We are thrilled to announce Stryx, a world where Gods and Monsters clash in an epic battle for control.
Read on for all the sale details.
Stryx: Gods & Monsters — A Tabletop Card Game
Stryx is OwlCrate's delightfully chaotic, tactically brilliant, new tabletop card game created in collaboration with the incredible and slightly mischievous mind of Jaysen Headley—aka Ezeekat.
The OwlCrate Team and Jaysen have been working on bringing Stryx to life since the beginning of 2024, and after various versions and changes, we're nearing the finish line!
Check out Jaysen's info video here** for an exclusive sneak peek and to learn more about the gameplay. If you want to have a look behind the scenes of this project, you can find out more in this interview with Jaysen!
**Please note: the bonus cards depicted in the video were a previous sample and are not the ones included with the preorder. The preorder bonus cards will be foiled rather than holographic. The artwork otherwise remains the same. We made this change as, during gameplay, the holographic nature of the card made it too easy to spot.
Stryx features art by:
With art direction by @heyatlascreative and @stubbornpagemage.
We are excited to also announce that we will be donating 5% from every sale of Stryx to the Rose Gauntlet Foundation.
The Rose Gauntlet Foundation aims to provide a platform that grants access to education, networking, and resources for individuals who wish to pursue a career in the tabletop gaming industry. They are committed to promoting diversity and equity in the gaming community by supporting and amplifying the voices of underrepresented groups.
Stryx will be $34.99 USD plus shipping.
Preorders for Stryx will open May 1st and run until May 23rd, 2025. We anticipate shipping starting in early fall 2025.
All preorders will receive special bonus Stryx cards, available only during the preorder window!
We will share more sneak peeks, BTS, and more about Stryx very soon, so keep an eye on your inboxes and both OwlCrate's and Ezeekat's socials!
Please note: Some cards feature artwork that may not be suitable for younger ages. This card game is intended for players aged 18+.
The Road to Stryx
What if OwlCrate made a tabletop card game?
No, seriously. What if we actually did?
What if we made a delightfully chaotic, tactically brilliant, new 18+ hidden role tabletop card game created in collaboration with the incredible and slightly mischievous mind of Jaysen Headley?
It’s the game no one asked for, and you didn’t know you needed it. Born from a love of monsters, magic, and entirely too many nipples*.
**This game is rated 18+ and intended for mature, adult audiences.
We wanted to build something ours. Something beautiful, something feral—something very OwlCrate. Except with monsters, curses, and a bit of friendly betrayal.
Wait, so what IS Stryx?
Stryx is a social deduction tabletop role-playing card game that blends strategy with narrative chaos. Think: sneak attacks, backstabbing, squawking like a bird in front of all of your closest friends, and a healthy amount of strangers.
Think: beautiful cards with incredible art and the right amount of “Can we even be friends after this round?”
Curated and developed together with Jaysen, Stryx is what happens when you hand the reins to someone who loves game nights as much as fantasy novels.
And together with the hard work of Team OwlCrate, we created something special.
Why did we do this to ourselves?
Honestly, because we’re nerds. From Pandemic, Cards Against Humanity, and Wingspan, to World of Warcraft, Skyrim, Dragon Age, and so many more incredible games, team OwlCrate is made up of gamer nerds.
And after a decade of creating some of the most beautiful books on the planet, we thought, what if we made other stuff we liked, too?
And yes, it got complicated. Yes, we spiraled. As it turns out, making a GAME is very different from curating a book, but something about Stryx kept us wanting to play again and again.
And then chaos met fine craft.
Let’s be honest—none of us knew what we were doing at first. But, Jaysen did. He brought the bones, a full, inspired game system of play that was cinematic, dynamic, and totally unforgiving. What was initially an idea to reimagine Guess Who became a narrative. Monsters have backstories, and mechanics have been mapped.
Early beta testing was pure chaos. We watched allies turn against each other, found rules with loopholes, and pushed the game to its limits to crack it wide open.
Oh, and then Cade and his friends broke the game.
Then came the polish.
Every piece and component of Stryx was meticulously curated with OwlCrate’s signature, immersive fantasy aesthetic. You know, the thing you love about our special editions?
Cade designed every idea inside our heads and his with care and agony: Alyssa fought to free the nipple and worked tirelessly on some of the most beautiful illustrations we’ve ever commissioned; Sophie insisted on the stenciled edges; Steph agonized over the quality; Jordan championed a two player option; and Marina ensured that everything looks stunning, as requested in the end.
Stryx was truly a lesson in patience and a team-unifying project that brought out the best in us. Combined with our incredible roster of artists, we brought the world of Stryx to life in full, vivid detail.
And what we ended up with isn’t just a game.
It’s a perfectly curated OwlCrate experience.
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