Two Fangamer Decks, Two Very Different Tables
If you are choosing between the TUNIC Playing Card Deck and Dark Souls Playing Cards, the decision comes down to the mood you want on the table and how much you care about custom suit design. Both are official video game playing card decks sold by Fangamer, but they take different approaches to art and theme.
The TUNIC deck leans on bright, full-color illustration and game-inspired suits, while the Dark Souls deck is a more straightforward illustrated deck with a bleak, atmospheric theme. Neither is a better deck in absolute terms; they suit different players and different occasions.
What the Catalog Confirms About Each Deck
- TUNIC Playing Card Deck: The TUNIC deck was designed and illustrated by Kevin Jay Stanton, with beautiful full-color face cards and four game-inspired suits. This is the strongest differentiator: a fully custom suit system and color-forward face cards make the TUNIC deck feel like a game artifact, not a standard deck with a logo.
TUNIC Playing Card Deck - Dark Souls Playing Cards: The Dark Souls deck was illustrated and designed by Laura Verdin and is an official deck of DARK SOULS playing cards. The Dark Souls deck is a credited artist collaboration and an officially licensed product, which matters if you collect game merchandise or want a deck that reads as Dark Souls at a glance.
Dark Souls Playing Cards
Art Style and Suits: The Real Difference
- TUNIC Playing Card Deck: Full-color face cards and four game-inspired suits. The catalog describes the deck as designed and illustrated by Kevin Jay Stanton. The custom suits give it a distinct identity, but the catalog does not list standard suit names, card count, or included extras, so confirm those details before buying if they matter to you.
- Dark Souls Playing Cards: Illustrated and designed by Laura Verdin. The catalog positions it as an official Dark Souls deck with a thematic quote, but does not confirm custom suits, card count, or finish. Treat it as an officially licensed themed deck rather than a fully custom suit deck unless the listing says otherwise.
Price and Value at a Glance
At catalog prices, the TUNIC deck is listed at USD 14.06 (compared with USD 19.00), and the Dark Souls deck at USD 10.50 (compared with USD 15.00). The TUNIC deck costs more, which is consistent with its full-color face cards and custom suits. The Dark Souls deck is the lower-cost entry point if you want an official themed deck without paying for a custom suit system.
Both are standard-variant decks in the catalog, so there is no premium edition to weigh. Your choice is really about art direction and how much you value custom suits versus a lower price.
Which Deck Fits Your Play Group?
- Choose TUNIC if you want a colorful, design-forward deck: The full-color face cards and four game-inspired suits make it the more visually distinctive option for table play, display, or fans of TUNIC's art. It is also the better pick if you like supporting credited illustrators and want a deck that does not look like a standard bicycle deck.
- Choose Dark Souls if you want an official themed deck at a lower price: The Dark Souls deck is officially licensed, illustrated by Laura Verdin, and priced lower. It suits players who want the Dark Souls atmosphere and a straightforward deck for casual games, or collectors who already own other Dark Souls merchandise.
- Choose both if you collect video game playing card decks: The two decks share a publisher and a category but not a visual language. If you are building a small collection of Fangamer card decks, they complement each other rather than duplicate each other.
What the Catalog Does Not Confirm
Neither listing confirms card count, card stock, finish, or whether the decks include jokers or extra cards. The TUNIC listing confirms custom suits but not their names; the Dark Souls listing does not confirm custom suits at all. If any of these details are deal-breakers, check the product pages or ask before ordering rather than assuming.
There is also no age rating or safety information in the supplied catalog records for either deck. Playing cards are generally not marketed as children's toys, but if you are buying for a young child, treat the absence of an age range as a reason to use your own judgment rather than a confirmation that the deck is suitable.
