The Rush Playing Cards by Squiddle Ink

The Rush Playing Cards by Squiddle Ink is a fully illustrated deck inspired by the drama, ambition, and chaos of the California Gold Rush, bringing the frontier era to life through detailed artwork and historical storytelling. 

Set against the rugged landscapes of the Sierra Nevada and the boomtowns stretching toward San Francisco, the deck captures the spirit of a time when fortunes were chased... and often lost in the pursuit of gold.

At the center of the narrative is James W. Marshall, whose 1848 discovery at Sutter’s Sawmill ignited the mass migration of prospectors known as the 49ers. The court cards expand on this history by portraying real figures from the era, from industrialists like Levi Strauss and Leland Stanford, to frontier personalities such as gambler Eleanor Dumont and entertainer Lotta Crabtree. 

Each suit reflects a different facet of Gold Rush life, from enterprise and infrastructure to saloon culture and survival. Visually, the deck leans into a rustic, frontier aesthetic. The card backs depict a skeletal prospector riding through a ghost town, reinforcing the theme of fleeting fortune and abandoned dreams. 

The deck’s design is steeped in symbolism, incorporating imagery like pickaxes, wagon wheels, train tracks, and wheat, subtle reminders of the industries and livelihoods overshadowed by the lure of gold. Even the aces and number cards carry narrative weight, referencing mining culture, profiteering, and the transformation of California’s economy during the rush.

The tuck box features a soft-touch matte finish with a sepia-toned interior pattern inspired by steam train wheels, while gold gilded edges give the cards a warm shimmer... echoing the moment a prospector glimpses gold in a pan.

Printed by Legends Playing Card Co with a classic finish. Pledge starts at $16 on Kickstarter.

Deck View: ARW V3 (Standard Edition) Playing Cards

Neon. Dynamic. Striking.

ARW V3 (Standard Edition) Playing Cards is the evolution of Luke Wadey’s arrow-based series with a more expressive, hand-drawn aesthetic. The back design centers on the now-signature twin arrows, sketched into a layered composition that forms a bold, recognizable pattern—especially effective in fans and flourishes. Neon ink plays a key role, reacting vividly under UV light and bringing the design to life with a glowing intensity.

Faces feature custom pips with subtle arrow integrations, while the courts and Ace of Spades expand on the theme with hand-drawn arrows and typography woven into the artwork. The contrast between clean structure and freehand styling gives the deck a distinct street-art influence. The tuck box follows the established ARW design language with bold graphics and typography, enhanced with neon accents. 

Printed by the United States Playing Card Company, Available for $20 on Luke Wadey's online store.

Thalassic II: Tropical Treasure Playing Cards

Thalassic II: Tropical Treasure Playing Cards is a vibrant continuation of a pirate-inspired series, blending nautical adventure with richly illustrated, anthropomorphic characters. Produced by Marianne Larsen in collaboration with artist Patrick Leis, the deck expands its world with bold storytelling, exotic island influences, and a cast of unforgettable seafaring crews.

This second volume on Kickstarter introduces two completely distinct editions: Captain Alvaros and SFL Bautista...  each with its own artistic direction, back design, jokers, and overall identity. 

The Captain Alvaros Edition leans into a more detailed, one-way composition that emphasizes forward motion and narrative, while the SFL Bautista Edition adopts a classic two-way layout, offering a more traditional feel without losing its personality.

At the heart of the deck are twelve fully custom court cards, each representing one of four unique pirate crews. From dockside schemers and master negotiators to agile explorers and open-sea specialists, every crew brings its own flavor to the adventure, reflected not only in the characters themselves but also in the design of the aces and supporting artwork. 

The number cards continue the storytelling with hidden details woven into custom nautical pips, rewarding closer inspection.

Both editions feature premium production, including metallic foil accents, embossed tuck boxes made from vintage-style raw stock, and striking edge gilding: sunset orange for the Captain Alvaros Edition and coastal turquoise for the SFL Bautista Edition. 

The tuck designs are equally expressive, with gold and copper foiling bringing to life imagery of legendary captains, galleons, and tropical ornamentation, all sealed with antique-style labels that evoke the spirit of old maritime expeditions.

Printed on casino-quality linen-finish stock, the custom decks are designed for both durability and smooth handling. Limited to a maximum of 2,500 copies per edition, pledge starts at $25 on Kickstarter.

Why Artemis II Crew Plays Cards Ahead of Mission

In the final hours before launch yesterday, the crew of Artemis II paused their preparations for a tradition that’s equal parts superstition and camaraderie... a pre-flight card game believed to ward off bad luck.

Commander Reid Wiseman, alongside astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, gathered inside crew quarters to take part in the ritual. The rules are simple but symbolic: the game continues until the commander loses. According to NASA, the loss is meant to “burn off” any lingering bad luck, clearing the way for a successful mission.

The lighthearted moment comes just before a major milestone in space exploration. Artemis II is set to become the first crewed deep space mission in over half a century, carrying astronauts farther from Earth than any human mission since Apollo 13. The flight will see the Orion spacecraft travel past the Moon, loop around it, and return home without entering lunar orbit during its planned 10-day journey.

With the launch window opening later that evening, the centuries-old comfort of a simple card game offered a brief moment of normalcy... proving that even on the edge of historic spaceflight, a deck of cards still has a place.

Echoes in the Palace (Standard Edition) Playing Cards

Stockholm17's latest release, Echoes in the Palace (Standard Edition) playing cards is a narrative-driven poker deck where each suit unfolds a dramatic story of power, intrigue, and consequence. 

Inspired by Renaissance triptychs, the Jack, Queen, and King of every suit form a connected tableau, presenting scenes that feel like fragments of a silent courtly drama.

Designed for both gameplay and divination, the deck explores themes of deception, ambition, desire, and judgment. The custom courts adopt a tarot-like layout, giving each card added symbolic weight and encouraging deeper interpretation beyond traditional play.

Four distinct Jokers embody the forces of fate: Madness, Fortune, Misfortune, and Disguise... further enriching the narrative and offering an additional layer of meaning within the deck’s unfolding story.

A shared palace backdrop runs throughout the entire deck, unifying each card within the same world of shifting power and hidden secrets. Finished with gold foil on the back design. 

Printed by WJPC and available from Stockholm17 for $15.

Night at Circus Playing Cards, Final Week on Kickstarter

Night at Circus Playing Cards by Anti-Faro is a dark, story-driven deck that blends vintage carnival aesthetics with psychological horror. Set in a surreal, eternal circus trapped in night, the deck explores the unsettling idea of joy twisted into something uncanny... where painted smiles hide something far more sinister.

Each card is part of a larger narrative. This truly unique deck isn’t just for play, it’s an interactive experience, featuring hidden riddles and a puzzle that players must solve to uncover the truth behind the circus and “escape” its world. 

The number cards act as fragments of a coded message, while the court cards represent the trapped performers, each holding pieces of the mystery.

The release includes four editions, each themed around a different “show” within the circus:

• Clown Show (Special)
• Puppet Show (Special)
• Animal Show (Standard)
• Freak Show (Standard)

The Special Editions feature cold-foil crackle finishes and holographic gilded edges, creating a striking, otherworldly shimmer. They also come housed in a Light-up Big Top tuck box, designed like a circus tent that illuminates when opened- making the deck feel as though the carnival has suddenly come to life.

The Standard Editions offer more subtle finishes with bold, contrasting color schemes for gameplay, and are packaged in die-cut tent-style tuck boxes that invite players into the eerie spectacle.

Each edition has its own unique back design, styled as the entrance to its respective tent, with ornate carnival arches and unsettling visual motifs. Together, they form a cohesive yet fragmented world.

Designed as both a collectible and an immersive puzzle experience! Printed by Room One Cards and pledge starts at $17 on Kickstarter.

Deck View: Bicycle Feudal Ninja Playing Cards

Stealthy. Fierce. Shadowed.

The Bicycle Feudal Ninja Playing Cards focus on the shadowy side of ancient Japan, presenting a deck built around stealth, precision, and striking visual contrast. The deck was designed by Scott King and successfully crowdfunded on 2015.

The back design is dominated by a bold, black-on-black illustration of a ninja’s masked face, subtly integrated with hidden weapons like twin sais and throwing stars. Gold accents, especially a central ninja star and surrounding dragons.

The card faces retain a traditional structure for playability but introduce custom geometric pips and stylized borders inspired by flowing dragon tails. Court cards depict a range of ninja figures: assassins, leaders, and warriors... each armed and poised in dynamic stances. 

Printed by the United States Playing Card Company.

Fulton's Irish Wonders Playing Cards

Fulton's Irish Wonders Playing Cards are a tribute to Ireland, blending cultural symbolism with refined design. Inspired by the spirit of the Emerald Isle... and a personal connection to Brad Fulton's grandmother from Aughnacloy, this fully custom deck captures both heritage and nostalgia through every detail.

The tuck box is richly wrapped in vintage-style gold foil, designed to feel like a treasured artifact. Its surface features iconic Celtic elements, including the powerful Celtic Dragon and intricate knotwork patterns that symbolize eternity and interconnectedness.

Over time, the foil is intended to develop a natural patina, giving the box the appearance of aged “old gold” and enhancing its antique character.

Inside, the deck continues the Irish theme with a carefully Pantone-matched color palette reflecting the Irish flag. The faces maintain a clean, playable layout while incorporating subtle custom touches that tie the design together.

Printed on premium thin stock for smooth handling and flexibility, the cards are built for both performance and longevity. Available NOW from Fulton's Playing Cards for $21.

Morpho V2 Playing Cards by TCC Fashion

Morpho V2 Playing Cards by TCC Fashion build upon the success of the original Morpho V1, refining both the visual structure and the finer design details while expanding the butterfly-inspired concept. The new edition continues to explore the symbolism of butterflies... creatures long associated with transformation, freedom, and rebirth, capturing the fleeting beauty of their flight through intricate artwork and carefully considered materials.

Butterflies serve as the central inspiration for the entire deck. Emerging from their chrysalis, they represent the moment of transformation when something quiet and hidden unfolds into color and motion. Morpho V2 translates this natural journey into playing card form, where each element, from the tuck box to the card backs... echoes the grace and delicate strength of these remarkable insects.

Among the thousands of butterfly species found in nature, four were selected as the core inspiration for the series, each bringing its own color palette and personality to the design.

• The Pearl Deck draws from the Green Commodore, using bright tones and intricate wing patterns as its visual foundation. 
• The Sapphire Deck is inspired by the Blue Pansy, whose translucent blue wings and subtle black and orange markings create a striking contrast. 
• The Carmine Deck reflects the Scarlet Mormon, highlighted by deep red wings punctuated by structured black patterns. 
• A fourth design, the Rose Spectral Deck, is inspired by the Emerald Swallowtail and features a luminous gradient blending teal, violet, and pale blue tones. This edition is exclusive to the collector’s boxset.

The tuck boxes retain the signature die-cut window introduced in Morpho V1, allowing collectors to glimpse the cold foil card backs directly through the packaging. In V2, the linear patterns of the original design have been transformed into elegant shapes formed by wings and flowers, creating a softer, more organic appearance. When the deck is opened, the reveal feels almost like witnessing a butterfly taking flight.

Inside the deck, the card faces maintain a clean and refined layout, emphasizing clarity and balance while allowing the butterfly motif to take center stage. 

The numbered cards incorporate butterfly and floral illustrations, with the number of butterflies corresponding to the card value, reinforcing the theme of nature quietly gathering strength before bursting into motion. The card backs and tuck designs continue the motif, using detailed butterfly patterns enhanced by cold foil to create subtle movement as light shifts across the surface.

Pledge starts at $12 on Kickstarter.

Black Gilded Mortalis Machina Playing Cards

Black Gilded Mortalis Machina Playing Cards bring together gothic symbolism, steampunk aesthetics, and intricate paper engineering in a striking collector’s deck. Designed by The Paper Gear Company, this edition expands on the Mortalis Machina concept with dramatic black gilded edges and a fully foiled mechanical tuck box that transforms the simple act of opening a deck into an interactive experience.

At the heart of the design is the theme of humanity’s eternal clash and coexistence with machines. The artwork blends Victorian-era elegance with steampunk imagination, weaving together Baroque curves, gothic ornamentation, and dark fantasy imagery across every card. The result is a deck that feels both ancient and mechanical, as if forged in a world where gears and souls are equally powerful forces.

The courts and jokers are richly illustrated with hand-drawn characters rooted in mythology and symbolism. The Jacks represent ominous “Death Messengers,” including figures such as a hellbound rider, a mysterious black cat, the Horse of the Apocalypse, and a raven. 

The Queens embody powerful goddesses and mythological figures such as Santa Muerte, Koli, Mengpo, and a figure inspired by Valkyrie or Hel. The Kings take on the role of grim reapers and rulers of the underworld, represented by legendary figures like the Reaper, Anubis, Hades, and Yama.

The Jokers provide a contrasting yet meaningful touch. One holds a heart symbolizing love, while the other clutches treasure representing wealth. Together they reflect the duality of human desire... reminding us that the very things we pursue for happiness can also carry the seeds of sorrow.

The most distinctive element of the deck is its mechanical tuck box. The foiled metallic gear design is not merely decorative; it is a functional piece of paper engineering where gears shift and move as the box opens. Despite its intricate mechanism, the tuck remains the same compact size as a standard deck box, demonstrating impressive craftsmanship and precision while remaining lightweight and durable.

Pledge starts at $34 on Kickstarter.

BHOOMI Playing Cards

BHOOMI Playing Cards by Orion Playing Cards are the third chapter in an elemental series that explores humanity’s connection to nature, following the themes of water in JAL and fire in AGNI. The name “Bhoomi,” derived from Sanskrit, means “Earth” or “Land,” and the deck pays tribute to the planet as the enduring foundation of life.

Designed by Bivas Bhattacharjee from Old Gravity, this collection centers on the philosophy “The World is One Family.” This idea reflects the belief that all living beings share the same ground and are interconnected through the Earth.

Two main editions represent different aspects of the planet. The Bloom Edition celebrates the vibrant surface of the Earth with a rich palette of emerald green, forest brown, and gold. Its design features a symmetrical Tree of Life motif, intricate vine patterns, and solid gold gilded edges that reflect the energy of flourishing ecosystems.

In contrast, the Roots Edition honors the quiet strength beneath the surface. Using muted silver, deep umber, and copper tones, it evokes the ancient stability of soil, stone, and mineral foundations. Copper-colored gilding and subtle metallic details reinforce the grounded, subterranean theme.

The court cards tell a narrative of humanity’s relationship with the Earth through a diverse cast of figures drawn from history, mythology, and global culture. The characters include farmers, scholars, monarchs, and mystics—each representing a different connection to the land.

Even the aces reinforce this philosophy, with each symbol transformed into a stylised tree. The Ace of Spades features a powerful oak set against hypnotic woodgrain rings, the Ace of Hearts forms a canopy shaped like a heart, the Ace of Diamonds echoes the geometry of crystalline minerals, and the Ace of Clubs evokes the sturdy strength of a sacred grove rooted in fertile soil.

Across both editions, the number cards share a unified design language built around winding vines, organic geometry, and botanical motifs. The pips themselves are redesigned as miniature “Tree of Life” forms, reinforcing the idea that every suit and number represents a branch of the same ancient system. 

Both editions feature 56 custom poker-sized cards printed on premium 310gsm black-core stock by King Star. Pledge starts at $16 on Kickstarter.