Dune: Imperium

Both released in 2020. Both sitting comfortably in BGG’s top 30. Both mashing together deck-building and worker placement in ways nobody quite expected to work - and yet both absolutely singing at the table. Dune: Imperium and Lost Ruins of Arnak are the games that proved hybrid mechanisms weren’t just a design novelty. They’re the real deal. But despite the shared DNA, playing one after the other feels like visiting two different countries that happen to share a border. ...

Spice must flow: which Dune: Imperium add-ons are essential? Dune: Imperium is already one of the hobby’s heavy hitters for a reason. It sits at 8.41/10 from 57,859 ratings, carries a 3.08/5 weight, supports 1-4 players, and wraps its worker placement and deckbuilding into a game that usually lands in 60-120 minutes. That alone tells you plenty. This thing is not some niche curiosity for people who alphabetise their wooden cubes. It’s a modern staple. ...