Vanir Playing Cards Bring Norse Mythology to Life

Vanir Playing Cards, designed and illustrated by Nicolai Aaroe, offer an abstract and artistic interpretation of Vanaheimr and the Vanir from Norse mythology. Rather than pursuing historical Viking authenticity, the project embraces fantasy, imagination, and the mystical power of Sejdr magic.

Inspired by Norse mythology, fantasy fiction, and the visual world of The Lord of the Rings, this playing card series explores the Vanir as a race connected to nature, magic, wisdom, and the hidden forces of the Earth.

The series features three distinct editions: Blót (Ritual), Sejdr (Magic), and Vanadis (Goddess). Each edition features a unique colour palette, tuck box, card back, Aces, and metallic edge gilding. Blót combines earthy brown with teal energy and gold gilding, Sejdr focuses on vibrant teal with matching teal gilding, while Vanadis uses a dark, nocturnal palette accented by copper and magical energy.

Fully custom, the 12 Vanir deities appear throughout the court cards, while the Aces offer additional storytelling elements, particularly in the Blót edition, where they depict Vanir ritual scenes.

The tuck boxes feature matte lamination, metallic foil, embossing, seals, and illustrated interiors, with the iconic Stag of Vanaheim appearing on the backs. The card backs depict flowing energy veins representing Sejdr magic, creating a chaotic yet symmetrical visual system unique to each edition.

For collectors, the project also includes a 32-page illustrated lore booklet exploring the mythology, characters, culture, and artistic interpretation behind the Vanir, alongside a 50mm antique-gold-plated metal coin featuring embossed tribal artwork.

Printed by WJPC on premium linen-finish stock, each edition is limited to a maximum of 1,200 copies. Pledge starts at $25 on Kickstarter.

Final Week on Kickstarter! Warriors of the Moon Playing Cards

Blue Moon Co. returns on Kickstarter with Warriors of the Moon, a spirit-animal themed playing card collection inspired by Selene, the Greek Goddess of the Moon.

The collection reimagines 12 spirit animals as powerful warriors, with each represented through the court cards. The Spades feature the Lion, Rabbit, and Deer; Diamonds showcase the Panther, Peacock, and Butterfly; Clubs feature the Wolf, Unicorn, and Crab; while Hearts bring together the Whale, Swan, and Owl. Selene herself serves as the inspiration for the Jokers.

The Kickstarter project includes three editions: Signature, Morning Night, and Shadow Blue. The Signature Edition features an innovative book-style tuck box with a magnetic closure, a removable 40mm embossed collector coin, and a sleeve housing the cards. The deck itself features holographic foiling and holographic gilded edges for an eye-catching finish.

The Morning Night and Shadow Blue editions feature their own custom tuck boxes, card backs, Aces, Jokers, courts, and number cards, continuing the celestial and mystical aesthetic throughout.

Collectors can also choose a limited Collector Box Set, containing all three editions plus gilded versions of the Morning Night and Shadow Blue decks. Both gilded editions are limited to just 100 copies each.

Pledge starts at $17 on Kickstarter.

Gold Certificate (Standard Edition) Playing Cards

Vintage. Ornate. Luxurious.

Federal 52 Gold Certificate by Kings Wild Project is the second deck in the original Federal 52 series, inspired by the design language of American banknotes and currency.

The fully custom deck builds on the original Federal 52 artwork, with gold foil added throughout the cards to highlight the intricate illustrations. The custom courts, aces, jokers, and detailed card back all incorporate the metallic treatment, giving the vintage-inspired artwork added depth.

The deck is housed in a minimalist orange tuck box finished with matching orange foil. Printed by the Expert Playing Card Company, Gold Certificate combines classic currency-inspired design with a refined, contemporary presentation.

UUSI Releases the Second Edition of REPUBLIC Playing Cards

I was browsing UUSI's store page and stumbled on this deck! After more than five years since their OG playing card release, the team behind UUSI continues the story of REPUBLIC Playing Cards with a newly released Second Edition.

Named after Republic, Michigan... the home of the UUSI studio and a community with strong Finnish roots, the deck celebrates the Finnish and Nordic folk art traditions that have long influenced UUSI's design work.

The original REPUBLIC deck features a restrained beige and black colour palette, with a seamless card back inspired by traditional Finnish patterns. Custom court cards, Jokers, and the Ace of Spades reinterpret familiar playing card imagery while maintaining the deck's distinctly Nordic character.

The Second Edition is limited to 1,000 decks and retains the minimalist aesthetic and craftsmanship of the original release. Each deck contains 52 playing cards and two Jokers, printed on premium linen-finish playing card stock and housed in a luxurious heavy-paper tuck box featuring an embossed design and custom seal.

Available now for $30 on Uusi.