2020 DOTY Award Nominee: 'Best Joker'

2020 DOTY Award Nominee: 'Best Joker'

Forbidden Forest captures South Asia's most imaginative mythological creatures in an eccentric set of luxury playing cards. From a horse-headed demon to rivaling monkeys, we have reinterpreted twelve fantastic animals to breathe new life into ancient tales.

The playing card symbol indicates the creature's habitat (♦️ the jungle, ♣️ sea, ♠️ grasslands, and ♥️ sky)- these environments are beautifully illustrated on each ace.

Each creature is a window into how our ancestors interpreted the world - representing their fears and uncertainties and captures their morals and hopes. We want to open questions and create opportunities to exchange stories across generations and cultures. This is our way of share a deeper aspect of our culture with you, focusing not on what divides us but what connects us all.

• Luxury finish: MetalLuxe foil card backs inspired by antique marbled endpapers
• Embossed brass foil tuck box featuring intricate bronze foil illustrations
• Custom-designed Pips, Numbers, and award-winning illustrations by Humble Raja
• 52-card poker sized deck + two book-inspired bonus cards
• Bicycle grade with 'air cushion finish' expertly printed by the USPCC
• Printed with vegetable-based inks on paper from sustainable forests
• Made in the United States; hand-assembled, and distributed by Art of Play

Kings of India Playing Cards illustrates the four greatest dynasties of India to share the extravagance and beauty of India’s story. That’s a big ask for a deck of cards, so here’s how we're going to do it:

MARVELOUS ILLUSTRATIONS

Every inch of this deck has been custom-illustrated from scratch by our Montreal-based design studio, Humble Raja. We’re the same detail-obsessed duo from Apartment 4 design, so you can rest assured that we've even taken the time to draw chest hair.

SOLID RESEARCH

Each court card reveals the bold personality of a legendary monarch of India, his queen and future successor. We have consulted books, artifacts, documentaries, architecture and sculptures to exemplify their contribution to India’s story visually through the details and design of each character.

PREMIUM QUALITY

Kings of India will be professionally printed by the United States Playing Card Company [USPCC], the same makers of the Bicycle® and Bee® brand, casino-grade playing cards. This means exceptional quality used by the pros, all made in the USA.

As you open the deck, you'll find the familiar Kings Wild motto, "Work with your hands. Mind your own business."

Inside, the cards take this deck to the next level of vintage nostalgia, with heavy amounts of texture, a wide range of vibrant and visually interesting patterns, and bold design elements. The court cards feature mirrored, full-body characters - a first for designer, Jackson Robinson.

Get your tickets!

The Gilded Edition features a turf green, patterned gilding around the edges of the cards.

As you open the deck, you'll find the familiar Kings Wild motto, "Work with your hands. Mind your own business."

Inside, the cards take this deck to the next level of vintage nostalgia, with heavy amounts of texture, a wide range of vibrant and visually interesting patterns, and bold design elements. The court cards feature mirrored, full-body characters - a first for designer, Jackson Robinson.

Get your tickets!

February 2022

Volume 14 Table Players features the vintage design inspired by Rheingold Extra Pale Beer can from the 1950s. The Vol. 14 cards are printed by The United States Playing Card Company in the United States of America. The cards are printed on Classic Bicycle Stock with an air-cushioned finish.