Fimbul Playing Cards by Design Imperator

Fimbul Playing Cards is a Norse mythology-inspired collection created by the Scandinavian team at Design Imperator. Produced in two luxurious editions: Bifrost and Naglfar, the Kickstarter project combines hand-illustrated Viking artwork, rainbow holographic finishes, embossed bronze-foiled tuck boxes, and mythological storytelling into a richly detailed collector’s release.

The Bifrost Edition represents the legendary rainbow bridge connecting Midgard and Asgard. Its tuck case features bronze foil, deep embossing, and shimmering rainbow accents inspired by the northern lights, while the rainbow gilded edges and holographic card backs reinforce the celestial theme. 

The custom courts portray Viking warriors in their mortal forms through fully illustrated two-way designs, paired with Norse-inspired pips and cinematic battle imagery throughout the deck. The Naglfar Edition explores the darker side of Ragnarok, depicting the mythical ship of nails that carries the undead army into the final battle. The tuck box features bronze foil detailing alongside glowing blue flame motifs surrounding the gates of Hel. 

Its holographic rainbow gilding creates a fiery metallic effect across the edges, while the custom courts reimagine the Vikings as undead warriors marching across the battlefield of Vigridr. The collection also includes the Helvegr display box designed to house both decks together, continuing the project’s emphasis on premium presentation and Norse-inspired craftsmanship.

Both editions are printed by WJPC on premium stock with fully custom artwork, numbered seals, embossed tuck boxes, rainbow gloss card backs, and limited print runs capped at 1,500 decks per edition. Pledge starts at $25 on Kickstarter.

Deck View: Survival (Charcoal Edition) Playing Cards

Rugged. Functional. Adventurous.

Survival (Charcoal Edition) Playing Cards blends practical outdoor knowledge with thoughtful design, creating a deck inspired by wilderness exploration and self-reliance.

Created by Bradley Mountain in collaboration with Art of Play and illustrated by Andrew Nguyen, every card features a unique hand-drawn survival tip, turning the deck into both a playable tool and an educational reference. From fire-starting techniques to wilderness skills, each card contributes to the deck’s outdoor theme.

The artwork extends beyond the tips, with custom pips, indices, and illustrated court cards designed specifically for the project. The Charcoal Edition embraces a clean, minimalist aesthetic, highlighted by a matte tuck box featuring a striking bird emblem and a letterpress finish produced by Clove Street Press.

Printed by the USPCC on premium crushed stock, the deck combines durability and flexibility with a distinctive design that appeals to both playing card enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers alike.

On Kickstarter, The Ship of Theseus Playing Cards

The Ship of Theseus Playing Cards by MAINTEREST is a narrative-driven luxury playing card collection inspired by the famous philosophical paradox of identity and transformation. Drawing from maritime mythology, ancient symbolism, and the age of sail, the deck explores a central question: if every part of a ship is replaced over time, does it remain the same vessel?

This concept is woven into every layer of the design, from the artwork to the packaging. The deck follows a fictional crew aboard a symbolic vessel, each member representing different aspects of human experience such as memory, authority, craftsmanship, faith, and survival. 

These characters are divided across suits, with each suit functioning as a thematic chapter in a larger unfolding voyage. The four Aces expand this structure further by anchoring each suit in a core philosophical idea tied to transformation and identity.

Visually, the deck is built around a richly illustrated Age of Sail aesthetic, combining detailed character artwork with compass motifs, celestial navigation symbols, and layered ornamental borders. 

The card backs reinforce the theme of time and change through sun-and-moon cycles, maritime iconography, and symmetrical navigation diagrams that reflect the ongoing tension between continuity and renewal.

A defining feature of the project is its highly engineered packaging system. Instead of a traditional tuck box, many editions feature a pop-up creative storage structure that unfolds into a sculptural display piece. This mechanism reveals layered artwork of the ship and its symbolic journey, physically mirroring the philosophical idea of transformation as the box itself changes form.

Multiple versions exist, ranging from accessible single-deck releases to collector-focused sets that include acrylic display cases, wooden storage boxes, commemorative coins, and a limited purple edition restricted to 300 copies. Pledge starts at $18 on Kickstarter.

Army Men Playing Cards by The Futurist Co.

Army Men Playing Cards by The Futurist Co. is a nostalgic tribute to the iconic “Little Green Men” that defined generations of backyard battles and toy-box warfare. Inspired by the classic plastic army figurines of the 1950s and 60s, the deck recreates their unmistakable molded aesthetic with monochromatic green artwork, oval display bases, and vintage military styling throughout every card.

The court cards replace traditional royalty with battlefield specialists drawn directly from the classic toy soldier lineup. Kings, Queens, and Jacks appear as bazooka operators, machine gunners, officers with binoculars, medics, and flag bearers, each posed like miniature plastic figurines frozen mid-action. 

The Jokers expand the battlefield further with M48 Patton-style tanks and commanders emerging from their hatches, while the Ace of Spades features a saluting soldier integrated into a bold tactical spade emblem.

Army Men Playing Cards combines playful nostalgia, toy-inspired design, and military iconography into a deck that celebrates the enduring charm of one of the most recognizable toys ever created. 

Pledge starts at $10 on Kickstarter.