PHENEX REBORN: Heat-Sensitive Playing Cards

PHENEX REBORN: Heat-Sensitive Playing Cards by Charmie bring the legend of the Phoenix to life, capturing its essence of rebirth, resilience, and immortality. Inspired by Phenex, the fallen angel and commander of the 37th demon army who seeks redemption, this deck embodies transformation and renewal.

Two editions are on offer during the Kickstarter campaign, REBITH and ASHES. The REBIRTH deck celebrates the Phoenix’s resurgence with a 3D-embossed copper plate adorned with holographic red foil. The heat-sensitive Phenex plate reacts to warmth, revealing the reborn king before your eyes. Its double-sided tuck box illustrates ancestors honoring the Phoenix, while the full foiled Phenex Codex and burning-foiled gilding enhance its elegance.

Inside, each face card is decorated with 12 legendary creatures—Unicorns, Harpies, Chimeras, Hydras, and more—finished in full cold foil. The card back, designed with fiery symmetry, ensures a smooth shuffling experience for cardists. Number cards hide a secret Codex of Phenex that is unlocked by heat, revealing a hidden rebirth message.

Meanwhile, the ASHES deck rises from the embers with an intricately carbon-carved tuck featuring 3D-embossed Phoenix flames, alchemical symbols, and the Philosopher's Stone. The lenticular fire effect makes the flames flicker as you move the box, while the cracked-lava interior and ruby flame-foiled gilding add a dramatic touch.

Face cards are finished in cold-foiled silver, showcasing dark mythical creatures in a classic engraving art style. The card back is detailed with a charcoal-engraved Phenex ornament, black foils, and an embossed Philosopher's Stone. Number cards conceal 36 Elemental Circles, revealed through heat, making every game an alchemical experience.

Encased in a 3D-embossed golden relic, the ELEMENTAL CHEST collector’s box holds both Rebirth and Ashes decks, along with a Ruby Translucent Phenex’s Circle Necklace. Heat-sensitive element icons on the box unlock the secret of immortality, while a floating display stand transforms it into a mystical artifact. Blending fire, alchemy, and magic, the Phenex Reborn Playing Cards are a stunning tribute to transformation and legend.

Printed on premium black-core card with linen texture and Cardistry-graded coating varnished. Pledge starts at $24 on Kickstarter.

Deck View: The Different Deck White Edition

Creative. Art. Symbolism.

The Different Deck is a reinvention of traditional playing cards, where each card is inverted—a club of 3s instead of a 3 of clubs, a diamond of 5s instead of a 5 of diamonds. Crowdfunded by Teach By Magic in 2014, the deck is a fusion of art, symbolism, and hidden elements, featuring over 100 languages and numeric systems, along with references to science, math, history, and mythology.

Inside, the deck is fully custom. Every dot, swirl, and hidden item was placed with intention. The Queen of Spades, for example, features “queen” in multiple languages, a queen chess piece, and Queen Elizabeth’s signature.

More than just a deck, Different Deck blends creativity, cultural exploration, and the love of magic into a truly one-of-a-kind collectible. Printed by the USPCC.

Obsession Playing Cards by Thirdway Industries

Obsession Playing Cards are an artistic exploration of desire, dreams, and the fine line between fantasy and nightmare. Designed by Giovanni Meroni of Thirdway Industries, this series delves into the theme of obsession, crafting a collection that blends elegance, passion, and mystery.

Two decks are on offer during the Kickstarter campaign, Obsession Yearn and Obsession Rapture. The Yearn edition is the foundation of the series, embodying refinement with a striking color palette and a luxurious tuckbox. 

The design balances classic playing card elements with the distinctive Thirdway Industries aesthetic, ensuring a deck that is both functional and captivating.

Obsession Rapture edition elevates the theme with a more opulent approach. This exclusive edition features hot foil on both the faces and back of the cards, with pink and magenta foil for Hearts and Diamonds, and green foil for Clubs and Spades.

The deck is further enhanced with green metallic gilding, adding a layer of sophistication. Limited to just 777 copies, Rapture is a rare collector’s piece, housed in a luxury Italian paper tuckbox with shimmering green hot foil accents.

Inside, both decks feature fully custom elements, including aces, pips, and backs, while maintaining a familiar structure for ease of play. The four unique jokers combine the pink and green foil elements, creating a visually stunning addition to the set.

The decks are printed by Kingstar PCC and pledge starts at $15 on Kickstarter.

Jack the Ripper & Sherlock Holmes Playing Cards

Step into the fog-laden streets of Victorian London with Anti-Faro's Jack the Ripper & Sherlock Holmes Playing Cards, a fusion of mystery, history, and puzzle-solving intrigue. Merging the terror of Jack the Ripper’s crimes with the brilliance of Sherlock Holmes’ deductive mind, this deck is more than just a deck of playing cards—it’s an immersive puzzle game where players must analyze hidden clues, follow trails, and uncover the truth before the next crime unfolds.

Each card is intricately designed to reflect the eerie atmosphere of 19th-century London, featuring gas-lit alleys, cryptic symbols, and a vintage aesthetic that transports players into a world of suspense. The deck contains concealed evidence, challenging players to solve the case. Only those with sharp observation skills and logical reasoning can crack the mystery before Jack the Ripper disappears into the night once again.

Four editions are available during the Kickstarter campaign- Checkmate, Castling, Stalemate, and Skewer. Each version offers a unique perspective on the suspects, with subtle differences that enhance the narrative.

In the Castling and Skewer Editions, characters appear unassuming, blending into the shadows of London’s criminal underworld. In the Stalemate and Checkmate Editions, their expressions reveal guilt, capturing them in the act of their crimes. The Castling and Checkmate Editions also feature luxurious cold foil, elevating the haunting elegance of the deck.

The card backs mirror the eerie door of the Shadow Vanishing Tuck Box, with intricate designs enhancing the deck’s vintage appeal.  The number cards form a fragmented old London map, and when assembled, they reveal secret locations, adding an interactive puzzle element.

 

The Shadow Vanishing Tuck Box adds an extra layer of mystery; when closed, Jack the Ripper’s ominous silhouette looms, but upon opening, it vanishes, leaving behind only a chilling symbol. The Detective’s Tuck Box, sealed with a wax emblem, unfolds to reveal intricate details, evoking the thrill of a detective’s pursuit.

Each edition offers stunning edge printing and fine detailing, making them a must-have for collectors. The complete Collector’s Set and Half Brick Set provide the full experience, including exclusive additions for those eager to immerse themselves in the mystery.

Designed for those who appreciate the art of storytelling through playing cards, this deck invites you to unravel secrets, decipher hidden messages, and step into a thrilling game of intellect and intrigue. Pledge starts at $14 on Kickstarter.