THE BEST Playing Cards

The Edgy Brothers‘ Bicycle playing cards are inspired by the Mexican Day of the Dead. Each face card is embellished with intricate skeletons. Let’s help them get to their $50k stretch goal so those awesome painted decks get made.

Inspired by a mysterious box that J.J. Abrams received from his grandpa, theory11 created this lock box from 100-year-old wood, its contents yours to discover – or swap with your own heirlooms. Proceeds benefit 826 National.

Richard Turner calls himself a “card mechanic” but at the end of the day, he’s an master of sleight of hand who can move cards around the deck to suit his whim without the benefit of sight. And yes, he has a son named “Ace of Spades.”

Created by Harris Soetikno, these beautifully illustrated playing cards let you take a journey around the world every time you shuffle. Each card is embellished with an image of one of 52 different cities and historic sites.

As is evidenced by its price tag, carbon fiber isn’t exactly an inexpensive material to work with. However, if you do buy Sly Kly’s badass playing cards, you’ll be treated to a deck that will probably outlast all of us. Choose matte or gloss.

Dan & Dave worked with Bruce Lee Enterprises to create this beautiful deck, each of which contains a philosophical quote from the martial arts master, as well as an intricate dragon motif on back. The Jokers? Lee himself in action.

These awesomely designed Breaking Bad playing cards are the start of Jeff Nichol’s project to create a full deck. He’s still got a ways to go but if the rest are as cool and appropriately illustrated as these we can’t wait to see the final result.

Another amazing deck from Card Experiment, these playing cards feature imagery inspired by a utopian world that descents into dystopia. The neo-futurist styling of Tarin Yuangtrakul’s cards, box design, and backstory remind us of Bioshock.

These beautiful playing cards were designed by Roni Lagin & Co. and feature imagery created from repeating and intersecting geometric patterns of spades, clubs, diamonds, and hearts. Available in decks or uncut press sheets.

Three lucky readers will each win two boxes of awesome stuff, Aces – for the perfect poker game, and Café – for fixing the best cuppa tea or coffee – both from Bespoke Post’s men’s “lifestyle upgrade” service. (Ends 9/24/13)

UK Illustrator Chris Anderson created this custom deck of cards inspired by the animated characters of Pixar’s films. Unfortunately, they’re just fan art and not in production, but we’d certainly buy a deck if they were.

Chances are that nobody you know will spend $550 on a deck of playing cards, but that doesn’t make these cards any less cool. They’re individually silkscreened by Norman Ibarra onto the backs of discarded New York MetroCards.

The mythical Chinese and Hindu origin of the war between the Gods and the Asuras is beautifully portrayed in this 2500-deck limited edition design of Bicycle playing cards from Card Experiment. Uncut sheets here.

These playing cards made by the USPCC have been cut down to half the width of normal decks, so you can fit two of them in the space of a single deck. Great for double-deck Blackjack, natch. Available to order soon.

Dan and Dave collaborated with design agency Stranger & Stranger to create this gorgeous playing card deck. Each its 54 cards is a unique work of art. Comes packed in a cool embossed and foiled box, sealed with a retro tax stamp.

Want to make it rain a little harder at your Friday night poker games? Check out Jackson Robinson’s Federal 52, a good looking deck of cards inspired by the engravings on US bank notes and currency. (Thanks Greg!)

Casino-quality playing cards illustrated with the likenesses of America’s most influential founders by The Department of Design. Though we do find it ironic that Washington is King. (Thanks Tyler!)

It’s hard to launch cards fast enough to do your salad prep work but a set of these sharpened steel-edged throwing cards ought to make things easier. No word on glowing explosive cards yet, mon ami.

Notebooks made from 52 specially-printed playing cards, left blank on one side for writing, then bound together on one edge. The outer cover has the Queen of Hearts and the Ace of Spades.

We already have more decks of cards than a Vegas Blackjack table, but we’re going to have to grow our collection with these all-black PVC cards, decorated with creepy polygonal royals and a skeleton Joker.

A beautiful and unique deck of cards from Theory11 and illustrated by Hatch Design. The face cards each feature animal royalty, and $1 from each deck purchased goes to the World Wildlife Fund.

Designed by Simon Prades for Card Experiment, these edgy playing cards are inspired by the story of the Tower of Babel, with the cards themselves symbolizing the conflict between social classes.

While they might be tricky to shuffle, these engraved wood playing cards are sure to be a conversation starter for your next pickup game of poker or go fish. Includes a leather carrying case.

Designed by MollaSpace and Balance Wu, this deck has one-way see-through face cards which let you envision your friends as King, Queen, Jack, or even the Joker. Made from sturdy PVC.

An impressive display of cardistry from Singapore card-manipulating trio The Virts, as they twirl Virtuoso’s elegant playing cards with style, grace and a little magic. (Thanks Huron!)

Handcrafted cards designed by Simon Frouws, elegantly boxed with gold foil details and sealed with a dated tax stamp. The collectors edition comes with four decks in a laser-etched wood box.