Uncover the Secrets of the Houses of Dune
Dune: House Secrets is a 1-4 player cooperative app-driven storytelling game inspired by Frank Herbert's novel (and associated 2021 film), Dune. In Dune, you are taking on the role of rebels working against the evil House Harkonnen on the spice-rich planet Arrakis. The game is now available on pre-order from Portal Games and Portal Games US. Pre-ordering customers will be treated to exclusive content which won't be included in the retail edition.
Dune: House Secrets is divided in chapters, each with a specific goal that has to be achieved. You will be pursuing these goals through a series of encounters within a limited amount of time. At the end of each chapter, you will have to fill out a status report about the information you have gathered, and add suggestions on how to proceed. The decisions you make will affect the final outcome.
To play the game, you will first choose your character, receive the associated resources, and then log in to the Dune website to start the chapter and listen to the storyline. Characters you don't choose become advocates that can help you during the game. The Time track on the main board indicates how much time you have left to carry out your mission. Each encounter you face, moves the time forward. The Consequence track shows how much experience you gain when you complete a chapter, and also how well-known your actions are to the Harkonnen.
The resources you'll need to accomplish your goals are: Spice, Water, Weapons, Subterfuge, and Wild. These will often be used to resolve encounters. At the beginning of the game, you will be provided with a number of encounters you can pursue. These encounter cards give you bits of information that you will need to progress the story, add to or diminish your resources, instruct you to take an Asset card or draw a Consequence token, and lead you to further encounters.
There is no win or lose condition in Dune. You simply end your game as soon as you reach the end of the Time Track, submit your status report, and learn about the consequences of your actions.
I'm tempted because Dune is among my favorite book series but... the use of the website (which seems to be pervasive throughout the game) tends to keep me out.