Dune Board Games: family board game
Parker Brothers’ Dune 1984 Board Game: Facts and History
The Dune 1984 Board Game is a Parker Brothers tie-in to David Lynch's film, designed by Brad Stock. It differs from the 1979 Avalon Hill strategy classic, which is based on the novel.
- 1984
- family board game
- Parker Brothers
Designers: Brad Stock
A 1984 film tie-in, not the Avalon Hill game. Here’s how to tell the two Dune games apart.
This game is often confused with the 1979 Dune strategy game, but they’re separate products. Read on to learn who made the Parker Brothers game and how it connects to the film. For the book-based game, see the original Dune board game.
This is the 1984 Parker Brothers game, not the 1979 Avalon Hill Dune.
The game and the 1984 film behind it
It’s a tie-in to David Lynch’s film, which opened in the US on 14 December 1984.
The game
Design and release
Brad Stock designed a Dune board game for Parker Brothers based on David Lynch’s 1984 film. The Strong National Museum of Play catalogs the United States edition as a 1984 Parker Brothers game made of printed cardboard and plastic, with rights credited to the Dino De Laurentiis Corporation.
Another Dune game came out that year
The film opened in the United States on 14 December 1984. That same year, Avalon Hill published a second edition of its 1979 Dune game. So two different Dune board games were on shelves around the film’s release.
The film or series it covers
David Lynch's 1984 film Dune, rather than Frank Herbert's novel or the 1979 Avalon Hill game.
The museum lists the game under strategy, science fiction, Dune, and motion picture. It’s a licensed film tie-in, so its theme comes from the 1984 production, not the novel alone.
The Parker Brothers edition
United States edition 1984
Published in the United States by Parker Brothers for the release of the film.
These questions cover what’s confirmed about the game: who made it, which film it follows, and how it differs from the Avalon Hill game. For other games tied to the 1984 film and its era, the Dune board games page has the full range.
Questions about the 1984 Dune board game
Is the 1984 Dune board game the same as the Avalon Hill game?
No. Parker Brothers published its own Dune game in 1984 as a tie-in to David Lynch’s film. Avalon Hill’s 1979 Dune is a separate strategy game based on the novel. Avalon Hill also released a second edition in 1984 to coincide with the film.
Who designed the 1984 Dune board game?
Brad Stock designed it for Parker Brothers. He also designed Shadowlord, a Parker Brothers game from 1983.
Which film is the 1984 Dune board game based on?
It’s based on David Lynch’s Dune, which opened in the United States on 14 December 1984. The Strong National Museum of Play credits the game’s rights to the Dino De Laurentiis Corporation.
Where can you see a copy of the 1984 Dune board game?
The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester has a 1984 Parker Brothers Dune board game in its collection. It’s listed as printed cardboard and plastic.
Brad Stock designed it. He also designed the 1983 Parker Brothers game Shadowlord.
The Strong National Museum of Play has a copy in its collection.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Dune (1984 film), merchandise and tie-ins en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia: List of games based on Dune en.wikipedia.org
- Google Arts and Culture, The Strong National Museum of Play: Board game Dune (Parker Brothers, 1984) artsandculture.google.com
- Google Arts and Culture, The Strong National Museum of Play: Board game Shadowlord! (Parker Brothers, 1983) artsandculture.google.com