Play Order (Release = Chronological)Recommended
0 / 7 playedThe games in release order, and the recommended play order for a first run.
- 1 Dune Cryo adventure-strategy original; a blend of questing and spice economics.
- 2 Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty Westwood RTS that defined the genre; the history buff's entry point.
- 3 Dune 2000 Remake of Dune II on the Command & Conquer engine, not a sequel.
- 4 Emperor: Battle for Dune Direct sequel to Dune 2000 with live-action cutscenes and three campaigns.
- 5 Frank Herbert's Dune Action-adventure tie-in; poorly received and safe to skip.
- 6 Dune: Spice Wars 4X and RTS hybrid; early access in 2022, full release in September 2023. The recommended modern entry point.
- 7 Dune: Awakening Open-world survival MMO on an alternate Arrakis. PC in June 2025; consoles in September 2026.
About Dune
Dune games run from Cryo's 1992 adventure-strategy original and Westwood's genre-defining Dune II to Funcom's modern Spice Wars and Awakening titles. This play order follows release order, which also tracks the design lineage, since each strategy game builds on the last. Newcomers chasing the modern take should start with Dune: Spice Wars; history buffs should start with Dune II.
The Dune films have their own post on this site, so this list covers games only. Dune 2000 is a remake of Dune II rather than a sequel, and Emperor: Battle for Dune continues from it. Awakening launched on PC in June 2025, with console versions dated just after this post's check date.
Good to know
Frank Herbert's Dune (2001) was a poorly received action tie-in, listed for completeness but safe to skip. Awakening launched on PC on June 10, 2025; PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions arrive September 22, 2026 per Funcom's June 2026 announcement. The cancelled Dune Generations MMO is omitted.
