People have been loving ZSA Cards ever since we launched them. It’s been a gamble — it’s not an obvious product for us to come up with — but it’s been working. So many people have been buying them, gifting them, and getting a lot out of them. Feedback has been amazing. ❤️
It’s always exciting when a dream resonates with others, so we decided to invest some more. Today I'm excited to share an all-new Premium Edition of the Cards. The core of the deck does not change—the cards remain the same. This new edition is all about packaging and presentation.
We put the first edition into a minimal black box; this new edition is book-sized, and comes wrapped around in striking art from the Queen of Planets card. It's got some serious shelf presence. Fits beautifully next to other books and games.
Pick up the box and you’ll notice a black fabric pull tab embroidered with the ZSA logo. Pull, and a drawer slides out. Inside the drawer, you’ll find a sturdy vacuum-formed plastic insert containing:
• Two inner card boxes (the same as the current edition).
• The booklet (unchanged, as it’s been working well).
• An all-new wooden card holder bearing the ZSA Cards logo.
The card holder is designed to hold one card upright. The idea is to use it for a daily inspiration card or when journaling. Shuffle the deck, pull out a card, place it in the holder, and let it guide your journaling, thinking, or working through a creative challenge.
The new edition is $45. As usual with ZSA, it's not a pre-order — these are available and shipping right now, they're actually here.
The original cards are still available for $39, but here’s a secret just for those of you who got all the way here (it's not on the website): we will not be producing the first edition anymore. Once it runs out, it’s gone for good and will become a collector’s item.
Contest & Upcoming Book
That’s not all the news about ZSA Cards. We’re also writing an entire book about the cards, filled with games and activities. We already have several original games from some great designers, but we're also currently running a design contest for games and activities on The Game Crafter. Two of our judges include Gabe Barrett, Founder of Best With 1 Games and the Board Game Design Lab, and James Ernest, Founder of Cheapass Games and game design legend.
This contest isn’t just for experienced game designers—it’s a great opportunity to hone your skills, and you don't necessarily have to win to be included in the book. Please share it with any friends who might be interested. The contest page also includes a PDF of the cards that participants can download to see what’s inside the deck, so you don't have to own the deck to take part.
I think the book might be ready within 2025, and I can't wait to share it with you. Thank you for reading, and here’s to a creative 2025 full of games, writing, and engaging conversations.
