understand the love for arnak. It's just a basic resource conversion game with a very shallow deck building element. What am I missing? It's completely different from dune.
@@grog3514 it really is different than Dune. Some games just don't click for some people. I know there are plenty of games that I do not enjoy that others rave about. Arnak offers an ideal level of puzzle affected by other players that it keeps me coming back.
I always felt I was in the minority for liking Arnak more than Dune. I like Dune but it just feels like it takes too long when I play 4 player.
Arnak would be a pointless multiplayer solitaire at 4 so maybe shorter but less enjoyable? At least there is interaction in dune which warrants 4p
You probably are in the minority but it's not an overwhelming one, plenty that prefer Lost Ruins. I get kinda annoyed people treat it as a competition though, I enjoy both.
DI is a top 10 game for me and Arnak only bests it when played solo...but I fully agree with you that DI isn't optimal at 4 (at which Arnak is still good). The best player count of Dune is 3 players with 2 players also being really solid. Those are my most common player counts so that's no strike against it for my part.
i don't know...
the digital base game seems more fun for me than with the Rise of Ix expansion.
all those newfangled strategies seem to fizzle out before the 10 Rounds expire...
Really, I thought more people liked arnak more. I enjoyed Dune just fine, but I need to try it with IX
Curious where you got those coins?
I would like to try Dune at some point. I have Lost Ruins, really like it, and I am waiting for Endless Winter. My wife does not like Dune, so it would be harder to table.
You don't have to like the Dune theme to enjoy the game. If you like Lost Ruins you'll probably like Dune as well.
I like the Scthye food....I mean custom spice tokens.
:)
Endless winter camp will be joining in that discussion soon also.
If you have not already tried it, you should check out Arctic Scavengers - one of my favorite deck builders that was the first to use a "poker hand" mechanic at the end of each turn to set up a fight for extra cards/rewards at the end of each round (much like the combat system in Dune:imperium)
Alex, the new Dune kickstarter announcement. Is it an expansion or a stand-a -lone ?
Not a Kickstarter, Dune: Imperium has always been straight to retail. It's an expansion.
You mean CMON's upcoming Dune game? Not related to this one whatsoever. It's its own game. :)
@@renatocarvalho6059 Correct the CMON Dune Board Game. My apologies. I thought they were related. Thanks for clarifying.
@@GI-JOEs You’re very welcome. 😁
And no need to apologize! With so many games coming out and with repeating themes and IP’s, it’s only normal that one might get confused at some point xD
On my, To Play Someday, list.
It's so good :-)
Nice video Alex 😊. Dune is one of my favorite games with this new expansion! Let's see what the new expansion adds!
Still haven't played Dune... one day though!
DI was an amusing but broken game and ROI fixed it. There were too many turns where you were frozen out of every optimal action and couldn't do anything meaningful. ROI opens up alternate strategies that allow you to STILL WIN if the previous optimal path is claimed.
Great review. Well balanced which is why I keep coming back!
Plus... Dad jokes.