Comparison

Dune vs Hive® Game

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Dune

Engage in strategic warfare and political intrigue on the desert planet Arrakis. This award-winning board game adaptation blends deck-building and worker placement mechanics. Compete against AI, other players online, or face unique challenges and rotating game modes.

Highlights
  • Deck-building mechanics
  • Worker placement strategy
  • Online multiplayer
  • Local AI battles
  • Unique challenges
  • Rotating Skirmish Mode
  • Achievement system
Features
Read full description

Immerse yourself in the world of Dune. Experience the ultimate blend of strategy and intrigue as you navigate the treacherous landscapes of Arrakis in the award-winning board game Dune: Imperium! Battle online, locally with AI, or against the formidable House Hagal. Earn Achievements that showcase your prowess as a leader. Embark on more than a dozen Challenges that will test your wit and cunning. Compete for badges in the rotating Skirmish Mode where no two games are the same! Control the Spice. Control the Universe. Arrakis. Dune. Desert Planet. Raise your banner above the vast wasteland before you. As the Great Houses of the Landsraad marshal their forces and their spies, whom will you influence, and whom will you betray? A tyrannical Emperor. The secretive Bene Gesserit. The shrewd Spacing Guild. The ferocious Fremen of the Deep Desert. The power of the Imperium can be yours, but war is not the only way to claim it. Dune: Imperium blends deck-building and worker placement in a deeply thematic new strategy game where the fate of the Empire hangs on your decisions. Will you seek political allies or rely upon military might? Economic strength or subtle intrigues? A council seat… or a sharpened blade? The cards are dealt. The choice is yours. The Imperium awaits.

About

Hive® Game

Experience the award-winning strategy board game digitally. This app offers a faithful adaptation of the classic game, featuring challenging AI, all official expansions, and customizable visuals. Perfect for both new players and seasoned veterans.

Highlights
  • Official Hive® rules and design
  • Includes all three official expansions
  • Advanced RustyBlade™ AI
  • Adjustable difficulty for beginners
  • Video tutorial by game creator
  • Customizable visual settings
  • Local network play
Features
Read full description

"What impresses me most about this Hive® app is how the AI plays with true strategic depth—enough to challenge even seasoned Hive veterans. The developers have captured the purity of the game beautifully: no clutter, no distractions, just clean design that lets the elegance of Hive shine through. A thoughtful, well-crafted adaptation." – John Yianni, creator of Hive® The award-winning tabletop classic Hive® is now in your pocket. Created with the blessing of the game’s designer, John Yianni, this app delivers a clean, focused, and beautifully polished digital Hive® experience. Hive® is a captivating strategy game often described as “nature’s chess.” There is no board — the game itself is built from the creatures you place. Your goal is simple: surround your opponent’s Queen Bee while keeping your own safe. Easy to learn, endlessly deep to master. OFFICIAL HIVE® EXPERIENCE Faithful to the vision of its original designer, this app captures the award-winning rules and timeless elegance of Hive® without compromise. THE COMPLETE HIVE® Play Hive® exactly as intended. Alongside the base game, all three official expansion pieces are included: Mosquito, Ladybug, and Pillbug. THE RUSTYBLADE™ AI Don’t settle for predictable opponents. RustyBlade™ is a bold, aggressive AI engine that plays with initiative and intent. It doesn’t aim for safe draws — it fights for victory. Expect intense, uncompromising strategic battles. PERFECT FOR BEGINNERS TOO New to Hive®? The fully adjustable difficulty lets RustyBlade™ become a patient training partner. Learn the ropes with a video tutorial by John Yianni (the creator of Hive), while the illustrated rulebook and Undo feature allow you to learn, experiment, and improve without pressure. ELEGANT & FULLY CUSTOMIZABLE A sleek design that adapts to your style. Choose your preferred board orientation (flat or pointy-top), select custom colors, and adjust wood grain intensity. Responsive controls, subtle animations, and haptic feedback ensure a smooth, immersive experience that brings the hive to life. UNIVERSAL PURCHASE Unlock the Elite Edition once and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. ELITE EDITION: - Full access to all official expansions: Mosquito, Ladybug, and Pillbug. - Test your skills against advanced RustyBlade™ AI difficulty levels. - Personalize your experience with premium backgrounds and visual settings. - Detailed player statistics. - Game Center support (friend-invite matches only). - Local network play over the same Wi-Fi network. - Family Sharing: Share the Elite experience with your family at no extra cost. The Hive is humming. The army is ready. Are you? Official Website: https://hivegameapp.com

Screenshots

Dune4 screens
Hive® Game4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Hive® Game at Free against Dune's $10.99. Dune's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (4.7K vs 280). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Hive® Game is free to download; Dune costs $10.99 up front. Dune sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Hive® Game sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Dune holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dune has 4.7K ratings behind it against 280, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Dune's written reviews are positive against 65% of Hive® Game's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dune ships an update every 6 days, Hive® Game every 11 days. Both last shipped on September 25, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Dune versus Hive® Game: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDuneHive® Game
Price$10.99Free — better
Rating4.9 (4.7K ratings) — better4.5 (280 ratings)
Positive reviews78.7% of reviews — better64.6% of reviews
Number of ratings4.7K — better280
Update frequencyEvery 6 days — betterEvery 11 days
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#17 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size774 MB11 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperDire Wolf DigitalGiantStep Kft.

Customer experience

Dune

All ratings4,697 ratings
Positive97.4%
Neutral1.0%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews483 reviews
Positive78.7%
Neutral6.2%
Negative15.1%

Hive® Game

All ratings280 ratings
Positive85.4%
Neutral4.3%
Negative10.4%
Written reviews96 reviews
Positive64.6%
Neutral11.5%
Negative24.0%

Bugs and requests

Dune

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Intrigue card issues
  • Inconsistent login credentials
  • Notification problems
  • Victory points reset bug

Requested features

4 requests
  • Controller support
  • Pass and play mode
  • Ability to choose leaders
  • Expand card detail visibility

Hive® Game

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Dune

One-time3
  • Dune: Imperium - Rise of Ix$9.99
  • Dune: Imperium - Immortality$9.99
  • Dune: Imperium - Uprising$10.99
1 purchases

Hive® Game

One-time1
  • Elite Edition$9.99

Questions

Is Dune free?
Dune costs $10.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Hive® Game free?
Hive® Game is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Dune or Hive® Game?
Dune is rated higher. Dune averages 4.9 out of 5 from 4.7K ratings, while Hive® Game averages 4.5 from 280 ratings.
Do Dune or Hive® Game have ads?
Neither Dune nor Hive® Game shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Dune or Hive® Game?
Dune ships an update every 6 days, and Hive® Game every 11 days. Most recently, Dune was updated on September 25, 2026 and Hive® Game on September 25, 2026.

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