LiaoZhai Playing Cards by ARK

LiaoZhai Playing Cards by ARK is an art-driven collection inspired by Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, the legendary supernatural anthology written by Pu Songling. Drawing from centuries-old Eastern folklore, the project transforms classic tales of spirits, fox demons, and human desire into an immersive collector’s experience that combines storytelling, luxury craftsmanship, and theatrical presentation.

Continuing ARK’s exploration of Eastern fantasy aesthetics following its ShanHai series, the deck uses traditional Chinese splash-ink painting techniques to create an ethereal atmosphere filled with flowing brushwork, softened forms, and dreamlike transitions between the mortal and supernatural worlds.Every illustration is designed to feel as though it has emerged directly from an ancient scroll, blending haunting elegance with contemporary collectible design.

The centerpiece of the project is ARK’s highly elaborate packaging system. Housed within a snake-bone-inspired slipcase featuring embossing and gold foil accents, the tuck case unfolds into a rotating cross-shaped three-dimensional theatre inspired by pop-up carousel books. As the structure rotates, four iconic Liaozhai stories gradually reveal themselves as miniature stage scenes, allowing the deck to function as both a playable object and an interactive display piece. 

The card backs continue this narrative approach through animated panoramic artwork that shifts from elegant Suzhou-style gardens into eerie supernatural landscapes when fanned. Each suit is tied to one of four classic Liaozhai tales. 

The custom courts features Chinese narrative characters symbolising “Beginning,” “Progression,” and “Ending,” turning every suit into a miniature visual story arc. The Jokers further reinforce the deck’s central themes by representing the coexistence of the mortal and underworld realms through contrasting yin-and-yang imagery.

Multiple collector editions expand the experience further, including holographic gilded versions, monochrome manuscript-inspired editions, large-format artist boxsets, and an elaborate wooden collector’s display box that transforms into a rotating theatre stand for the fully unfolded tuck structure. Across every edition, ARK maintains its focus on premium materials, intricate engineering, and highly tactile production techniques.

Pledge starts at $30 on Kickstarter.

FRAGMENTS: Cubistic Playing Cards

FRAGMENTS: Cubistic Playing Cards by Omega Playing Cards are inspired by the revolutionary art of Cubism and the fragmented visual language of Pablo Picasso. Reimagining the traditional playing card through layered geometry, fractured perspectives, and architectural compositions, the project transforms familiar forms into an experimental study of depth, motion, and visual harmony. 

Every card embraces the Cubist philosophy of presenting multiple viewpoints simultaneously, creating a deck that feels both artistic and mechanically precise.

The collection is released in two distinct editions: Vibrant and Rusted. The Vibrant Edition explores Cubism through energetic electric teals, corals, and warm ambers, while the Rusted Edition adopts a darker industrial atmosphere with weathered iron, burnt amber, and carbonised charcoal tones. Both editions are available in standard and Kickstarter-exclusive numbered gilded versions.

The tuck boxes use a transfer-process printing technique layered over foiled stock, combining embossed surfaces with contrasting shiny and matte finishes to create shifting textures and dimensional depth. The fractured typography and geometric structures continue across every surface of the box, reinforcing the fragmented aesthetic central to the project.

The card backs feature mirrored geometric compositions built around an ocular focal point surrounded by shattered rays, angular planes, and interlocking structures. Inspired by Cubism’s exploration of the “Fourth Dimension,” the designs suggest the collapse of space and time into layered abstract forms. 

Court cards reinterpret traditional royalty as avant-garde psychological portraits. Kings, Queens, and Jacks are broken into angular, mechanised forms that reject classical anatomy in favour of fragmented structures and overlapping perspectives. The Vibrant Edition uses high-contrast colour palettes to guide the eye through these fractured compositions, while the Rusted Edition reimagines the courts as industrial relics shaped by corrosion and age.

The Aces continue the architectural experimentation by transforming the suit symbols into dense geometric frameworks filled with layered facets and abstract spatial patterns. Number cards extend the Cubist approach throughout the deck, integrating pips into shifting backgrounds that blur the distinction between foreground and structure. 

Printed by KSPCC, the deck combines luxury production techniques with experimental visual design. FRAGMENTS is both a fully functional playing card deck and a contemporary exploration of Cubist art, transforming the familiar structure of playing cards into a layered study of abstraction, geometry, texture, and motion.

Pledge starts at $17 on Kickstarter.

Bicycle Birthday Back (Passion Pink Edition) Playing Cards

Bicycle Birthday Back (Passion Pink Edition) Playing Cards is a festive, cupcake-themed deck designed by Chris Hage now seeking funds on Kickstarter. Serving as the second release in the Birthday Back series, the deck celebrates birthdays with playful artwork, and performance-friendly handling.

The deck features fully custom artwork built around cheerful cupcake and candle motifs, carried consistently across the card backs, courts, pips, and tuck. 

The courts showcase smiling, expressive characters each interacting with cupcakes in their own unique way, while the custom Ace of Spades cleverly disguises itself as a cupcake illustration. Metallic pink inks add a subtle shimmer throughout the design, especially on the card backs and tuck box, giving the deck a celebratory visual sparkle without overwhelming the artwork. 

Additional collector and magician-focused extras include gaff cards and a complimentary cupcake sticker packaged with each deck.

Printed by USPCC on classic black core stock with a traditional cut and air-cushion finish, the deck is designed to handle smoothly for gameplay, cardistry, and magic performances. Pledge starts at $12 on Kickstarter.

New Lions X Available NOW!

Black Lions X and White Lions X are premium playing card decks designed by David Blaine and his closest collaborators, combining luxury production with hidden magical details created for magicians, collectors, and cardists. 

Black Lions X features the Epic Black smooth-cover tuck accented with Silver Rainbow holographic foil applied inside and out, alongside sculpted embossing that creates a sharp, high-contrast finish with strong tactile depth. White Lions X takes a brighter approach with its Solar White tuck, combining Black and Silver Rainbow holographic foil with the same embossed detailing for a refined and elegant presentation.

Both decks include hidden reveals, subtle magic secrets, and layered visual details woven throughout the artwork by David Blaine and his collaborators, making them functional performance tools as well as collectible display pieces.

The Limited Edition Signed Lions X Set includes both Black Lions X and White Lions X, individually signed by David Blaine and housed inside a custom acrylic display case designed for presentation and display. 

Printed by United States Playing Card Company on premium stock, both decks are engineered for exceptional handling, durability, and precise performance. Available now on David Blaine Store. Orders are expected to begin shipping after May 28, 2026.

Deck View: Delirium (Absolute Edition) Playing Cards

Vibrant. Luxurious. Surreal.

Delirium (Absolute Edition) Playing Cards by Giovanni Meroni is the luxurious centerpiece of the Delirium Lost series, combining playful fantasy with premium production.

Exclusive to Kickstarter back in 2018, the Absolute edition shares the same whimsical card artwork as Delirium Ascension, featuring the signature Delirium creatures across the courts, Jokers, Ace of Spades, and card backs. The real distinction lies in its striking presentation.

The tuck box is lavishly produced with deep embossing, shimmering gold holofoil on the exterior, and rich gold foil interior printing, giving the deck a highly reflective, collectible finish. Combined with Giovanni’s bold use of color and layered design language, the deck feels both energetic and refined.

As with many Thirdway Industries releases, the visual identity remains cohesive from box to cards, blending surreal character art with ornate detailing in a way that stands out immediately in any collection. Available now on Thirdway Industries,

Creators: The Magical Art of the Impossible with Magician Jackson Aces

How can a magician still fool us in the most technologically advanced era in history? In this TEDx talk, Magician Jackson Aces explores that question through a series of impossible illusions, including what he describes as the largest grand illusion ever performed on a TEDx stage. 

Blending live magic with insights into perception, memory, and cognition, he reveals the psychological shortcuts that shape how we see and interpret reality. Rather than simply performing tricks, Aces uses cardistry and magic to examine how easily the mind constructs assumptions and fills in gaps... often leading us to misunderstand what we think we’ve seen. 

The result is a performance that challenges audiences to question not just the methods behind magic, but the reliability of their own perception. Filmed in his hometown Sutherland, NSW, the talk marked a personal milestone for Jackson... made even more special with his mother in the audience.

Here is Issue 108 of Kardify Magazine!

Issue 108 of Kardify Magazine is now on Patreon! 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-April to mid-May. 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:   

+ Alice Adventures in Wonderland: A visually rich, art-driven  deck that reimagines the classic tale through the lens of Japanese Ukiyo-e and surrealist influence. Check it out!

+ The NEW Arthurian: From Kings Wild Project, the Arthurian playing cards are back with a new Limited Black Edition with more faithful colour execution.

+ Mazinger Z: Inspired by the retro-futuristic charm of the original series, the deck captures the spirit of classic mecha design! 

+ Fortnite: The latest Theory11deck brings the energy and personality of the iconic battle royale game into a collectible  deck built for game nights and fans alike featuring vibrant colours, recognizable imagery, and fan-favourite characters drawn from the game’s long-running history. 

+ UNITY Vol. 2: An ambitious follow-up to the award-winning Unity One,  bringing together 28 designers from around the world under a shared theme: music and cards. Have a look!

+ Alabaster:  TCC Fashion's crowdfunded deck reimagines classical sculpture through a luxury playing card collection centred on texture, light, and relief-inspired craftsmanship.

+ Centurio: From Vanda Cards the first chapter in a series inspired by ancient civilizations, with artwork by Victor Kevruh centered on the grandeur of Ancient Rome.  Find out more!

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

The Age of Titans Playing Cards SOLD OUT!

The Age of Titans playing cards by Kings Wild Project is a limited-edition dinosaur-themed playing card deck that channels the bold, nostalgic aesthetic of prehistoric classroom artwork from the 1970s and 1980s. 

Inspired by vintage museum illustrations, old science textbooks, educational posters, and retro paleontology art, the deck embraces a colorful, larger-than-life visual style filled with towering dinosaurs, dramatic landscapes, and classic scientific illustration influences.

Marketed with the tagline “Big teeth. Big color. Big nostalgia,” the release celebrates prehistoric giants through a playful yet highly detailed design approach that appeals to both playing card collectors and fans of retro science culture. 

The project reflects the growing trend of thematic collectible decks that combine pop-culture nostalgia with luxury card production.

The deck launched last week as a limited Kings Wild release for $18 and was quickly sold out! 

Final Days! Black Roses (Sunny Days Edition) Playing Cards

Black Roses (Sunny Days Edition) Playing Cards by Black Roses Playing Cards is a calm, thoughtfully designed deck that reinterprets the Black Roses aesthetic through softer tones, minimalist elegance, and hidden functionality.

Rather than relying on loud visuals, Sunny Days Edition focuses on subtle detail work and balanced colour palettes designed to evoke calmness and lightness while still maintaining the brand’s signature sophistication.

This edition features fully custom artwork with every standard court card carefully redrawn for cleaner lines and a more refined appearance. The lighter colourway introduces a fresh visual identity while preserving the recognizable Black Roses design language

Beyond aesthetics, the deck is packed with hidden utility for magicians and card enthusiasts. A fully marked reader back system is seamlessly integrated into the floral back design, allowing performers to identify cards instantly while remaining virtually invisible to spectators. 

Additional hidden revelations, subtle one-way face elements, and specialty gaff cards, including a mismade Queen of Clubs and duplicate 2 of Diamonds.... expand the deck’s creative possibilities for magic routines and visual storytelling.

Limited to 2,000 decks worldwide. Printed by WJPC and pledge starts at $15 on Kickstarter.

Deck View: Bicycle Bandana (Red Edition) Playing Cards

Bold. Stylish. Western.

Bicycle Bandana (Red Edition) Playing Cards by PlayingCardDecks reimagine the classic bandana pattern through a modern playing card design. Designed by Juniardi Satyanagara, the Red Edition incorporates the iconic paisley motif throughout the deck, giving it a cohesive and instantly recognizable aesthetic. 

The card backs feature an ornate bandana-inspired pattern, while the traditional courts are updated with subtle bandana-style attire and detailing. Custom pips add a fresh visual twist without sacrificing readability, keeping the deck practical for gameplay while enhancing its decorative appeal. 

Printed by the United States Playing Card Company on Classic Stock. Available now on PlayingCardDeck for $12.99

ROYAL PLAYERS Playing Cards

ROYAL PLAYERS Playing Cards from Oath Playing Cards is a darkly elegant limited-edition deck created as a real-world production test for a new printing partner. While the project serves as a technical evaluation aimed at helping designer Lotrek increase production capacity and reduce delays, the deck itself is presented as a complete standalone release rather than a prototype or “test print.”

The artwork was intentionally designed to remain visually strong and fully functional even if the new printer’s registration accuracy did not perfectly match Oath’s usual standards. Printed on metallic bronze stock, the deck combines rich metallic surfaces with layered foil treatments throughout. The backs feature both port wine and gold foils, while the faces include gold foil detailing paired with Oath’s latest reinterpretation of classic court cards. The tuck box continues the luxurious presentation with dual foils and embossed finishes.

Despite being framed as an experimental production, ROYAL PLAYERS maintains the haunting, refined visual identity that defines Oath Playing Cards releases. The project also offers collectors a somewhat accessible entry point into Lotrek’s premium catalogue, delivering high-end materials and finishes at a lower price than many of the company’s more elaborate editions.

Available for $65 on Oath Playing Cards.

Wright Brothers Playing Cards by Room One

Another cool deck from Room One Cards! Wright Brothers Playing Cards is a richly illustrated playing card series inspired by the pioneering legacy of Wilbur Wright and Orville Wright. Blending vintage aviation aesthetics with retro-futuristic design, this series transforms the story of mankind’s first flight into an immersive playing card experience.

Available in four editions: Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 in both Standard and Signature variants... the decks feature fully custom artwork inspired by patent sketches, engineering blueprints, and early flight technology. The colour palette leans into aged parchment tones, patinaed copper, maroon, and muted terracotta, evoking the warmth and ambition of early aviation workshops.

The custom court cards depict pilots, inventors, and explorers dressed in vintage flight gear, while the numbered cards feature redesigned pips and typography inspired by handwritten engineering diagrams and instrument labels. Every detail reinforces the deck’s mechanical and historical theme.

The standout features is the animated flipbook-style card back design. When fanned, the propeller of the Wright Flyer appears to spin, paying tribute to the experimentation and persistence that defined the Wright brothers’ achievements.

The Signature Editions elevate the presentation further with subtle metallic inks, rustic metallic gilded edges, and Room One’s signature 3D Accordion Tuck Box, which unfolds into a sculptural display piece. Meanwhile, the Standard Editions feature the interactive Rotor Motor Tuck Box, complete with a mechanical propeller effect hidden within the packaging.

Combining intricate illustration, tactile finishes, and inventive engineering-inspired packaging, Wright Brothers Playing Cards celebrates the romance of early flight through a thoughtfully designed collector-focused playing card series.

Pledge starts at $16 on Kickstarter.

Discounted Brother McPint (With Imperfection) Playing Cards

Brother McPint Playing Cards by Stockholm17 is a fully custom deck that blends dark humour, crime themes, and pub-inspired irreverence into a playful collector release.

Set within the fictional world of “The Sanctuary,” the deck imagines a gang of petty criminals disguised as clergy, running crooked card games, bootlegging spirits, and plotting elaborate heists behind monastery walls. The artwork carries the same visual style as the S.M. Gorda and F. Firkin decks, featuring fully illustrated courts, Jokers, and a custom Ace of Spades.

This fully custom deck comes housed in a foil-and-embossed tuck box wrapped in cellophane. Unlike previous related releases, this version omits the hidden heist-plan background details, giving the artwork a cleaner presentation.

A notable production issue affected part of the print run, leaving some tuck boxes with visible side creases while the cards themselves remained unaffected. Rather than discarding the imperfect stock, the Lorenzo Gaggiotti released these “Second Choice” decks at a discounted price after individually inspecting each copy. 

Available NOW for $7.50 on Stockholm17.