Dune 2: Battle for Arrakis (1992-)

Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty (known in Europe as Dune II: Battle for Arrakis) was developed by Westwood Studios and released in December 1992 by Virgin Games. Originally launched on MS-DOS systems, it later expanded to platforms like the Amiga, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, and even RISC OS computers. Over time, it also saw unofficial ports and engine recreations, including open-source projects that kept its legacy alive for modern systems 

In Dune II, players command one of three interplanetary houses—the noble Atreides, the ruthless Harkonnens, or the mysterious Ordos—all vying for control of the desert planet Arrakis and its precious spice. The gameplay introduced a groundbreaking mix of RTS mechanics: base construction, resource harvesting, unit production, and real-time tactical combat, wrapped within the star sandy world of Frank Herbert’s Dune universe. While not the absolute first RTS, its design established the genre’s modern blueprint: intuitive mouse-driven control, fog of war, and streamlined resource-to-unit loops.

There weren’t any direct prequels, as Dune II itself was a standalone interpretation within the Dune setting, separate from Cryo Interactive’s concurrently developed adventure-strategy adaptation titled Dune. However, it undeniably set the stage for future RTS classics—including Westwood’s own Command & Conquer series—and inspired spiritual successors like Dune 2000 and Emperor: Battle for Dune.

Upon release, Dune II garnered widespread critical and commercial acclaim. It was named Strategy Game of the Year (1993) by Computer Gaming World, and reviewers praised its accessible yet deep gameplay, polished graphics, and immersive sound design. Ports to platforms like the Amiga and Genesis received similar praise, despite minor limitations. It quickly earned its place as a genre-defining classic—ranked among the greatest games of all time by outlets like Time and GameSpy—and remains a touchstone for fans of strategy gaming.

Key Features of Dune II

• Mouse-driven real-time strategy interface with context-sensitive commands

• Three distinct playable factions, each with unique units and base styles

• Resource harvesting system centered around spice extraction, underpinning economy and production

• Fog of war and map exploration mechanics enhancing strategic complexity

• Base-building mechanics leading to varied military and technological paths

• Legacy that spawned genre-defining successors like Command & Conquer

Images from MobyGames