Dune is typical for these European games of its time that don't fit well into the categories we are now used to, though the adventure aspect is far stronger and the strategy aspect less important than in games like Transarctica or Burntime.
It was far less successful than its sequel Dune II, which single-handedly created the RTS genre.
Dune has not aged gracefully. I was not expecting superior graphics from an eight-year old game, but my expectations in other areas, however low, were certainly not met. Dune has an annoying interface, a poorly thought out storyline, and quite a number of make-work tasks that have no meaning. The game has no replay value and leaves the gamer with few happy memories from the first time through. Maybe Dune was well-received in its own time—I haven't been able to find out how well it sold or how it fared with reviewers—but that doesn't change the fact that this game is of dubious quality. Hardcore Herbert fans might want to check it out, because it does capture the atmosphere of the book in a few places, but that is its only redeeming feature.
The game received mixed reviews when it came out. Few Australian reviewers had nice things to say about it, but the British gaming press thought it was quite good. Since then, enhanced CD-Rom versions have been produced and it's now considered one of history's better strategy releases. Quite good for a game that takes up barely two megabytes.
