Poker and geekdom go hand-in-hand. As an old school game of skill, poker tugs at the heart of every nerd, geek, and gamer. From post-apocalyptic wastelands and the Wild West, to the virtual casinos and cities in games, movies, series, and literature, there’s always a place for a poker table.
In short, poker is a big part of pop culture. It's not uncommon for superhero geeks, sci-fi nerds, and horror hounds to also be interested in poker as well. One reason the game has become so mainstream in both pop culture and real life is due to poker rules being very easy to learn. Yet to become good at poker, players must master certain skills. This leveling up is a common theme across sci-fi and fantasy pop culture. For the card-slinging geek, the perfect gift would be one that combines both interests. Thankfully, there's no shortage of themed playing cards decks, poker sets, chips, and tables that geeks will love.
Star Wars Playing Cards
CREDIT: @theory11 on Instagram
As the most successful sci-fi franchise in history, there’s actually no shortage of Star Wars playing cards out there. With decks that feature classic characters like Darth Vader and newer ones like the Mandalorian and Grogu – more popularly known as ‘baby yoda’ – you can even pick whichever side of the Force you prefer. So why not get a new deck that celebrates the new movies, or one that will let you pretend the prequels never happened?
Avengers Playing Cards
CREDIT: @theory11 on Instagram
The Avengers is currently the most successful superhero franchise. That’s why there’s also a wide variety of Avengers poker decks to choose from. Featuring heroes like Black Panther, Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, Thor, Hulk, and other classic Avengers, these overpowered decks are great additions to any Marvel collection.
Twin Peaks Playing Cards
CREDIT: @mrplayingcard on Instagram
Here’s one for the older geeks. There’s arguably no better way to please the poker-playing David Lynch fanatic in your life than getting them a Twin Peaks-themed deck of playing cards. Featuring iconic characters like Laura Palmer and even the creepy Log Lady, this is a must-have for fans of the classic mystery series.
Cthulhu Poker Set
CREDIT: @cthulhushop on Instagram
"In his house at R'lyeh dead Cthulhu waits dreaming." H. P. Lovecraft’s tales of old gods and madness have spawned one of the most enduring and influential horror fantasy mythos in geek history. And there are cards that feature artworks of Lovecraft’s cosmic gods, chips with images of Cthulhu, and entire poker sets dedicated to the Lovecraftian horror sub-genre.
Suicide Squad Poker Chips
CREDIT: @suicidesquadmovie on Instagram
Fans of the Suicide Squad will love these new poker chips with images of their favorite anti-heroes. Unfortunately, there’s no word yet on whether or not these chips which director James Gunn teased on social media will be available to the public. Considering the uproar Gunn’s posts about them already caused, these chips might just turn into official movie merch.
The Legend of Zelda Poker Chips
CREDIT: @jackspoker on Instagram
These Legend of Zelda poker chips are the perfect nostalgic gift for young and old millennials alike. Real fans are bound to recognize every single character on these chips, whether they’re players of the original game or later titles like Skyward Sword or Cadence of Hyrule. Featuring different characters rendered in the various evolving visual styles of the Zelda series, these chips are a fitting tribute to one of the most influential fantasy action games of all time. From classic pixelated foes to Link and Princess Zelda herself, this collection is an informal catalog of artwork from the celebrated games.
Game of Thrones Poker Table
CREDIT: @jackspoker on Instagram
Spark some competition with a table that lets players represent their favored houses from Westeros. Whether you sided with the Starks, Targaryens, Lannisters, Martells, or any of the other powerful factions, sitting at this table is a fitting tribute to one of the most epic fantasy wars in literary history. If the poker-playing geek in your life hated the ending to the series as much as we did, this is their chance to rewrite the final outcome of the war.
These are just some of the poker cards, chips, and sets that geeky poker players would love to receive. And if you’re a geek who’s tired of streaming shows on Netflix, maybe it’s time to get the geeky poker set of your own.