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Published September 03, 2013 Updated February 17, 2023

Nintendo Mario Playing Cards

Special cartoon playing cards designed to accompany Nintendo's Mario series of computer games.

2008 Japan Henbrandt Limited Nintendo Mario Card Games Add to Collection

Nintendo Mario Playing Cards

Special cartoon playing cards designed to accompany Nintendo's popular Mario series of computer games, including the offbeat character Wario as the Joker. Whilst Mario is probably the most famous character in video game history, Wario was designed as an antagonist to Mario. Princess Peach, created by Shigeru Miyamoto, is the princess of the fictional Mushroom Kingdom. Luigi is taller and thinner than his brother Mario. The non-standard suit symbols are Mushrooms, Banana Peels (offensive weapons in some games), Super Stars (granting invincibility) and Turtle shells (Koopa Troopas). The backs feature a colourful image of Mario snoozing on a tropical beach under a parasol held by Princess Peach.

Nintendo's Mario-Wario Playing Cards. All artwork ©2008 Nintendo Co., Ltd

Above: Nintendo's Mario-Wario Playing Cards, c.2008. 52 cards + 2 Jokers in matching box, imported and distributed by Henbrandt Limited, London. All artwork ©2008 Nintendo Co., Ltd.

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By Simon Wintle

Member since February 01, 1996

Founder and editor of the World of Playing Cards since 1996. He is a former committee member of the IPCS and was graphics editor of The Playing-Card journal for many years. He has lived at various times in Chile, England and Wales and is currently living in Extremadura, Spain. Simon's first limited edition pack of playing cards was a replica of a seventeenth century traditional English pack, which he produced from woodblocks and stencils.


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