One of my all-time favorite board games finally has the storage solution it deserves.
I have been searching for the perfect Dune: Imperium insert for years. It started with a wooden insert from Tower Rex that worked fine until the expansions kept coming. Then came various free 3D printed inserts. Nothing held absolutely everything official for Dune: Imperium. Both base games, all three expansions, and two official Deluxe upgrade packs. That’s seven boxes worth of content.
At some point, I stopped looking for perfect and started settling for “good enough.”
Then one day, I was scrolling Reddit and came to a dead stop. I saw a Dune Imperium insert setup so complete and well-organized that every single piece in the collection had a dedicated home. And it was beautiful.
Enter PlayMode.
Inside This Post
What is PlayMode
PlayMode is a small team of four who built exactly what I had been looking for all along. Their Dune: Imperium insert system delivers:
- A Dune Imperium insert system that handles the entire collection, not just part of it
- Beautifully designed player dashboards that elevate the table presence
- Labels and expansion symbols on all pieces
- Dramatically reduced setup and teardown time
- A true premium upgrade worthy of the game
Their solution is two thoughtfully designed organizers that work together perfectly.
The Deluxe PlaySystem is built around the official Deluxe Upgrade box and holds everything you need to play one of the base games.
The Archive handles the overflow: the unused base game, unused expansion modules, and all the legacy cardboard tokens and wooden cubes replaced by the Deluxe Upgrade.
Together, they hold every piece of official Dune: Imperium content ever released:
- Both base games (Dune: Imperium and Dune: Imperium – Uprising)
- All three expansions (Rise of Ix, Immortality, and Bloodlines)
- The official Deluxe upgrade packs (with all premium miniatures and the first player token)
- Legacy components like the original cardboard tokens and wooden cubes
- Premium sleeved cards
The Deluxe PlaySystem
There’s a clear level of care and precision in both the design and execution that sets this Dune Imperium insert apart. The color choices are not just for looks; they are functional, making the entire system intuitive at a glance. Every piece feels premium in hand. Cards and components fit effortlessly.
While only available on their website for sale as a finished product, if PlayMode released the STL files for free tomorrow, I would still want them to print this for me.
When everything is packed away, it looks like it was always meant to live inside these trays.
The system has been tested and works with premium card sleeves on everything, so whatever your sleeving preference, you are covered.
Every tray is clearly labeled, and many components include QR codes that link directly to organization videos and guides. The top layer even has printed instructions showing how to layer the game boards.
Player Dashboards
The player dashboards are easily my favorite part of the entire system, and yes, my photo count proves it. I could not stop taking pictures of them.
Each dashboard is color-coded to match one of the four player colors (red, green, blue, or yellow), so you instantly know which components belong where. During storage, it becomes a tidy, self-contained package. The 12 troop miniatures and 2 Dreadnoughts slot securely into dedicated spaces by their bases. The player component tray then sits on top, locking everything in place so nothing shifts or scratches. If you have painted your minis, you will really appreciate this.
The three agent miniatures store horizontally on the outside edge to keep the footprint compact, and there are three white-accented slots for Sardaukar Commander troops when playing with Bloodlines.
For gameplay, lift off the top tray, which now becomes your player resource tray. Your 12 troops and 2 Dreadnoughts (if playing Rise of Ix) have dedicated active slots, so you can see the number of your available forces at a glance. Agents sit in convenient wells for quick grabbing, and any unused pieces tuck neatly back inside. Your leader card sits on top, and your starting deck goes into the built-in card tray.
It’s one of the most elegant and functional player organizers I’ve seen in any board game.
On the Table
The difference speaks for itself.
Every card in the game, from the Imperium Row to the Intrigue deck, has its own tray. No more cards lying flat on the table, hard to see or reach. Everything stands upright, angled toward the players, and is easy to read and grab from across the table.
The Imperium Row trays are particularly satisfying. The five main cards sit neatly in interlocking trays that stay firmly in place. Replacing cards is quick and effortless.
With color-coding and clear labeling throughout, there’s never any confusion about what belongs where. When you sit down to a game of Dune: Imperium with the PlayMode system, it looks like a showcase.
Resource Trays and Expansion Accents
The PlayMode Dune Imperium insert even includes two shared resource trays. Each one has dedicated spaces for spice, solari, and water, with vertical storage for the five-token stacks. They work equally well with the official wooden tokens or third-party bling.
The expansion inserts follow the same thoughtful color logic: green accents for Rise of Ix, purple for Immortality, and white for Bloodlines. Swapping expansions in and out is surprisingly simple. You only pull what you need for the session, and everything else stays neatly stored.
How to Pack the PlayMode Deluxe PlaySystem
The Archive (Where Everything Else Lives)
The Archive is the second half of this Dune Imperium insert system and the key to storing the entire official collection in just two boxes.
While the Deluxe PlaySystem handles your active play components, the Archive stores everything else: the unused base game, 3v3 Individual Player Trays (5 & 6 Player), unused expansion modules, and all the legacy cardboard tokens and wooden cubes replaced by the Deluxe Upgrade.
I also store all the rulebooks in here. After enough plays of Dune: Imperium, I don’t need them at the table anymore, and keeping them out of the main box is what makes that clean, no-lid-lift possible.
PlayMode provides the same excellent YouTube setup videos and PDF guides for the Archive, making it straightforward to get everything organized the first time.
How to Pack the PlayMode Archive
Is It Worth It?
The Deluxe PlaySystem costs $99, and the Archive is $44.99, for a total of $143.99 for the full system. That’s a serious investment for a board game insert.
I paid for this out of my own pocket. I did receive a small discount as a pre-release buyer, but all opinions here are entirely my own.
The price is high. But after everything I have tried over the years, I believe it is worth it for the right person.
I own a 3D printer and have printed multiple Dune Imperium inserts for this game. Nothing came close to handling the entire collection. When I saw what PlayMode built, I bought it without hesitation.
This insert is worth the money if:
- You own most or all of the official Dune: Imperium content
- You play the game regularly
- You care about fast setup, smooth gameplay, and an impressive table
If you only own one base game, PlayMode also offers other PlaySystems, Accessories and Add-ons to meet your every Dune Imperium insert need.
What you are really paying for is not just plastic trays. You are paying for time saved, frustration avoided, and the joy of having a system that actually does justice to your full collection.
Printing something of this quality yourself would take over 80 hours, burn through a lot of filament, and still likely fall short of the thoughtful details PlayMode includes: color-coding, clear labeling, QR code guides, perfect fit, and excellent player dashboards. PlayMode uses 11 H2D beds at approximately 8 hours per tray.
I rarely buy 3D printed inserts anymore because I can print my own, but I made an exception here. The design quality and attention to detail convinced me it was worth every penny.
If you’re a Dune: Imperium completionist who wants their collection to feel as premium as the game itself, this is currently the best storage solution available. It has genuinely made me enjoy pulling the game out even more.
Final Thoughts
This is not just another insert. It is the kind of upgrade you make when a game has become a true favorite.
The PlayMode Dune: Imperium insert is the best board game insert I have ever used. It finally gives this incredible game the storage and table presence it deserves.
You can order the Deluxe PlaySystem and Archive directly from their website. If you are still building out your collection, check out my post on the best Dune: Imperium upgrades.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Dune Imperium insert for the full collection? The PlayMode Deluxe PlaySystem paired with the Archive is the best Dune Imperium insert for anyone who owns the complete collection. It is the only system I have found that stores every official piece without compromise.
Does the Dune Imperium insert fit sleeved cards? Yes. The PlayMode Dune Imperium insert has been tested with Gamegenic Matte, Ryker, Mayday Premium and TitanShield Deluxe sleeves and fits all of them comfortably.
Where can I buy the PlayMode Dune Imperium insert? You can order directly from PlayMode’s website. They ship fast thanks to their in-house print farm.
Is the Dune Imperium insert worth it if I own a 3D printer? In my experience, yes. The design quality, color-coding, player dashboards, and overall fit and finish are difficult to replicate at home, even with a good printer.
Would you pay this kind of money for a top-tier insert for one of your favorite games? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.