On Kickstarter, Kingdom of EDEN Playing Cards

 

Now funding on Kickstarter, Kingdom of EDEN is a new fine art playing card series featuring fully custom artwork, original storytelling, and a range of premium collector-focused accessories. Created by The Other Self Studio, the project blends traditional pencil illustration with modern graphic design to build a unique fantasy world centered around the rise and corruption of the fictional Kingdom of Eden.

The narrative follows King Fidibus, whose kingdom is transformed after taking the advice of a mysterious worm hidden inside an apple. As prosperity grows, so do the worms, eventually evolving into serpents and triggering political intrigue, power struggles, and the decline of the kingdom. This story is woven throughout the deck designs, court cards, and accompanying booklet.

The series is available in three editions: Obedience (sandstone), Temptation (black), and Dominion (red), each featuring its own color scheme, back design, and customized Ace artwork. 

The card backs visually depict a king's fingers gradually transforming into worms while reaching for an apple, reflecting the deck's central theme of temptation and corruption.

During the campaign, collectors can also obtain a premium hardbox set containing all three editions, a 50mm brushed-gold Dodonot Coin, and a printed companion booklet that expands on the lore and backstories of the kingdom's characters.

Printed by Printed by WJPC with premium stock and finish. Pledge starts at $25 on Kickstarter.

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.

Woodland Legends Playing Cards

Now seeking funds on Kickstarter, Woodland Legends is a richly illustrated playing card series by artist Nicolai Aaroe, presented in three distinct limited editions and inspired by the folklore of Reynard the Fox and classic tales such as Robin Hood.

Set in the woodland realm of Fernspire Forest beneath Cinderleaf Castle, Woodland Legends tells the story of six fox clans bound to the land’s most treasured natural resources: ashroot, fern, cinderleaf, and rowanberries. Each clan represents a different truth of the world, and while they share the forest’s abundance, they are not equal in coin or power. The narrative, written by Aaroe as A Tale of Six Clans, weaves themes of friendship, courage, and loyalty into a fully realized illustrated universe.

The project began as a purely human-driven art journey, documented from early sketches to finished designs. Every court card and pip has been hand-illustrated, resulting in a completely custom deck. Across the series, 18 unique woodland characters bring the fox clans to life.

Woodland Legends is produced in three editions: Ashroot Gold, Cinderleaf Orange, and Fernspire Green, each limited to 999 decks. All three are manufactured with special raw “herbage” tuck stocks made from grass and leafy plant fibers, reinforcing the organic theme of the series. The tuck cases feature embossed landscapes of trees and rolling hills that wrap fully around the box, accented with metallic foil detailing on all sides.

Each edition carries its own distinct back design variation tied to seasonal moments in the story, emphasizing the resources gathered and traded by the clans. The aces feature ornate, organic compositions inspired by fox tails, fern spires, roots, and branching woodland forms.

The two jokers depict the central locations of the narrative: Cinderleaf Castle and Fernspire Forest - anchoring the story’s world within the deck itself.

Printed on premium card stock with a linen finish and finished with metallic edge gilding, Pledge starts at $25 on Kickstarter.

Circus Corinthia: The Grand Finale Playing Cards

Step right up for the THIRD act of the beloved Circus series: two exquisite playing cards celebrating the spectacle of performance and the art of mischief. Circus Corinthia- The Grand Finale pays homage to the enigmatic jesters of medieval festivals, masters of deception, delight, and dazzling display.

In this festive world, jugglers, tricksters, and jesters transform an ancient kingdom of silence into a realm of laughter and light. Under the guidance of Jestia and Jiggz, the court brings life, color, and whimsy to every corner of the kingdom. 

The decks are designed by award-winning artist Marianne Larsen in collaboration with Patrick Leis, blending theatrical flair with vintage sophistication. Insides, each card is bathed in rich purples, gleaming gold foil, and intricate vintage ornamentation, capturing the mystery, theatrics, and regal charm of the court fool. 

Court cards and pips are fully customized, adorned with jewel-toned hues and intricate filigree. The jokers carry two elegant monograms: one for Circus Corinthia and one for Jestia or Jiggz. Each deck captures the essence of performance, theater, and vintage elegance, transforming a simple deck of cards into a miniature stage of art, storytelling, and spectacle.

The Grand Finale features two limited edition decks: Jestia in crimson and gold, and Jiggz in teal and gold. Each deck comes in an elegantly crafted tuck box with dual foils, spot gloss, embossed details, and fully custom, numbered seals that mark each deck’s unique place in the series.

Corinthia’s playing cards showcase opulent jester royalty:mJestia as the regal jester queen and Jiggz as the confident jester king. The Corinthia tuck backs shimmer with dual foils, ornate scrollwork, and a symbolic hand juggling a Globus Cruciger. The borderless card backs feature swirling filigree, celestial orbs, and playful jesters, perfect for spreads or displays.

Pledge starts at $20 on Kickstarter.

DARKFUR: Claw & Scale Playing Cards

Final days on Kickstarter, DARKFUR: Claw & Scale is a lavishly produced deck series that merges intricate illustration with luxury finishes, presenting a living bestiary through the medium of playing cards.

Conceived by The Other Self and illustrated by artist Petro Kostiuk, DARKFUR depicts a realm shaped by tooth, claw, and scale. Each of the 54 cards becomes a window into a stark and mysterious landscape where mythical creatures have evolved to survive and dominate. The result is a collection that feels as much like an illuminated manuscript of fantasy natural history as it does a deck of cards.

Two editions anchor the project: Claw and Scale. The Claw Edition comes housed in a dark grey tuck box embossed with rune-like detailing and finished with striking silver foil, echoing jagged mountains and the sharpened talons of beasts. Its borderless card backs are filled with abstract silhouettes that reveal new details the more they are studied, like the fleeting shadow of a winged predator at night.

The Scale Edition, by contrast, embraces a regal draconian theme. The tuck box glows with intricate gold foil that shimmers like the scales of a mythical dragon, while its card backs blend vintage floral patterns with the silhouettes of noble, reptilian beasts. Both editions feature metallic gilt edges, silver for Claw, gold for Scale—that elevate the decks into the realm of collectible art.

Inside, 12 hand-drawn beasts form the heart of DARKFUR, each designed with anatomical precision and layered lore. Together, they populate a world that feels both dangerous and awe-inspiring. The project expands beyond the cards themselves, offering a 32-page bestiary booklet that delves deeper into the stories and illustrations of these creatures.

With production limited to 2,000 copies per edition, DARKFUR: Claw & Scale is positioned as both a deck for gameplay and a work of fantasy art. 

Pledge starts at $25 on Kickstarter.

Thalassic Playing Cards by Marianne Larsen

Award-winning creator Marianne Larsen returns with Thalassic playing cards, a bold new project that dives deep into myth, mystery, and maritime lore. Designed in collaboration with artist Martin Helgren, Thalassic is a dual-edition deck that captures the spirit of the sea through luxurious finishes, rich storytelling, and intricate illustration.

Inspired by the legend of the Green Galleon, a ship said to have sunk in shark-infested waters with a fortune in gold and sapphires aboard-Thalassic invites collectors on a journey filled with daring pirates, mythical peacocks, and hidden maps.

Two unique editions, Blue Lagoon and Green Galleon, tell different sides of the story through distinct card backs, gilding, and custom tuck boxes adorned with vintage foil and embossing.

Each deck features original artwork for the court cards, grouped into four pirate crews: the rebellious Buccaneers, the tactical Armada, the wild Scallywags, and the sly Picaroons. 

While both editions share the same crew illustrations, the Blue Lagoon edition presents them in full-art, one-way designs, and the Green Galleon in classic mirrored layouts. The number cards hide thematic surprises, including elements of a treasure map when arranged in sequence.

Printed on M31 linen stock by MPC and limited to 2,500 decks per edition. Pledge starts at $25 on Kickstarter.

The Cursed & The Crooked Kingdom Vol 2 Playing Cards

Now seeking funds on Kickstarter, the Cursed & the Crooked Kingdom playing cards is the second volume in Marianne Larsen’s whimsical fairytale series, offering two uniquely crafted decks that transport players to an enchanted realm. Twice awarded Deck of the Year at the 52 Plus Jokers Diamond Awards, Marianne blends luxurious design with rich storytelling, as seen in her previous projects like Ragnarok Playing Cards and Shadows of London. 

Set in the merged villages of Bakus and Garsia, the kingdom is a place where nature and legend intertwine. Bakus, founded by master bakers, and Garsia, with its ancient stone and creeping vines, celebrate their union each year with warm festivities. Characters like Madeira the Huntress, Barry the Blacksmith, and King Trÿstan add depth to the narrative, with their stories further explored in the accompanying booklets.

Inside, each deck comes with embossed tuck boxes with holographic gold foil and intricate illustrations capture the kingdom’s magical essence. 

The visual designs extend to the card backs, where Bakus and Garsia decks feature distinct one-way and mirrored illustrations that reflect the union of the two villages. 

Also, add-ons are available during the campaign. This include standard brick and half-brick boxes, as well as the exclusive Festivitas Hardbox, a sturdy, linen-textured container made from recycled chipboard. Custom metal coins with 3D embossing are also available as collectibles, adding another layer of charm to this magical world.

Printed in Europe by NPCC with premium linen finish. Pledge starts at $14 on Kickstarter.

Cardistry: Hyper Neons Playing Cards by Riffle Shuffle

Neon Lines Playing Cards are back with a fresh new colorway! The Hyper Neons sports a bolder colorway compared to its predecessor. Designed by South Korea-based ITS Team and produced by Riffle Shuffle, the deck has been crafted specifically for Cardistry.



The Hyper Neons kept its original design with contrasting colors and trajectory lines, but with added circular lines and dots to make spreads, fans, and displays pop!



The face cards have also gotten a fresher look. Each of the suits comes with more details and more dimension to the deck. The added lines to the edges, gives the deck a beautiful flow of lines from the face to the backs.



The Hyper Neon Playing Cards will be printed by USPCC on their Bee Crushed Stock, perfect for showing off your speedy moves. Limited to 2500 Decks. When you purchase 6 decks or more, you will automatically get a Hyper Neon Half Brick Box.

Available NOW on riffleshuffle.com for $7.95.

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Cardistry: Horizon Playing Cards by ITS Team

Horizon is the 17th playing cards by ITS Team and the first project on Kickstarter with help by Deckidea. ITS Team is a design company based in South Korea, Seoul. Since 2015, they have launched 17 unique decks of playing cards, with over 23,000 decks sold around the world.

Horizon is the first deck in the Indecx series. The key design element of the series is to connect between Typography and image. As such, the tuck box depicts a magazine layout design to reflect the design elements of the Indecx series.

Inside, the card backs are fully customized with 54 different backs. The backs are divided into two parts with the oil bubble and black space. The diversity and contrasting backs allow for a more visual and dynamic card flourishes.

The face cards are full of unique and fun ideas. According to Jungmin Ha, CEO of ITS Team,

Goal of indecx series is to make every card as a piece of artwork. Customizing whole cards one by one need lots of effort and idea. It took over 8 months to finish the design.

The basic design on the faces includes four elements. Box, Text, Image, and Suit. For example, Spades and Clubs make up a large proportion of boxes and text, while Diamonds and Hearts make up a large proportion of Text and Image. Also, shorten words and oil waves on suits make great visuals. These abstract typographic/art design elements seem to be a trend in new cardistry decks.

Horizon is currently seeking funds on Kickstarter and has just hit its funding goal with 12 days remaining. Pledge starts at $12. Backers who pledge a deck or more will get a PET card called 'myhorizoncard'. The special card has etching finish on the border that makes a magical shadow.

Printed by USPCC, on Crushed stock, limited of 1,000.

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