Art of Playing Cards—21 Themed Card Designs from Kickstarter

Playing cards have come a long way from the ones we know (and love to play poker with) today. The earliest playing cards were found in China as early as the Tang Dynasty (618-970 CE) from which it spread towards Egypt and Europe.

The predecessor of the standard 52-card deck, tarot cards, were developed in the middle of the 15th century in Europe. In the 18th century through the present, these cards have been used by mystics for fortune-telling and divination.

The playing card design we are most familiar with is the French Rouennais pattern, named after Rouen, a city in France.

FUN FACT: The King of Hearts is also called the “suicide king”

Considering the design was from the mid-15th century, enduring its way to modern times is no easy feat. I think the design kinda gets boring after awhile. But enough about history!

Artists from Kickstarter started campaigns featuring redesigns of the standard deck. Check out their designs below:

Leonardo by Dent-de-Lion du Midi

No.17 Playing Cards by Requiem Team

Bicycle Starlight Black Hole by Collectable Playing Cards

Breaking Bad Playing Cards by Erik Dahlman

Arcana Playing Cards by Chris Ovdiyenko

Muertos – Day of the Dead Playing Cards by Steve Minty

Viking Playing Cards by Scott King

Heretic Playing Cards by Requiem Team

“Uusi Classic” Limited Edition Playing Cards by Uusi

Get MADE! by Scott King

Golden Spike Playing Cards by Jody Eklund

Feudal – Ninja and Samurai Playing Cards by Scott King

Venexiana Dark by Half Moon Playing Cards

Neverland Playing Cards by Nat Iwata

Kingdoms of a New World by Nathanael Mortensen

Olde Bones: Deck of the Dead by Toronto Playing Card Company

The Science Deck by Rose

Call of Cthulhu: The Writhing Dark by Shane Tyree

The Grimoire Series by Edgy Brothers

Steampunk Beginnings by Nathanael Mortensen

Killer Clowns by Collectable Playing Cards

BONUS:

Exploding Kittens by Elan Lee

Which of the themed playing cards was your favorite? Comment your choice below!