Dune: Awakening offers a fresh take on the Dune universe, but how does it compare to the classic Conan Exiles?
While Conan Exiles and Dune: Awakening don’t take place in the same universe, both video games come from the same developer and share similar gameplay mechanics.
But is the latter worth playing if you’ve already played the former? And how do these two games differ? If you’re unsure which one deserves your time, this brief Conan Exiles vs Dune Awakening comparison might help you decide!
The Setting: Sword and Sorcery vs. Spice and Sand
Set in the brutal world of Conan the Barbarian, Conan Exiles focuses on survival in an open world of mythological creatures, barbarians, and sorcery. Players take on the role of desperate outcasts, trying to survive in this unpredictable reality and build their mighty empires.
Meanwhile, Dune: Awakening takes place in the sci-fi universe of Dune. This Arrakis survival game lets its players immerse themselves in political intrigues and fight for control of the most valuable resource: spice. Although both titles offer multiplayer fun, Dune: Awakening is an open world survival MMO, not a survival game offering this mode as an optional extra. While Conan Exiles offers a solo mode, Dune: Awakening features an online world where you’ll always encounter other players.
Survival mechanics
Unlike Dune: Awakening, Conan Exiles base building, resource gathering, and crafting are key to survival in this hostile reality. Players must also manage their characters’ well-being by monitoring hunger, thirst, fatigue, and health.
Dune: Awakening’s gameplay operates on similar rules but focuses on faction system and spice addiction. There are also Sandworm game mechanics adding to the overall immersion in the story.
Combat and Progression
Conan Exiles features a more traditional melee and ranged combat system where stamina determines the playable character’s abilities. Player progression isn’t as dependent on player-driven politics, instead revolving around base building, crafting, raiding, and conquering territories.
Since Dune: Awakening is an MMO, the game focuses on building networks of alliances and interacting with other players. While the title doesn’t feature magic in the traditional sense, players can combine the use of mystical abilities and weapons in combat.
The world-building and multiplayer structure
Conan Exiles is an open-world survival sandbox where players can cooperate, fight, build, and compete for territories on servers for up to 70 players. Unlike Dune: Awakening, the game features clan-based gameplay blending PvE and PvP elements. Although its map is smaller, the title offers more freedom and exploration opportunities.
Dune: Awakening features a larger map of treacherous desert environments. Given that the title is an MMO, servers can handle several hundred concurrent players. Therefore, its gameplay focuses more on player interactions and intense conflict over spice.
Narrative immersion
In Conan Exiles, the story plays more of an excuse for interacting with the environment and other players. As a result, players can create their stories, each time experiencing the adventure anew. Meanwhile, Dune: Awakening combines its gameplay with storytelling and the evolving destiny of Arrakis. By completing quests and unraveling ancient secrets, players can influence the political situation and shape their character’s fate.
Who should play which?
If you are a fan of sandbox survival, dark fantasy aesthetics, PvP, and building, Conan Exiles is your best bet! It’s also an excellent recommendation for players who prefer not to interact with other players, instead shaping their legend in the Conan the Barbarian universe on their own.
Dune: Awakening is ideal for those craving a multiplayer experience, political intrigue, intense competition, and choice-driven adventure. It’s also a fantastic game for fans of the Dune universe who want to see how they’ll cope in this unforgiving world.
Conclusion
Since both games come from the same developer, many players don’t recognize the differences between these two titles. Some fans perceive Dune: Awakening as an enhanced version of Conan Exiles, featuring better solutions, more complex mechanics, and a powerfully immersive reality.
Nevertheless, Conan Exiles still gathers thousands of concurrent players daily, so its gameplay definitely appeals to a massive audience. Now that you know how both titles differ, it’s time to choose your dream survival adventure!