The 10 Best MMOs and MMORPGs in 2026

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Dune: Awakening – Survival-MMO

GenreSurvivalDeveloper: Funcom | Platform: PC | Release Date: June 10, 2025 | Model: Buy2Play

Pro
  • Great implementation of the Dune IP
  • Survival challenge provides an exciting gameplay experience, especially in the first hours
  • Large freedom in building
  • Can have a lot of fun solo as well
  • Developers are consistently working to improve the gaming experience and respond to player requests
Contra
  • No private servers
  • The endgame is currently unsatisfactory for fans of both PvP and PvE
  • As typical for Funcom, there are some unfinished aspects
  • The decay mechanic has driven away many players.

Das erwartet euch in Dune: Awakening

What is Dune: Awakening? The new survival MMO from Funcom was released on June 10, 2025, for PC and takes you to the desert planet Arrakis. However, you will not find the familiar storyline from the books or movies, but an alternate timeline where Paul Atreides was never born.

Hunger, thirst, sun, aggressive enemies – from the very first minute, survival is at the forefront of Dune: Awakening. By building better tools, equipment, bases, vehicles, and weapons, you increasingly ease your daily life, allowing you to focus more on exploring the game world, mastering dungeons, or experiencing the story.

In large parts of the game world, you can only encounter a limited number of other players. Exceptions are the two faction capitals and the Deep Desert, a vast endgame area where PvP is active in many regions and which fundamentally changes each week due to a storm.

Start video
Dune: Awakening shows Chapter 3 and the free content update in the trailer

What content does Dune: Awakening offer? Dune: Awakening offers you a harsh and hostile world. Yet there is plenty to experience, including:

  • a fast-paced combat system with various types of weapons, skills, and gadgets like grappling hooks
  • an atmospherically staged story that guides you through the level experience
  • a comprehensive building system through which you can create more than just your own base
  • an excellent implementation of the popular Dune IP in an MMO
  • MMO typical gaming experience where you can join guilds and set laws for the entire server

What does Dune: Awakening cost? Dune: Awakening costs nearly 50 euros on Steam but is currently discounted to 29.99 euros. Additionally, you can purchase a Season Pass for 25 euros, which unlocks all DLCs released until summer 2026. Those who opt for the Ultimate Edition receive the main game and Season Pass at a slightly lower price.

Unser Fazit zu Dune: Awakening im Jahr 2026: Dune: Awakening macht der Bezeichnung Survival-Abenteuer vor allem in den ersten Spielstunden alle Ehre. Sobald ihr einen Fuß auf Arrakis setzt, kämpft ihr gegen die brütend heiße Sonne und ständigen Durst.

Dann sind da noch die vielen Sklavenhändler, Banditen und Deserteure, die euren Helden bei Sichtkontakt sofort attackieren, sowie die Sardaukar-Patrouillen, die euch nachts in den Rücken fallen können. Vergesst aber auch nicht die riesigen Sandwürmer, die Jagd auf euch und eure Fahrzeuge machen, sobald ihr einen Fuß oder Reifen auf die offene Wüste setzt.

Screenshot zu Dune: Awakening
Die Sandwürmer sind eine konstante Bedrohung.

Additionally, there are deadly sandstorms, radioactively contaminated areas, gnawing poison at your life points, as well as fire and the constant uncertainty in the game’s PvP zones about whether the character approaching you has peaceful or aggressive intentions.

Getting to know and fight against all these dangers gradually can be quite frustrating. Especially when a sandworm attack strips you down to your underwear. However, Dune: Awakening does a great job of creating a motivating sense of progress. With each new tool and every new piece of equipment, you noticeably fare better in the desert.

It is also great how the game takes you through the journey and the overarching storyline during the level phase. Just with this and all the tasks in the relatively peaceful Hagga Basin, you can have a lot, a lot of fun. And express your creativity. The building system known from Conan Exiles has been improved even further by the Funcom designers.

The endgame of Dune: Awakening has gone live with a few fundamental issues. It was primarily aimed at PvP fans who were part of a guild. Those who went solo or were not interested in PvP were left in the cold. The developers have been trying to find a solution that can satisfy both PvE and PvP fans since then.

Even more problematic for many players was the decay mechanic, which caused players to lose all their earned possessions after a long break from the game. This made many players lose the desire to return to Dune: Awakening. A solution for this only came in December 2025: a tool to fully save up to three bases.

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