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.