Whether it’s the eerie loneliness of the sand dancing lightly on the surface of Arrakis, or the ferocity of a giant sandworm chasing you for dinner. Awakening of the dunes‘s take on the iconic sci-fi series has resulted in one of the best survival games of all time. After watching the new two movies multiple times and reading the classic novels, I can say that Funcom’s take on this series is one of my favorites. And right now, there’s a huge discount on it. You will feel like you are Risan Al Ghaib.
As the sun beats down on the surface of Arrakis, it’s not exactly a pleasant holiday in Dune Awakening. Not only do you need to be aware of water levels so you can survive in Sandworm territory, you also need to be aware of enemy NPCs and other players if you end up in a PvP zone. Everything feels as difficult as it seems when you think about starting with nothing, or something close to it. That’s what Arrakis should be.
But Dune Awakening’s story helps you grow from a barely-surviving human to a burly Freeman-like warrior who thrives in the unbearable environment of Arrakis. Set in an alternate world where Duke Leto Atreides survived and Paul was never born, we will need to uncover what happened to the Fremen and focus on the conflict between House Atreides and House Harkonnen. To be honest, this is not your typical travel destination.
The story gives you a reason to keep exploring Arrakis, but the idea of not only surviving such horrifying conditions, but excelling in them, is what drives you to keep playing. By gathering resources and finding rare techniques, you can eventually acquire equipment that will help you gather coveted and expensive spices from rags to the riches of Arakkin. You’ll also have to make difficult decisions, such as whether to wear heavy armor or use the Stillsuit for lower defense and more hydration. If you die from the sandworm, all your belongings will be gone, so there’s no pressure.
I mean, I love this game. I think Dune Awakening does a great job of capturing that sense of how intense it is to grapple with that world, while also retaining that magical sci-fi feeling of being caught up in Dune. If you want to get this great survival game at a discount, you can get Dune Awakening for just $28.49 / £23.93 at Fanatical. This is 43% off the standard price, and if you want to get bonus content, the Deluxe and Ultimate versions are also available at a discounted price, giving you access to future premium expansions and some cosmetics.
If there’s one game I recommend playing during the holidays, it’s Dune Awakening. Now that winter weather is here and we’re spending more time indoors, why not dive into a dangerous world that’s hotter than the surface of the sun? We can’t think of a better way to spend your days indoors. Excuse me, but I think I need to go to the base and check in.