Review - Dune: Awakening

Developer: Funcom

Publisher: Funcom

Available on: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (Steam), Linux, Xbox One

First Impressions

Dune: Awakening is one of those rare games that immediately sets a tone you can feel in your bones. From the moment you set foot on Arrakis, the desert begins pressing down on you, reminding you this is not a world designed for comfort. If you are coming in as a solo player, you need to know exactly what you are stepping into: survival is difficult, punishing, and sometimes downright cruel. The desert does not care that you wanted a chill evening. You will be thirsty, starving, hunted, and humbled more times than you care to admit.

And yet, this is exactly what makes it compelling. Arrakis is not meant to coddle you, and the game does not pretend otherwise. Every step forward feels like a battle against the planet itself. When you finally manage to carve out a little patch of existence, the satisfaction is profound. That sense of being small, fragile, and constantly one mistake away from disaster is the essence of Dune.

The Environment

The environment is absolutely the star here. The developers have nailed the atmosphere. Towering dunes, sudden sandstorms, ancient ruins, and, of course, the looming terror of the worms all make the world feel alive in a way most survival games struggle to achieve. Simply walking through Arrakis feels meaningful. It is not just another open-world desert map; it is the desert, the one you have read about, imagined, and feared.

Building and Accomplishment

Building systems deserve their own spotlight. Survival games live and die on their construction mechanics, and here the act of creating feels powerful in contrast to the hostile landscape. Every wall raised, every shelter built, is a statement: “I exist here, despite you, desert.” Clearing out an enemy camp or reclaiming a patch of sand for yourself has weight. It is not busywork, it is defiance, and it feels good.

Combat and Strategy

Combat demands respect. This is not a game where you charge in swinging and hope for the best. If you fail to think about which enemies you are fighting and what environment you are in, you will end up as worm bait. The system is unforgiving, and rushing in unprepared is a quick ticket back to respawn. But when you do plan properly, when you adapt, the victories feel all the sweeter. It is one of those systems that makes failure sting but makes triumph shine.

Developer Transparency

A major point in the game’s favor is the development team’s transparency. They have been open about their plans, the rough edges, and the improvements on the horizon. That kind of honesty matters. It makes the harsher design choices easier to swallow because you know the developers are not brushing them under the rug. They see the same pain points players do, and they are willing to talk about them.

Conclusion

So, would I recommend Dune: Awakening? If you are hunting for a purely solo-friendly survival game, probably not. The systems lean hard against the lone wanderer, and success will demand more time, patience, and grit than many are willing to give. But if what you want is immersion, if you want to live and breathe the sand, feel the storm roll over you, and test yourself against one of science fiction’s harshest worlds, then yes. Absolutely. Play it. Even if only for a little while.

You will be rewarded with moments that stick. Standing on the edge of a storm as it swallows the horizon. Watching a worm rise from the sands like something out of a nightmare. Clearing out a hostile stretch of desert and planting your own flag. These are experiences worth the struggle.

Dune: Awakening is not a game that will hold your hand. It will chew on you a little and maybe laugh while you scramble. But if you think you can out-grind the desert, go on. Arrakis is waiting. Just do not say I did not warn you.

DUNE: AWAKENING IS RECOMMENDED