GRIT: Mountain Bike Playing Cards

GRIT: Mountain Bike Playing Cards is a community-driven, mountain bike-inspired playing card project created by riders, for riders. Designed by Jim Wittwer to celebrate the culture surrounding mountain biking as much as the sport itself, the deck captures the camaraderie, trail stories, crashes, progression, and post-ride conversations that define MTB life beyond the bike.

Rather than focusing purely on cycling aesthetics, the project embraces the broader spirit of mountain biking culture... the shared climbs, skill-building sessions, dirt-covered wipeouts, and social experiences that bring riders together. The deck is aimed at mountain bikers, collectors, outdoor enthusiasts, and anyone who enjoys premium custom playing cards with a strong thematic identity.

The design divides the suits into four rider “teams,” each representing different aspects of riding culture and personality. Hearts reflects riders who enjoy every moment on the trail, Clubs emphasizes precision and control, Diamonds represents strategy and focus, while Spades embodies endurance, toughness, and grit. Every suit symbol is custom-designed to resemble mountain bike tire tread patterns, subtly integrating cycling details into the gameplay experience.

The deck’s visual identity leans heavily into the rugged, worn-in feel of real trail riding. The artwork includes intentional “marks of the ride,” giving the impression that the cards themselves have been through muddy trails, crashes, and long rides. The Red and Gray editions share the same face cards and number card designs, creating a unified visual system across both colorways.

The Aces highlight real mountain biking trail locations across the United States, with elevation profiles based on actual routes and riding events. Even the Jokers reflect the duality of mountain biking culture, contrasting stylish trick-focused riding with the chaos of crashes and failed landings.

Produced in collaboration with Legends Playing Card Company, and pledge starts at $15 on Kickstarter.

Deck View: Legends #852 (Chromatic Edition) Playing Cards

Radiant. Innovative. Refined.

Legends #852 (Chromatic Edition) playing cards showcases the creative potential of cold foil printing, reimagining the iconic artwork of the original Legends #852 deck in a vibrant new form. 

Reimagined by Randy Butterfield and based on the original artwork by Mark Stutzman, the Chromatic Edition uses a silver cold foil base layered with full CMYK color printing. The result is a striking spectrum of color that shifts and catches light while preserving the intricate details of the classic #852 design.

Unlike traditional hot foil, the cold foil treatment creates a more subtle metallic effect, giving the deck a sophisticated sheen rather than an overt shine. This approach highlights the deck's ornate artwork while demonstrating the versatility of one of the industry's most advanced printing techniques.

Printed by Legends Playing Card Company on their Pre-Crushed Classic Finish, the deck offers a soft, flexible feel straight out of the box, complementing its visually impressive presentation. Available now for $22 on Legends Playing Cards.

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: Goshawk No.3 Vintage Playing Cards

Vintage. Luxurious. Classic.

The Goshawk No.3 Vintage Playing Cards by A. Haines Playing Cards is a beautifully hand-illustrated deck inspired by classic decks of old. Inspired by the Goshawk bird, this deck is designed in classic red. 

Inside, the deck includes 100% custom artwork. The Ace of Spades features an illustration of the Goshawk and additional decorations on the other Aces. The court cards are hand-illustrated in deep cobalt, gold, and vintage red, following a unique pattern. 

The back design features classic scrollwork and motifs, designed to look impressive when fanned or spread. Each deck includes unique Jokers and an extra card printed with vintage type. The deck is packaged in a luxurious matte tuck boxes feature intricate old-world designs, printed inside on the inside with an all-over antique plaid pattern. The deck is capped with a custom stamp sticker seal.

Printed by Legends Playing Card Co., these hand-illustrated vintage playing cards are perfect for collecting, games, magic, or cardistry. Available for $18 on AH Playing Cards online store.

Deck View: Fiamma Rossa Playing Cards

Fiery. Tempting. Opulent.

Fiamma Rossa from Thirdway Industries explores the seductive pull of danger through rich materials and symbolic design. Created as a 2025 Q1 Patreon release, the deck features fully custom faces highlighted with gold cold foil, while the backs shimmer with layered red and gold hot foil. 

Black gilded edges frame the cards, amplifying the dramatic contrast and reinforcing its theme of forbidden allure. The tuck box mirrors the intensity, dressed in multiple layers of foil inside and out, finished with a numbered seal. 

Limited to 1,000 decks and printed by LPCC. Available now for $32 on Thirdway Industries.

Cryptids Playing Cards: Black Shuck & Mothman

Launching on Tuesday 17th February at 4pm UK time (11am EST/8am PST)- the latest campaign from A. Haines Playing Cards: Cryptids Playing Cards: Black Shuck & Mothman.

Combining a long-held love of fantastic creatures with their love of hand-drawn vintage playing cards, the new project from AHPC pays homage to two mythical monsters: from England, the phantom hound Black Shuck, and from the USA, the infamous Mothman, each character being honoured with their own deck of playing cards in a collectable two-deck set, using a colour palette of deep red and black set against aged paper. 

The legend of Black Shuck goes all the way back to the year 1577 when the beast was reported to appear as a terrible form at a village church during a large electrical storm. Reports of the ghostly dog endure up  until the current day, with some witnesses reporting Shuck to be as large as a horse and with burning red or orange eyes, he is often encountered by lone walkers out at night, deep in the countryside of rural Suffolk and Norfolk on the East coast of the UK. 

Mothman first appeared in a graveyard in West Virginia in 1966 and haunted the area around the town of Point Pleasant for a year until the collapse of the Silver Bridge, when he vanished just as abruptly as he had appeared. The legend of Mothman lived on however, and in recent times he has been sighted all across the Great Lakes areas, and is even known to frequent Chicago on a dark, rainy night.  

The courts are original and adapted from a one-way British design, hundreds of years old, here transformed into symmetrical two-way cards for optimum functionality. The entire project is hand-drawn and uses no stock elements or A.I. 

Both decks are housed in matte tuckboxes and printed on premium classic finish by Legends PCC - and available in standard and gilded editions, with Shuck's edges being a matte black and Mothman's being a smooth red. 

Have a look at the pre-launch Kickstarter page here! Early Bird deals will be available during the first 24 hrs of the campaign -  and there will even be one or two extras to look out for on launch day!

Now on Kickstarter, Mount Olympus Playing Cards

Mount Olympus Playing Cards is a fully custom, mythology-driven deck by Midnight Cards that brings the gods, monsters, and legends of ancient Greece to life through hand-drawn illustration and premium production. Designed by Randy Butterfield, this deck is a personal passion project that blends classical inspiration with modern card design.

Every character in the deck has been hand-drawn. The courts, aces, and jokers were all hand-sketched before being scanned and digitally painted, preserving the organic line work while adding rich color and depth. The result is a deck that feels both illustrative and timeless, echoing the look of ancient manuscripts and mythological art.

The card back design showcases Mount Olympus itself, illustrated in a symmetrical, head-to-head layout ideal for gameplay and magic. Greek border elements frame the artwork, forming a silhouette reminiscent of ancient shields and architectural motifs, reinforcing the deck’s classical identity.

On the face cards, each suit is unified by a subtle sky-toned background within a Greek border—blue for Hearts, orange for Spades, grey for Diamonds, and greenish-blue for Clubs. The court cards depict twelve Olympian figures, including gods such as Zeus, Poseidon, Apollo, and Hermes, alongside goddesses Hera, Artemis, Athena, and Aphrodite. 

The aces highlight iconic mythological creatures: Cyclops, Cerberus, Medusa, and the Colchian Dragon... while the jokers feature a vertical version of the Mount Olympus illustration, tying the entire deck together visually.

Kickstarter backers can choose between two tuck box editions, each housing the same card designs inside. The Standard Edition features Zeus on the front and Hades on the back, printed in full color with gold foil accents framing the artwork and text.

The Limited Edition, produced exclusively for Kickstarter and capped at 1,000 decks, elevates the presentation with premium white pearlescent paper, dark green and gold foil detailing, and gold gilded card edges, giving the deck a ceremonial, relic-like presence.

Printed by Legends Playing Card Co., Mount Olympus Playing Cards balances artistry and performance. Pledge starts at $16 on Kickstarter.

Deck View: Imported Playing Cards

Retro. Refined. Remastered.

Imported Playing Cards by A. Haines Playing Cards is a modern reinterpretation of the Golden Era of traditional decks. Fully custom and entirely hand-drawn, the deck embraces a nostalgic retro palette while avoiding all stock artwork, giving classic motifs a fresh, authentic update.

The deck features a matte tuck box with a fully printed vintage-style interior and a custom sticker seal. Its aesthetic blends old-world charm with modern craftsmanship, echoing the import stamps, tax bands, and design cues found on historical decks traded across the globe.

The Ace of Spades centers on a Mercury emblem wrapped in tobacco leaves, while the remaining Aces bear import duty stamps. Jokers depict Mercury as a playful trickster, and the back design offers a clean, four-way symmetrical pattern with a white border.

Printed by Legends Playing Card Co. on their Viper Finish. Available from A. Haines Playing Cards for $16.

Golden Eagle No. 7 Vintage (Gilded Edition) Playing Cards

Vintage. Regal. Green.

Golden Eagle No. 7 Vintage Playing Cards from A. Haines Playing Cards are fully custom and illustrated entirely by hand. This elegant deck soars with a deep British Racing Green colorway and all-new artwork on the gold-foiled tuck, Ace of Spades, and Jokers.

Inspired by Britain’s majestic birds of prey and the charm of vintage playing cards, the deck blends classic tradition with fine artistry. The Gilded Edition features an individually numbered seal. 

Printed by Legends Playing Card Company on pre-crushed stock with Classic Finish. Available now from A Haines Playing Cards store for $30.

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.

Deck View: Albatross No. 5 Standard Playing Cards

Nautical. Mysterious. Timeless.

Albatross No. 5 Standard Playing Cards is a hand-illustrated deck that merges nautical beauty with a haunting mystery from the high seas. Created by A. Haines, every detail is drawn by hand inspired by antique design. Inside, the back design is bold and timeless, alive with nautical motifs. 

The courts are illustrated in the style of old French and Spanish decks... bold colors and broken borders. Spot cards carry chunky retro pips, water-stained as if used in late-night games aboard the ill-fated ship. The Ace of Spades features crossed marlin swords, while the two custom Jokers bring the myths of the sea to life: a fearsome Kraken in red and a beautiful yet treacherous Mermaid in green. 

The tuck case is a work of art: printed inside and out on premium matte stock with a weathered patina, accented in red foil, and sealed with a stamp that recalls antique postage. 

The deck is printed by Legends Playing Card Co. on pre-crushed stock with Classic Finish. The Albatross No. 5 is available now on A. Haines Playing Cards for $23.

STEEPED Playing Cards by Squiddle Ink

STEEPED (Teas of India) Playing Cards, is the latest release from Squiddle Ink that enters the world of the Indian Chai Wallah. Designed using the Indian maximalist style, bold and vibrant but also reminiscent of an elegant box of tea leaves. Neon colours contrast with the traditional style of engraved silverware to make this deck pop.

Inside the box, a mustard diamond pattern contrasts with the flash of pink from the shimmering, foil gilt cards. The card back depicts elegant hands holding tea leaves with traditional Alta red-dyed fingertips. A small elephant sits in the corner of each card, adding a fun detail when the deck is fanned.

The court cards of each suit are represented with a different regional tea blend. The Spades tea house serves Nilgiri, the Hearts serve Darjeeling, Clubs serve an Assam blend, and the Diamonds tea house serves a Kangra tea. The royals of each teahouse have matching ceremonial robes and are adorned with ornate teapots, spoons, coiled snakes and steaming cups of chai.

The Ace of Spades features a bold, ornate central design with a subtle background motif celebrating the collaboration between Squiddle Ink and Legends PCC. The Joker cards feature a decorative Indian elephant, wielding an oversized teaspoon in its trunk. The pip cards feature a detailed background motif that celebrates the chaiwalla of each tea house. 

The tuck back features a detailed teacup filled with freshly brewed, finest-quality, loose-leaf tea. It will be printed on beautiful shimmering pearlescent paper stock and features embossed elements to give a luxurious finish. 

The cards will be printed by Legends Playing Card Co. using the smooth but resilient Viper finish. Pledge starts at $12 on Kickstarter.

Deck View: Legends 852 V1 Playing Cards

Detailed. Revolutionary. Timeless.

In 2011, the Legends 852 V1 playing cards is the deck that redefined quality and set the standard for durability and performance for custom decks. Conceived by Lawrence Sullivan between 2009 and 2011, with guidance from Bill Kalush, design advice from David Blaine, and artwork by Mark Stutzman, it became the first widely acclaimed deck printed outside of USPCC to deliver a completely new, consistent handling experience

The deck is bold yet richly detailed with a classically ornate look blended with modern elegance, drawing inspiration from both Asian and Western mythology. The mirrored-back design is instantly recognizable even at a distance with a distinctive diamond-shaped theme.

From tuck case to seal, every element received the same attention to detail. While later Legends decks featured die cuts, embossing, and foil accents, the original 852 still carried an understated elegance and a finely printed stamp seal.

Machanimals (Limited Edition) Playing Cards

Renaissance. Medieval. Mechanical.

Machanimals Playing Cards, created by Celsius Pictor in collaboration with Max Playing Cards, is a fully custom deck that fuses Renaissance elegance with the mechanical imagination of the Industrial Age.

Inspired by centuries of European playing card tradition, each face card is richly illustrated with anthropomorphic characters and ornate designs that honor classical court structures while reimagining them in a fantastical alternate history. The style reflects both the refinement of medieval art and the detail of vintage mechanical engravings.

The back design features four warriors guarding a pond—figures said to have come from Jerusalem under Sultan Saladin—set in a scene evoking medieval Arab art and the legacy of Al-Andalus. Packaged in a lavish, embossed tuck case resembling a medieval skyline, the deck is crowned with a complex coat of arms blending heraldry and machinery. 

Printed by Legends Playing Cards and available at Celsius Pictor online store for $34.

Card Flash: Fiamma Rossa Playing Cards

"Like moths to a flame, we crave what hurts us most." That haunting phrase from Thirdway Industries' product page sets the tone for Fiamma Rossa playing cards, a bold release for TWI’s 2025 Q1 Patreon rewards.

Fiamma Rossa is an indulgent display of luxury and symbolism. The custom faces, including the courts are adorned with gold cold foil, while the card backs comes with dual layers of red and gold hot foil. The entire deck is black gilded, giving it an ominous edge that complements its theme of temptation and danger.

The eye-catching tuck box continues the lavish treatment with two layers of foil on the outside, one on the inside, and a sleek numbered seal. 

Limited to just 1,000 decks and produced by LPCC. Available now for $32 on Thirdway Industries.

Just Launched! Golden Eagle No. 7 Vintage Playing Cards

Just launched on Kickstarter, the latest deck from A Haines Playing Cards- Golden Eagle No. 7 Vintage Playing Cards. This beautifully crafted deck is illustrated entirely by hand, and shares the same vintage DNA as the Osprey & Goshawk decks which were successfully funded on Kickstarter in 2024, featuring a new deep British Racing Green colourway and all new artwork on the gold foiled tuck, Ace of Spades & Jokers. 

This deck is inspired by A Haines Playing Card's love of British Birds of Prey, combined with their love of classic decks of playing cards. 

The deck features Standard & Gilded Editions, and each deck is finished with an individually numbered sticker seal. 

The first 100 decks come in a special Collectors Set, signed on the back by the artist, and housed in a custom AHPC X1 Carat Case by Carat Case Creations. A collectable coin will also be available. 

Printed by Legends on their pre-crushed stock and Classic Finish, for superb all-around handling, shuffling and snap. Pledge starts at $18 on Kickstarter.