THE BEST Playing Cards

These unofficial but still awesome playing cards feature vintage images from classic Kaiju and creature features like Destroy All Monsters, Mothra, and Godzilla vs. The Thing. Since Godzilla really is Head Monster in Charge, we think every card he appears on should be a King.

VXD presents a truly unique deck and display case combo. Limited to just 499 pieces, each set includes a deck of Frozen Metal playing cards, a matching anodized aluminum card box, and an acrylic “ice” cube for display. The cards feature wintry holographic patterns which appear as you tilt them in the light.

Theory11 teamed up with illusionist Derren Brown to create this beautifully-detailed deck. Victorian-inspired imagery adorns their fronts and backs, and their green and gold boxes resemble antique books. For a special gift, check out the leather-bound box set, which includes two decks and a letterpressed note from Derren.

Modern Awesome Labs’ unique playing cards are printed with a special ink that reacts to body heat. Simply swipe your fingertips over the surface of the cards, and the images on their fronts transform to new shades. After you put them down, they reset to their original color after about 30 seconds.

Keymaster Games teamed up with Fifty-Nine Parks to create this beautiful deck with a U.S. national park on each of its face cards, including Acadia, Arches, Everglades, Grand Canyon, Great Smoky, Joshua Tree, Mount Rainier, Olympic, Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Zion. Check out Keymaster’s cool PARKS card game too.

Coolest Thing introduces us to Bryan Berg, a professional card stacker who holds several Guinness World Records for his gigantic houses of cards. Now, Berg attempts to build one of his paper skyscrapers with a twist – assembling it outdoors. Along the way, he explains a bit of his architectural technique.

Next time you get together for a game of poker with your pals, serve them up some pizza too. You won’t even have to call Pizza Hut, because this pizza comes in playing card form. GamaGo’s delicious-looking cards only come in pepperoni, so if you want ham and pineapple, you’re out of luck. Also available: donut playing cards.

Animator Omozoc has previously entertained us with his delectable stop-motion meals. But in this clip, he uses the technique to show off the most artful ways to deal cards. We’re actually a little surprised that he didn’t literally cut any cards.

Designed by Khanh for BombMagic, these cards have a gorgeous design, inspired the objects and patterns found in ancient Lạc Việt culture. The backs feature an intricate geometric pattern with hieroglyphs, while the court cards display Vietnamese faces, and the suits and numbers are uniquely stylized. More pics on Kardify.

These light-up playing cards aren’t playing cards at all. They’re props for cardistry performers to enhance their visuals, and to help beginners learn moves. Sold in sets of four, each one has LED lighting inside that illuminates a detailed pattern that appears on both of its sides. Available with blue or green lighting. (Thanks Kory!)

Designed for cardistry and magic, The Seers‘ latest playing cards feature a bold red and black geometric back design with an all-seeing eye at center. Their fronts offer high contrast designs that really pop, along unique, but easily recognizable suits, numbers, and face card images. The uncut sheets make sweet wall art too.

Metalsmith and watchmaker Clickspring created this incredible 24k gold-plated card press for puzzle collector Chris Ramsay. The process of meticulously milling, cutting, and engraving each part is just as fascinating as the piece itself. Those snake pieces alone are stunning.

Designed by Hong Kong’s HypieLab, and printed by the US Playing Card Company, these offbeat cards feature a recurring image of a brain with a pull-chain on/off switch, meant to symbolize great moments of curiosity and imagination. They’re done up in an unusual color scheme to reinforce those creative thoughts.

These unique playing cards not only feature images of fossilized dinosaur skeletons, but they can be printed onto traditional card stock or metal, giving them some serious heft. The cards feature a wide variety of prehistoric creature on their fronts, with a raptor and cracked rock texture on their backs.

We know that crushing and cutting playing cards with a hydraulic press can be quite spectacular. Now, witness the explosive dispersion of energy in the most impressive way yet, thanks to the guys at Kron Technologies, who helped put together a bullet time rig with 72 of their Chronos 1.4 high speed cameras.

Designed by December Boys, these unique playing cards feature a twisty black and white zig-zag pattern on both their fronts and backs, creating for dramatic illusions for cardistry enthusiasts. Comes with four double-backed green cards for chromakeying effects in videos.

The perfect gift for music lovers of all types. Each of its cards features an image of a famous musician by artist Rik Lee. Pop = Hearts; Rock ‘n’ Roll = Spades; Folk & Country = Diamonds; Soul, Blues & R&B = Clubs. There’s also a version for art lovers by Rebecca Clarke.

Celebrate the many wonders of the multiverse with USAopoly’s fun Rick and Morty deck. The cards feature a funky, alien-themed typeface and suits, along with face cards of Rick, Morty, Mr. Meeseeks, Squanchy, Birdperson, Mr. Poopybutthole, and more.

Theory11’s vintage style cards are a nod to the rich history of Philadelphia, the hometown of their designer True Hand Society. The cards feature an off-white card stock and 19th century style line art on front, with vibrant red backs embellished with snakes. Packed in an embossed box with gold foil outside and in.

These amusing playing cards come in a poop emoji box, and feature ample piles of poo on their backs. The suits feature emojis of donuts, bananas, tacos, and peaches, along with custom court and joker designs. Limited to just 2500 decks.

Flying Dog Brewery teamed up with famed artist Ralph Steadman to produce this sweet limited-edition deck featuring 18 classic works in a style sure to be familiar to any fan of his good friend Hunter S. Thompson, who helped bring his surreal, splattered imagery to the forefront.

DKNG Studios‘ elegant, yet modern playing cards feature custom-illustrated face cards, gold accented two-tone suit colors, bicycle backs, a sweet embossed black box, and lots of subtle skull images worked in here and there.

We love the celestial background and colorful faceted backs on these cards by illustrator Iryna Semenova. The gemstone suits feature sapphire spades, ruby hearts, emerald clubs, and diamond diamonds. Now we want some Lucky Charms. Pre-order now for shipping starting 7/1/19.

Vanishing Inc.’s morbid cards are inspired by the wild west and the demise of Wild Bill Hickok, who was gunned down during a poker game. Each of its cards has a bullet hole straight through its middle, and the infamous “Dead Man’s Hand” is splattered with red ink to symbolize blood.

Originally released all the way back in 1876 by Andrew Dougherty, these classic playing were the first known cards to feature a dragon back. They also have a unique “triplicate” feature – a tiny card icon in the corners of each card, verifying its suit and value. Choose from red or blue backs.

Brooklyn designers Fredericks & Mae created this colorful deck of cards, which features a different shade on each of its cards. When sorted in order, they create a spectrum of color. Each deck includes a mini booklet about the history of playing cards.