Is it 'pay-to-win' with the Spice?

Not exactly, but there are definitely microtransactions for cosmetics and convenience. You can't just buy your way to the top of Arrakis, but players with more time (or money for 'battle passes') will have a smoother ride.

Can my kid play this entirely solo?

Technically yes, but they'll be at a massive disadvantage. The game is balanced around 'Tribes' (guilds). A solo player is basically a snack for a coordinated group of raiders.

How violent is it compared to the movies?

It's roughly on par with a PG-13 action movie. There's blood and intense combat, but it's not 'Mortal Kombat' levels of gore. The intensity comes more from the threat of loss than the visual violence.

What's the 'Deep Desert' and should I be worried?

It's the endgame zone where the map literally shifts after sandstorms, and PvP is always on. It's the most exciting part of the game but also the most toxic. If your kid is playing there, they're in the 'big leagues' of online gaming.

Dune: Awakening – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Dune: Awakening

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

game2024

76%

WISE Score

Survive the heat, the sandworms, and the even deadlier players in this massive, spice-dusted sandbox.

Dune: Awakening

game

2024

76%

WISE Score

Survive the heat, the sandworms, and the even deadlier players in this massive, spice-dusted sandbox.

Jump to

Also rated on

View →

Where to Play

Platform availability info not available. Search for "Dune: Awakening" on your preferred gaming platform.

Screenwise Verdict

Dune: Awakening is a gorgeous, complex, and often frustrating 'job' in the best way possible. If your kid loved the movies and has the patience for games like Ark: Survival Evolved or Rust, they'll find a lot to love here. It's not a casual experience; it's a commitment to a harsh digital ecosystem.

For parents, the biggest hurdle isn't the violence—which is standard sci-fi fare—but the social landscape. This is an MMO where power matters, and players can be ruthless. It’s a great sandbox for learning about economics and diplomacy, provided you’re okay with the occasional 'Arrakis is hard' life lesson when a rival faction blows up your spice harvester.

Age Fit

Best for ages 13 and up. The mechanics are dense, the survival is punishing, and the social dynamics require a level of maturity to handle the inevitable 'ganking' from other players.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Arrakis is a brutal, unforgiving environment by design. While cooperation within guilds is necessary, the tone is one of cutthroat survival rather than kindness.

Imaginative

The crafting systems and base-building are top-tier. Designing ornithopters and navigating the shifting sands of the Deep Desert requires genuine creative problem-solving.

Safe

It's an open-world survival MMO. This means unmoderated player interactions, potential for 'griefing' in PvP zones, and high-stress mechanics where you can lose progress to other players.

Enriching

Teaches complex resource management, logistical planning, and social diplomacy. Navigating the spice economy is basically a crash course in market volatility.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Deep crafting that lets you build everything from a basic stillsuit to a massive desert fortress.
The scale of Arrakis is genuinely breathtaking, especially when you're piloting an ornithopter through a dust storm.
Guild politics and the Landsraad system offer a level of social strategy that most games can't touch.
It captures the visual DNA of the Denis Villeneuve films perfectly, making it a treat for fans of the aesthetic.

⚠

What to Watch For

The PvP is high-stakes; in the Deep Desert, other players can and will kill you for your loot, which can be devastating for younger or more sensitive players.
It's a massive time sink. Survival games require 'maintenance play'—logging in just to make sure your base has power or your character has water.
The social friction is real. Joining a guild is almost mandatory for high-level play, exposing kids to the typical drama and occasionally toxic behavior of MMO communities.

Conversation Starters

"If we were stuck in a desert with limited water, who in our family would be the best at rationing it?"
"Why do you think people in the game choose to betray each other for spice instead of working together?"
"Is it more fun to build something yourself or to join a big group where you're just one part of the machine?"
"If you lost all your gear in a fight, would you want to keep playing or take a break?"

Deep Dive

The 'Rust' of Arrakis

If you’re expecting a narrative-heavy RPG where you follow Paul Atreides around, look elsewhere. Dune: Awakening is an alternate-history sandbox. It asks: 'What if you were just some guy on Arrakis trying not to die?' The answer involves a lot of digging, harvesting, and looking over your shoulder.

Mechanically, the game is a triumph of systems. The way water acts as both a health bar and a currency is brilliant. You don't just 'have' water; you have to manage your stillsuit, stay in the shade, and hunt for moisture. For a kid who enjoys spreadsheets or complex LEGO builds, this kind of systems-thinking is pure catnip.

However, we have to talk about the 'MMO Tax.' To get to the cool stuff—the tanks, the big bases, the spice wars—you have to put in the hours. This can lead to that 'just one more harvest' loop that eats up entire weekends. It’s the kind of game that rewards obsession.

"The desert is a beautiful place, until someone in a high-tech jet jumps out and steals your lunch money."

If you have a kid who gets genuinely upset when they lose progress in a game, the Deep Desert (the game's lawless PvP zone) will be a nightmare for them. But if they enjoy the thrill of high-stakes competition and the satisfaction of building something from nothing in a hostile world, this is the definitive Dune experience of the mid-2020s.

What Parents Ask

Ask Anything

Get a personalized guide on any topic