Diamon Playing Cards Nº27: Dark Roast

Over the years, the Diamon Playing Cards series has become a well-known for bold design and vibrant expression, captivating cardists, collectors, and casual players alike. Each release by the Dutch Card House Co. adds a fresh burst of creativity while staying true to the iconic border-bleeding diamond pattern that has defined the line since its debut. 

Now, the series reaches its tenth official edition with Diamon Nº27: Dark Roast, a deck inspired by the warmth and richness of coffee culture. The Dark Roast edition blends deep espresso browns, creamy cappuccino tones, and golden honey hues into a rich, earthy palette. 

The result is a deck that feels as warm and bold as a freshly pulled shot of coffee. Whether fanned, flourished, or spread, the cards come alive with a symphony of geometric patterns and color transitions. The deck features fully custom aces and court cards designed to harmonize with the coffee-inspired scheme, as well as the signature pips that integrate seamlessly with the diamond pattern.

For collectors, Diamon Nº27 comes with special limited editions. Alongside the standard version, there are two gilded editions, one shimmering in gold, the other in red. Each gilded deck carries a numbered seal, and options are available as add-ons, as part of the Duo Gilded reward, or in the Collector’s Wooden Box set.

Printed by WJPC, the Dark Roast edition is crafted with premium card stock and a smooth linen finish that ensures durability and performance.  Pledge starts at $17 on Kickstarter.

Deck View: Damokles Ruinae Playing Cards

Velvet. Ominous. Myth.

Damokles Ruinae is the rare edition of the Damokles series by Thirdway Industries, created as a Kickstarter-exclusive edition that embodies the shadow side of the myth. 

Inside, every card is alive with metallic detail, two inks on the backs (copper and silver) and three on the faces (copper, silver, and a glint of green). The artwork captures the ever-looming danger of Damocles: the Ace of Spades shows a sword suspended by a string, while each court card bears its own hidden story, with unique swords dangling above the royals as symbols of fate. The Jokers are full-length illustrations of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, rendered with beautiful line work.

Damokles Ruinae comes wrapped in luxury Italian velvet, its deep black surface stamped with hot foil by the artisans at Boschiero & Newton. Only around 800 of these hauntingly beautiful decks were produced.

Printed by USPCC on Bicycle stock. Available from Thirdway Industries for $49.

Divine Artifact Playing Cards Series by King Star

In the shadows of the Republic of China-era (1912–1949), a tale of intrigue and conflict emerges. Cultivators, martial artists, assassins, and spies all converge on a single city, drawn into endless disputes over a secret treasure. This story is the heart of King Star’s Divine Artifact playing card series... a collection that combines history, mythology, and artistry in spectacular fashion.

The series unfolds across multiple editions, each with its own distinct character. The Iron Unchain Deck carries a design that feels raw and unyielding, evoking strength and resilience. The Willow Drift Deck, by contrast, flows with grace and elegance, embodying movement and transience. Together, they capture the duality of the story: steel and silk, force and subtlety.

For collectors, King Star has created a Special Collector’s Box Set, limited to only 999 units worldwide. Each set contains both the Iron Unchain and Willow Drift decks, alongside a series of commemorative tickets crafted exclusively for this release. It is not only a showcase of design but also a rare treasure in its own right.

King Star’s continues to elevate playing card design into collectible art. Building on past successes such as King Arthur V2 and Nezha, this series extends the studio’s exploration of mythology, storytelling, and cutting-edge production. 

Pledge starts at $9 on Kickstarter.

Magick & Witches Playing Cards by FRIS Cards

Following the success of The Elves Deck and The Secret of the Sea, FRIS Cards is back with its most ambitious project yet: Magick & Witches. This fantasy-themed playing card series continues the studio’s tradition of storytelling through art, immersing collectors and players in a world where wizards, witches, and elemental forces battle for balance between light and darkness.

Every detail of Magick & Witches has been meticulously crafted. The decks feature fully custom, hand-drawn cards, from intricately illustrated pips to immersive court characters that embody elemental magic. Gold foil shines on both sides of the cards, a feature that elevates the artwork and enhances their table presence.

The Magick Deck draws its inspiration from wizards and witches divided by their elemental allegiances: water, wind, fire, and earth. Meanwhile, the complementary Witches Deck introduces an all-female cast of spellcasters united in their devotion to witchcraft. 

Each court card carries its own mythology, complete with familiars, titles, and elemental powers, turning every hand of cards into a chapter of an unfolding epic. Even the Aces and Jokers are brought to life as mythical beasts and legendary figures, adding layers of storytelling to the gameplay experience.

The tuck boxes, produced in Italy by Boschiero & Newton, are adorned with embossing and hot foils, creating packaging as dazzling as the cards inside. 

Printed by KingStar on German Black Core paper with a linen finish, the decks boast both durability and elegance. 

Pledge starts at $12 on Kickstarter.

Take a Look at the Cardistry-Con 2025 Deck

Cardistry-Con returns to New York this weekend, and with it comes a deck as iconic as the gathering itself. Produced in collaboration with the United States Playing Card Company, this deck is a limited release designed to embody the energy and artistry of the cardistry community.

The bold deck features a predominantly black-and-white colorway, combining classic simplicity with striking visual impact. Standard courts are preserved for familiarity, while a custom Ace of Spades, Jokers, and card backs set the deck apart. 

The one-way, borderless back design is adorned with black dots, with the letters “CC” revealed cleverly through negative space styling. The cards are housed in a letterpressed matte custom tuck case, a minimalist yet refined design.

Limited to just 1,800 decks, every purchase of the CC25 edition supports the continuation of this unique global gathering, helping to ensure that future events can bring cardists together from around the world.

Printed on thin crushed stock with USPCC’s signature Air-Cushion finish, the deck offers smooth handling, crisp shuffles, and effortless flourishes. Available for $15 on the Cardistry-Con Website. 

🎉 Issue 100 of Kardify Magazine is Now on Patreon!

Woot woot! 🎉 Issue 100 of Kardify Magazine is officially out on Patreon! When we first started, we never thought we’d make it all the way to 100 issues... but here we are, 8 years later. Huge thanks to ALL our amazing patrons for making this milestone possible and for your support and friendship along the way. 

Patrons who pledged $3 or more will be able to download the latest issue from our Patreon page. This issue compiles selected articles published from mid-August to mid-September. Deck images, articles, and news to keep you informed and up-to-date with the latest playing card news, releases, and previews. If you love playing cards, you will love Kardify Magazine!

Also, don’t forget to check out our other cool reward tiers on Patreon! The tiers include monthly desktop and smartphone wallpapers, a mystery deck shipped to you every 4 months of ongoing contributions, social media shout-outs, and multiple sponsorship tiers! Check it out!

Funds received from the magazine will help us keep the site running and growing, and bring new quality content to you. Our aim is to support designers by backing crowdfunded projects and supporting magic and playing cards retailers with their new releases. If you want to support us, please head over to our Patreon page. If you have an idea for an article you would like us to pursue, do get in contact with us. We hope you enjoy the read. In this issue:   

+ Nutcracker 2025 Edition: Kings Wild’s latest release features stunning design, enchanting characters, and theatrical artistry, transforming each card into a magical scene from the timeless story. Check it out!

+ Steeped: By Squiddle Ink, this dynamic deck celebrate Indian chai culture, blending maximalist design, vibrant neon hues, and elegant silverware-inspired details!

+ A.Haines (Year Two) Deck: Released as a Patreon reward deck for collectors who appreciate craftsmanship, history, and originality. 

+ Monarch Prestige: Theory11’s 18th Anniversary Monarch Prestige Edition dazzles with radiant gold and dark bronze foils, reimagining the iconic deck into a luxurious, light-catching masterpiece.

+ The Magician's Last Secret: By Anti-Faro, this deck series is a lavish tribute to the golden age of stage magic, inspired by legendary illusionists like Houdini. Find out more!

+ Lord of the Rings: National Parks: This Kings Wild deck reimagines the landscapes of Middle-earth in the bold, nostalgic style of Federal Works Program-era style National Park Poster. 

+ Love & Retribution: Set in 1800s England, this beautiful deck hand-illustrated A.Haines tells the forbidden love story of two people born worlds apart but brought together by fate. Check it out!

+ The Parlour Royale: A return to The Gentleman Wake’s first deck, reimagined by Stockholm17. Six years after the original release, this revival blends the elegance, and class that defined the series with new design elements.

… and more! 48-pages of articles and deck images. Enjoy!

The Virts Unveils Virtuoso P1 SG Deck

The Virts has announced the launch of the Virtuoso P1 SG, a special edition deck created to honor Singapore’s 60th anniversary. Co-founder Huron Low revealed the design to the brand’s launch list, highlighting both its symbolic meaning and unique cardistry features.

The back design of the deck draws inspiration from Singapore’s transformation from a small “Little Red Dot” into a city of skyscrapers. At its center sits a bold crimson circle, surrounded by a striking PRISM pattern. Unlike previous Virtuoso releases, the PRISM extends all the way to... and even beyond the edges of the card, symbolizing how the nation expanded beyond its limitations through unity and resilience.

The design flows seamlessly from back to face, forming tapered red bands that frame circular arrays. When the cards are spun, the lines animate like fan blades, while spreads reveal blooming patterns reminiscent of traditional Chinese fans. 

The most striking feature, however, comes when the deck is spread with its special portrait Flag Card: together, the cards transform into the Singapore flag. A step-by-step video tutorial has been produced so that even newcomers can easily achieve the effect.

Each deck comes with four Art Cards that deepen the storytelling experience. Inspired by classic digital watch displays, they form the number “SG60” to commemorate the nationwide celebration. On their reverse sides, collectors will find a Cover Card, a Story Card detailing the deck’s inspiration, a Flag Card for multiple flag transformations, and a Color-Block Card for simplified displays of the national symbol.

Because official permission to use the Singapore flag expires at the end of September 2025, the Virtuoso P1 SG will only be available during the anniversary celebrations. After a decade of waiting, the original SG50 version was cancelled in 2015 due to lack of approval, Virtuoso finally realized its long-held vision.

The deck will be available for $18 for a limited time on 25 September, 10am (EDT).

Strange Tales From A Chinese Studio Playing Cards Bring Chinese Folklore to Life

Bloom Playing Cards has unveiled its latest project on Kickstarter, Strange Tales From A Chinese Studio Playing Cards, the third deck in Season 2 of Room One’s Collection System. Drawing inspiration from Pu Songling’s 18th-century classic, Liaozhai Zhiyi, this deck transforms ancient Chinese tales of love, and the supernatural into an intricate collection of illustrated cards.

The deck captures the haunting beauty of Pu Songling’s world, where fox spirits (huli jing), ghostly maidens, and spectral beings blur the boundaries between the mortal and spirit realms. Each card is steeped in atmosphere, with artwork inspired by classical Chinese ink painting and symbolism rooted in the original texts.

The collection is available in four editions: HUPO (Amber/Gold) Special & Standard Editions and GAOYU (Silver/Grey) Special & Standard Editions. The Special Editions feature dazzling cold foiling in gold or silver, while all editions carry unique design elements that set them apart.

Two distinct tuck box styles highlight the project’s craftsmanship. The Paper Fan Tuck Box unfolds like a traditional hand fan, revealing a gallery of characters from the Strange Tales, enriched with luxurious foil and embossing. The Scorched Tuck Box pays homage to classical thread-bound Chinese books, echoing the delicate manuscripts of Pu Songling’s time.

Inside, the Number Cards depict full-body portraits of spirits and scholars. When placed in sequence, they connect to form a mesmerizing mosaic mural of an otherworldly garden, a design also available as uncut sheets. The Court Cards expand the narrative with vivid depictions of supernatural beings, offering two-way illustrations that complement their appearances in the Number Cards.

The card backs carry one of the most striking design features of the deck: a “whirling gateway” motif, merging traditional Chinese lattice windows with the sacred wheel of change. When the cards are fanned or flipped, the artwork creates the illusion of a spinning karmic portal, evoking the passage between worlds. In the Special Editions, cold foiling enhances this effect, making the portal shimmer with ethereal light.

Printed by Room One Cards and pledge starts at $19 on Kickstarter.

Deck View: Olympia Playing Cards

Regal. Elegant. Divine.

Olympia Playing Cards channels the majesty of Greek mythology through an elegant yet powerful visual approach. Designed by Steve Minty, this beautiful deck draws inspiration from classical Greek sculpture, mythology, and architecture, blending ancient themes with modern precision.

Inside, the deck features custom court cards portraying gods and goddesses like Hermes and Hera, rendered with sculptural grace. The custom pips, influenced by ancient dice patterns, further reinforce the mythological theme while maintaining playability.

The elegant tuck box is wrapped in fine detailing that reflects the refined aesthetics of marble temples and divine presence. Intricate linework and balanced symmetry evoke the timeless beauty of Mount Olympus itself.

Printed by USPCC on premium stock.

Taj Mahal Playing Cards

The timeless beauty of the Taj Mahal has been transformed into a work of playable art with the release of the Taj Mahal Playing Cards. Produced by Nova Lux Decks and designed by artist Ritu Bhattacharya of Old Gravity with her husband Bivas, the deck pays tribute to the elegance, craftsmanship, and cultural richness of the Mughal Empire.

The Kickstarter campaign features two luxurious editions: Day and Night. Each deck celebrates a different side of the Taj Mahal. The Day Edition reflects the monument’s radiant glow under sunlight, with a tuck box that shimmers in alternating tones of blue and gold foil. Its cards are side-gilded with a bluish-cyan sheen, evoking the pale sky above the marble domes. 

The Night Edition captures the ethereal beauty of the Taj under moonlight, with dark copper foiling, black side-gilding, and a tuck box inspired by the intricate jali latticework found in Mughal monuments.

Inside, every card has been custom illustrated and foil printed, drawing inspiration from Mughal miniatures, floral motifs, and architectural ornamentation. The card backs feature symmetrical floral designs reminiscent of the stone inlays and inlaid gemstone artistry of the empire’s master craftsmen.

The four aces stand out as intricate tributes to Mughal design language, blending geometry and natural elegance, while the jokers combine to form a complete rendering of the Taj Mahal, accented with complementary foils, gold for the Day Edition and copper for the Night.

Both editions comes with embossed, foiled tuck cases that feature die-cut arches inspired by Mughal architecture. The Kickstarter exclusive versions include numbered side-gilded editions, adding to their collectibility.

Pledge starts at $15 on Kickstarter.

Medusa Playing Cards by Midnight Cards

Inspired by the legendary Gorgon of Greek mythology, Medusa Playing Cards are as dangerous as they are mesmerizing. Designed by Randy Butterfield of Midnight Cards and produced by Mike Wilson, this striking deck features a hypnotic back design of swirling snakes in vivid green and orange, printed on holographic foil stock for a dazzling, otherworldly effect.

The tuck boxes showcase the haunting gaze of Medusa wrapped around the matte paper case. Two editions are available during the campaign: the Standard Black Tuck, crafted with matte black paper and highlighted in green and orange foil, and the Kickstarter exclusive Limited Green Tuck, only limited to just 500 decks. 

Inside, each card face carries the myth forward. Borderless snake motifs dominate the back, while the courts, pips, and aces are comes with grunge textures and mythological icons: Medusa, Pegasus, Perseus, and the sword & shield of legend. Even the jokers pay tribute to Perseus, holding the severed head of Medusa.

The deck also features Ultra Green edges, a dyed green paper stock that resists chipping and keeps the deck looking fresh long after first use. 

Printed by Legends Playing Card Co. and pledge starts at $17 on Kickstarter.

RUBAIYAT Players Playing Cards

Oath playing cards latest offering is a luxury and elegance in a work inspired by the Persian poet Omar Khayyam (1048-1131), transforming poetry into art, blending elegance, mysticism, and design innovation. 

The deck comes in 2 editions, red and blue. Both decks features ornate, Persian-inspired patterns, delicate flourishes, and a color palette rich with sophistication, evoking illuminated manuscripts and the grandeur of ancient artistry. 

From the backs to the face cards, the designs balance symmetry, luxury, and meaning, creating a deck that feels both timeless and contemporary. But what truly sets this deck apart is its tuck case. According to the product page, the tuck carries an innovative surprise feature never before seen in playing cards.

Available from Oath Playing Cards for $50.

What is the Butterfly Playing Cards Launch Try-All Set?

Butterfly Playing Cards is inviting the community to do more than just collect. The brand is asking fans and collectors to help decide the future of the next Butterfly deck. The Butterfly Try-All Set allows you to have the rare chance to test and compare three unique card stocks, all while influencing the deck’s second edition.

Created in collaboration with Room One for the Asia Card Convention 2025, the Try-All Set includes three decks of Butterfly Playing Cards, each printed with the same design but on different stock. One uses the 270gsm Sleight stock, another the 290gsm Afflux stock, and the third the 300gsm Elite stock. 

By keeping the artwork identical across the decks, Butterfly ensures that the only factor up for judgment is how the cards feel and handle in performance. Each tuck box carries a subtle mark indicating its stock type and thickness, so collectors and performers can easily track their comparisons.

To gather opinions, each deck contains a card with a QR code that leads to a short feedback form. Once completed, responses will determine the “People’s Champ,” the most popular stock among backers. That choice will then guide the second edition of Butterfly Playing Cards, which will feature a new colorway and a redesigned tuck case to set it apart from the Try-All Set.

This release is strictly limited to 500 sets, adding an extra layer of exclusivity for collectors. An additional incentive awaits those who participate in the survey before October 31, 2025: one person will be randomly selected to receive a prototype Butterfly Try-All Set, of which only five exist worldwide.

The Set is available now from Butterfly Magic Store for $38.