

The Ordos went off-script, but the idea of a faction that could turn the allegiance of enemy units was neat. Worms circle your harvesters and can plague battles, encouraging you to move tanks between patches of safe rock. The desert is always trying to reclaim your buildings, and your bases feel like temporary outposts at best. It’s understandable that future RTS games wouldn’t require you to sluggishly lay foundations before building structures, but it’s perfect for the punishing desert climes of Arrakis.

I used to jump with fear when a roaring sandworm popped up to chomp a spice harvester. A rippling of sandy pixels hints at the presence of a terrifying sandworm. Suddenly those little red boxes are powerful Harkonnen battle tanks. Clever little thumbnails in build queues give your imagination just enough to work with.
