Dune Awakening gives franchise fans and MMO skeptics a chance to try it for free with a generous new trial

There have been a few decent Dune videogames over the years, but they've often been strategy-focused and limited in terms of fully immersing fans in Arrakis. Dune Awakening, however, is different from the rest. An elaborate survival MMO that's got all the hallmarks a franchise fan would want to see, it's the biggest and most social Dune game ever. However, the breadth of that multiplayer and the potential for PvP combat can be off-putting to some, so developer Funcom is keen to provide regular free trials to let folks dip their toes into the sand. The latest has just arrived.

Like so many of the best survival games, Dune Awakening requires a lot of focus on your character's progression and wellbeing. Dangers lurk around every corner, above you in the skies, and underneath the sands below.

The two main survival parameters you need to monitor are your sunlight and your water. Being in the rays of Arrakis' scorching sun can lead to exhaustion and see your water meter drop more rapidly, so try to stick to the shade while exploring, make sure your bases have plenty of cover and shelter, and wear gear that will ward off the effects of sunlight exposure. Finding water sources is also extremely important so that you don't die of thirst, but you can also craft items that gather the dew from plants, or turn the blood of fallen enemies into clean drinking water.

However, there are two other major threats: sandworms and other bloodthirsty players. While exploring open sandy areas in Dune Awakening, sandworms can spring out and give chase at any moment. Make sure you've always got an escape plan or a vehicle that can quickly get you to safety. While there are now dedicated PvE-only areas following some post-launch changes from Funcom, most of Dune Awakening's Deep Desert is a free-for-all when it comes to PvP. If you build a home base in an inconspicuous place and fortify it well, chances are that you'll be left well alone, but you can always go out searching for a scrap if you want one.

It's tough trying to break into the MMO space as a newcomer. Fans of the genre are likely heavily invested in years-old games like World of Warcraft and Final Fantasy 14, with little energy to give to another huge experience. Elsewhere, more casual, time-strapped players may be put off by the scale of an MMO. But despite these hurdles, Dune Awakening is doing alright - sure, its player count on Steam is nowhere near the huge crowds it attracted at launch, but it still achieves peaks of several thousand players a day.

To convince you to join those that have stuck with it, a new Dune Awakening trial has gotten underway. For the next week, you can play the game for free, with a maximum cap of ten in-game hours. You'll get access to the Hagga Basin section of the map, are free to build and progress your own custom character, and can play alongside friends and other random players.

The latest Dune Awakening free trial runs from now until Thursday, November 27. Any progress you make will be carried over to the full game, by the way. If you do want to make the jump, Dune Awakening will be 25% off until Monday, December 1, making it $37.49 / £31.49.