Description of Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty
Noticeably different from the adventure-strategy format of rival game Dune, (also released by publisher Virgin Games in the same year), Westwood’s Dune II is widely considered the father of real-time strategy games. Although Herzog Zwei predated it by several years, Dune II set a benchmark for RTS games that would become the norm for decades.
As a player you get to choose one of three houses and battle for control of the planet Arrakis, the only place in the universe where the mystical substance called spice is to be found. Harvesting spice from the sand dunes allows it to be refined and converted into credits. These are then spent on building units to aid you in your conquest, and “he who controls the spice controls the universe”.
Each of the houses has a distinct personality which is reflected by the units under their command. House Atreides favours guerrilla warfare and allies itself with the Freman, natives of Arrakis, while House Harkonnen uses its wealth to field armies of huge battle tanks. The final house, Ordos, favours stealth, saboteurs and chemical weapons.
Over the course of a multi-mission campaign you must first establish a base before attempting to overthrow the rival houses and take control of Arrakis and its Spice reserves, leading to one of three endings depending on the house you chose.
This game would mark the beginning of a gaming dynasty for Westwood. Building on the success of Dune II the critically acclaimed Command & Conquer followed leading to a RTS franchise which dominated the next decade.
Review By Richard
External links
How to play Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty
- Create a new folder for the game e.g. C:\OLDGAMES\DUNE2
- Extract the contents of the folder ‘dune-ii-the-building-of-a-dynasty’ to the game folder
- In DOSBox mount the folder - ‘mount c c:\OLDGAMES\DUNE2’ press ENTER
- Then - ‘C:’ press ENTER
- Run the game – ‘DUNE2’ press ENTER
Comments and reviews
Amiganer 2024-03-02 4 points
A fantastic game. But you can play it with some small improvements. Take this version and go for
https://dunelegacy.sourceforge.net/website/
Then you will get the whole Dune 2 feeling on modern machines. With a level editor and multi selection for units. Even multiplayer is on board.
mobilehead 2023-10-08 0 point
Great RTS - a precursor to all the RTS as we know. I completed it several times on Amiga as well as MS-DOS version.
BradS 2023-04-16 0 point DOS version
The game seems to run just fine after the first time I answer the security question in the early part of the game. When I get asked the security question a second time before one of the last missions, the game freezes even though I am answering the question correctly. Any suggestions?
Jesse Muad'Dib 2023-03-11 2 points DOS version
Hi, I just finished my new Sandworm update that allows the user to actually train sandworms from the barracks and order them from the CHOAM. My update works for Dune II and Super Dune II. If you are interested in having my update, please email me at jessemiv@yahoo.com.
clsmonk 2023-02-14 0 point DOS version
last mission cant build any troops or units its odd the game has worked perfect up to now
the Marci 2023-02-10 2 points DOS version
this is the best game ever ! The soundtracks are great. I played the german version and the speech translation is funny and epic :-) I had it on a USB Stick on mp3 in my car, very nice :-) westwood, thank you for the great game. Works great on DosBox with Adlib Sound, perfect. Played in 2023 incredible... back to the roots :-P
Bandy 2022-09-12 -2 points
Yes to play this game on the amega and I love it now hope to play again thanks
NETHERO 2022-07-19 3 points DOS version
I cry sometimes thinking of this game while i sleep at night.
Herr Muzika 2022-04-30 7 points DOS version
This was the first game i downloaded (before internet) by a modem with 12 bauds capacity. It took 1 hour/Mb so 4 hours together and it cost me a larger phone-bill, but it was worth it. I have always loved The game (and The Books).
vulcan 2022-03-09 0 point
I spent so much time on this game in my youth. I am so happy to be able to play it again. I cannot thank you enough for making this available. Is there any way to make it full screen?
Forbidden64 2021-12-17 14 points
For those asking how to play this game in DOSBOX, there is literally a 'How to play Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty' section on this very page which describes how to play this game in DOSBOX. It's right above the pictures. I want to say something snarky but I'll just leave it there.
Lailoken42 2021-07-16 4 points
I played this back in the day. While it gets credit for starting a whole genre (I mean, it had to have done something right to inpire command and conquer) the fact that you can't select multiple units makes it soo clunky to play. I have memories of when it was time to attack the enemy base, frantically scrolling back and forth to select a unit, order it to the enemy base, over and over again. I was aware of how clunky it was at the time, so this isn't just my modern context speaking. How the devs could have gotten so much right, and gotten that one thing just so wrong I will never know.
jmf 2021-06-04 -1 point
the unofficial patch wont seem to work applied to the fresh 1.0 version,since is a fix for the 1.7, would be nice to have the patch itself here
OlderGamer 2021-05-12 0 point
great game from the past , was also a editor so you could use any houses troops and weapons
greymongel 2020-07-10 4 points DOS version
This game was epic in its day, I was around 12 when my dad's friend brought the game over in its new box......I remember nights staying up all night with my dad playing......it's replayability is great, as you will want to beat it with each of the classes.....I still remember the smell of the games old box, it was hard to beat a few of the end game levels but that's what made it do fun to play, u had to come up with different base strategies to win, I do remember one level requiring you to build a base with a million Turrets and wave after wave of enemies marched into my Turrets Death Field......if u love Games and haven't played this one it's a must!!!! also as a Fan of the Movie it's nice that it has alot of it in the game itself........
Koro 2020-05-29 3 points
When I was 12 I played this game for the first time. A whole new world opened and never closed!
anyone nowadays 2020-04-30 1 point DOS version
Ordos, level 5, can't create siege tanks, this is true with many copies of this game.
KingY2j 2020-04-17 -3 points
There are so many crybabies here that can't beat the game lmao, i beat it so easily and i found it very fun, a classic and great game.
s0x24 2020-04-08 1 point
AI so overpowered!?! I played this game in middle school when it first came out. I remembered how fun this game was. It was challenging but very beatable. I can't wait to play this game again. =)
Dead Cow 42 2020-03-25 1 point DOS version
Look I may not have been born at the right time to play this when it came out, but I love it. I was brought up playing orginal X box games, and playing strategy games is what lead me to this gem. I think its hard, but its fair. If you think about it warfare is hard, and no game is meant to be quick and easy. So to any of you asshats complaining that its too hard, or the AI is to powerful, then go back to your newer easier games, with difficulty settings. Thats part of this games charm, its hard. Its meant to be. So I say bring the challenge. I mean no offense to any of the gamers that played this when they were young, and would be honored if you were to teach me a few tricks and tips. I give it 5/5. Please, play it for yourself, and learn the controls, it isnt too hard.
Jerry in WA 2020-02-28 1 point
This game was my gaming crack in the early 90s. It doesn't get the credit it deserves. I think a brand new Dune game would be amazing. I'd even take a remake of this or Dune 2000 but, all new, that would be an old gamer's dream. The Dune IP has so much more to offer.
jose 2020-01-28 9 points DOS version
been playing this game ever since it came out. never got tired of it. best game ever! 2020 and still playing the game.
HF 2019-11-30 1 point
For those who say that AI is very powerful, it just means you´re not skilled enough. Back in the day, let´s say 93, 94, 95... this game was the top of the league for strategtic games.
10 2019-10-15 41 points
I just know that the people here bashing the game are like 16 or 20 years old. You don't know that there wasn't anything like this ever, until Dune II came out. All those strategic games you play now, with advanced skills and playability.. you can thank Dune II.
Also it's fun watch some kid trying to rate it: " I give it four stars for graphics, and a one star for playability." or "Avoid, 1/10 for sure". I mean no one wants to know your opinion nor the game needs approval from anyone. Enjoy it or go back to your Pokemons!
bob 2019-10-11 -49 points
Terrible game. absolutely pointless. the AI is so overpowered its unbelievable. it has unlimited resources, produces more units than you, that are better than yours. your unit cap makes it impossible to best the ai as you do pitiful damage and it takes hours to kill nay unit. a terrible game the literally wastes your time with ridiculous unit management
Avoid, 1/10 for sure
AgeOfChange 2019-08-28 0 point DOS version
I play this on youtube god I am so spoiled by new RTS this in comparison is really hard, I found it so easy when I was at school around 27 years ago.
AgeOfChange on youtube.
Izumi 2019-06-29 3 points DOS version
This game should be number 1 in the list. This game is PC-DOS at its best!
davehi2500 2019-03-14 -1 point
I have the same game for Sega Genesis Rom, You can find it on any Emulators and rom download site or where i can upload it?
this is my mail
davehi2500@gmail.com
Davehi2500 2019-03-14 -3 points
I have the same game for Sega Genesis Rom, You can find it on any Emulators and rom download site or where i can upload it?
JOHN 2019-02-25 2 points
Love that game. I completed all houses multiple times on the PC since 1992, and have also completed all houses on the android vesion. My absolute best game.
Berserker 2018-05-24 -16 points DOS version
Hey, KC, do you know how to setup a DOSBox, deflate the ZIP, paste the contents on a folder and run it?
Millennials...
KC 2018-05-03 -31 points DOS version
I don't agree with all the hype of this game. Way too much management required, I mean you must do EVERYTHING which makes the game impossible to enjoy. The first two levels maybe, but in the advanced levels all you do for hours is make, send, repair. Make, send, repair. Make, send, repair. Now tell me, doesn't that sound fun? I give it four stars for graphics, and a one star for playability.
KC 2018-04-30 -10 points DOS version
I downloaded the ISO version offered on this page and tried to use Boxer to run the game in DOS on my Mac. Boxer gives me this error:
Dune 2 - ISO does not contain any MS-DOS programs.
I have not tried the other downloads offered on this page.
Space Man 100789 2018-01-04 1 point
Dune 2 is amazing it made a great novel into a great strategy game this game is revolutionary later Westwood studios would do the awesome command and conquer series.
GuyFawkes 2017-11-29 0 point DOS version
Not sure if this is pre cracked or not but I found a crack for the game here: http://www.gamers.org/pub/games/uwp-uml/romulus/cracks/dune2.txt
Not sure if it works on the unofficial patches, but given they're technically the same files it should. You can also find a "universal" game cracker for dos here: http://www.gamers.org/pub/games/uwp-uml/romulus/cracks/cracker.arj
You write text files with file and offset information and the program reads and changes it to so when opened by it.
Also it's worth noting that calling the second download for the DOS version the "French" version is misleading as it actually has English French and German. It's know as the European release in the community.
Ina 2015-12-13 3 points
I cannot believe this is not in the top 10. Next to the amazing gameplay the guys at DOSBOX choose the Harkonnen mentor as their icon.
Q-Skill 2015-10-12 0 point DOS version
The problem is dealt with now, nvm!
Now to figure out how I can put Windows 8 to 32 bits
Q-Skill 2015-10-12 1 point DOS version
This game was the best game ever. Played it dead!
But now that I'm reviving it for myself, I bumped up against a technical issue with the dosbox.
I can't enter the setup.exe. It stops at language selection. No matter if I choose english, french or german, the dosbox gives this error:
"IO error with SETUPENG.DIP (2) - exiting"
The same turns out with the other two languages, but then saying SETUPFRE.DIP and SETUPGER.DIP.
Anyone know what's up here?
RustedNutz 2015-08-05 1 point DOS version
This game was pure sex for me growing up. Love it wish I could play it on my phone.
Bobby 2015-05-05 3 points DOS version
I still have bad dreams about the sand worms. I remember vivid dreams of desert battles after playing this game. Actually, the problem may have been that I read the dune books, watched the 3-part TV series, the movie, and played the game all at the same time - at a very delicate age :P
Chris 2015-01-17 3 points DOS version
This game was the first game I really got hooked on. I remember my father coming home with a case of floppies on the day of the release and I would just sit for hours between me coming home from school and him coming home from work (and shooing me away from the computer so he could play).
This game helped me learn English (as I'm not a native English speaker) and the music is etched to my mind to this day.
ChristerC 2014-10-22 2 points DOS version
The game that really started the genre that Command & Conquer gets credit for. As far as I know this is the first game that you needed to build slabs to bulid silos to store spice and so on..
One of the real great games in my opinion.
Schizojr 2014-02-18 2 points DOS version
Ahhh, Dune 2, what fond memories...
Actually, the first game I ever played on a PC with a Soundblaster sound card! I remember my mom paniqued cauz she thought there was strangers in the basement with me. I had to show her that the "voices" she heard came from the game!
StillHere 2013-11-04 0 point DOS version
Call me dumb, but i bought every title of the Dune-Series since Dune-CD.. It's a "must-have" :D
jay-cee 2013-10-29 0 point DOS version
thinking of younger days and make me feel like a youngster again
Snowwhite 2013-07-06 1 point DOS version
For me this is one of the most genius games ever made!
The modernized 3D sequel to it is "Emperor".
I always prefered Dune over Command&Conquer which is also a good game.
kismet 2011-09-25 1 point DOS version
This game is a little primitive, but its a legacy game, and has a number of fun features, mining the spice, running from sandworms, a special attack unique to your house, and ordering military hardware by spaceport.
You cannot group units and give them multiple orders, the AI will attack in always the same place, and the play is limited and linear. Nonetheless, this game is worth playing.
1GreatScott 2011-08-28 0 point DOS version
I spent many hours getting my assets destroyed in this game.
F0XX 2011-05-26 0 point DOS version
Many an hour I have wasted on this. I use wasted in the nicest of terms :D
vascoa 2011-02-08 -1 point DOS version
Since I came later I can agree with both of you ;D
Many addicted hours on this one.... great game
Puppie 2010-12-11 1 point DOS version
Sorry Feyd i have to disagree with you...
Its not one of the greatest games. It is the greatest game:D
Feyd 2008-08-31 0 point DOS version
The ancestor of warcaft style strategic games. One of the greats games of the old days.
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Download Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty
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DOS Version
4 MB
4 MBGame Extras
Various files to help you run Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty, apply patches, fixes, maps or miscellaneous utilities.
Amiga ROM
- Year: 1993
- Publisher: Hit Squad, The, Virgin Games, Inc., Virgin Games, Ltd.
- Developer: Westwood Studios, Inc.
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