Configure the Quote
Your project manager builds a quote around your actual deck — stock, finish, box, run size.
A file review catches issues early.
Card Game Manufacturing
Your Card Game Manufacturing Partner
Every card game is a different product — different stock, finish, box and run size. We built our process, pricing and communication around that reality, from your first Kickstarter deck to your highest-volume reorder.
- 500-Unit MOQ
- Lead Times from 30 Days
- Upfront Landed Cost
From 30 days
Lead time, vs. ~60 industry-wide
500
Unit MOQ for a simple card deck
80%+
Produced in-house
300+
Publishers served since 2019
Custom Card Game Manufacturing, From 500 Decks to 100,000+ Copies
Hero Time is a Western-owned card game manufacturer in Yiwu, China, making custom card games for publishers and independent creators since 2019. "Custom" means your deck is built to your specification — your card stock, your finish, your box and packaging — not a stock size pulled off a shelf (in industry terms, made-to-spec or OEM manufacturing). That holds whether you're printing your first 500-deck Kickstarter run or reordering 100,000 copies for retail.
A card game looks simple next to a board game, but a deck is its product — there's no board or box of other components to share attention, so color consistency across every card, and across a reorder, matters even more than it does for a board game. Because we own our factory and produce roughly 80% in-house, we control that consistency ourselves, and we check packaging fit twice — before mass production and again during the run.
Built for Every Stage of Publishing
First-Time Designers & Crowdfunders
Never manufactured a card game before? Your project manager walks you through stock, finish and box, and makes sure you're happy with the game before mass production starts.
Serial Small Publishers
Already shipped a few titles? Compare us on reliability across repeat orders, not just price — the same AQL standard applies to your first run and your fifth.
Large & Established Publishers
Running at real scale? The real question is whether quality and lead time hold at reorder volume — on time, with no surprises, batch after batch.
Publishers we've worked with
What Publishers Actually Worry About
The 7 Challenges Publishers Face With Their Card Game Manufacturer — and How We Solve Them
Here's exactly how we answer the questions publishers ask us about most — whether this is your first deck or your fiftieth.
Will the quote cover duties and shipping, or is there a surprise bill later?
The number we give you is the number.
The biggest surprise in this industry isn't the factory price — it's everything that lands after it. Our quotes include setup costs by default. Our shipping partner Prime Ship, a Walmart shipping partner, quotes your full landed cost — duties, VAT, tariffs — and worldwide fulfillment upfront, before you commit. You'll also have a reply within 48 hours, so you're not left guessing.
- Setup costs included in the quote by default
- Landed cost incl. duties, VAT & tariffs, via Prime Ship
- Full worldwide fulfillment cost, quoted upfront
- Quote reply within 48 hours
Will my cards actually arrive by my Kickstarter ship date?
From 30 days, not 60 — stated upfront, before you commit.
A simple card game is our fastest tier: from 30 days against a 60-day industry norm, so you can set a realistic ship date before you launch, not after. Heavier products take longer — 35 days for medium-weight games, 45 for heavy ones — and we tell you which tier your game falls into before you commit to anything.
- From 30 days for simple card games, vs. ~60 days industry-wide
- 35 days medium-weight, 45 heavy — stated upfront
- ~7 days cargo-ready to loading, via Prime Ship
Will I be able to reach a real person who understands card games?
Don't write a ticket — get on a call and just talk.
Slow, vague replies are the most-cited regret creators have about a manufacturer. Every Hero Time project manager is fluent in English and stays with your project from quote to delivery. Not sure about a stock choice or a box format? Get on a video call and talk it through — you're connected to the team, not a relay chain.
- Fluent-English project manager, on real video calls
- One dedicated PM from quote to delivery
- Direct line to the printing engineer — no relay chain
What if my card files don't print the way I expect?
A file report at every stage — you choose the fix.
File and print setup is where most card-game defects are born — off-center art, color drift, a tuck box that doesn't fit once the shrink wrap comes off. We run a file report at first submission and before mass production, and you choose the fix. Every finished product is held to AQL General Inspection Level 2, and box-to-card fit is checked twice: at the sample stage and again during production, after the cards are out of the wrap.
- File report at first submission and before mass production
- AQL General Inspection Level 2: Critical <0.6%, Major <1.5%, Minor <4%
- Shrink-wrap checked for tight/hot application that can damage top cards
- Free replacement for damaged components, shipped direct
If I reorder or scale up, will quality stay the same?
The same standard, first run or hundredth.
A reorder shouldn't be a gamble. Roughly 80%+ of production stays on our own presses and our own plastics factory, not rotating through outside subcontractors batch to batch — so the deck you reorder is made the same way as the one you approved. The same AQL standard is the gate on every batch, whether it's your first run or your fiftieth.
- 80%+ of production stays in-house, batch to batch
- Same AQL standard applied to every run, first or hundredth
- 1,000 to 100,000+ copies, same facility, same process
Can I trust a manufacturer in China with my game and my IP?
NDA or NNN, whichever you need — plus a lawyer, if you want one.
You're sending original designs overseas, so the paperwork should match what you actually need: an NDA or an NNN agreement, whichever you prefer, and we can connect you to lawyers for IP protection specifically. Being Western-owned, with Western IP-protection values and an international team, is part of the trust answer too — not just which document gets signed. Our reviews are live and public, not curated.
- NDA or NNN agreement, your choice, plus a lawyer referral
- Western-owned, with an international team
- Live, independent reviews on Trustpilot — not curated on our own site
I only need a few hundred decks — can you even help me?
500 is the floor — and you can hold a real prototype first.
Our standard run is 1,000 units, and we'll help with 500 if that's really what you need. Either way, you don't have to commit blind: before you place a production order, we'll build up to 10 production-quality prototypes — for crowdfunding or real playtesting — at a low cost, with up to 50% credited back once you move into mass production. Most factories offer one or two prototypes, if any. Once your order is confirmed, your pre-production sample is free, delivered within 20 days.
- 1,000-unit standard MOQ, 500 available if needed
- Up to 10 production-quality prototypes, up to 50% credited back on a mass-production order
- Free pre-production sample once production is confirmed, within 20 days
- Most factories offer only 1–2 prototypes, if any
Recognise a few of these? That's exactly the conversation to have with us.
Talk to a Project ManagerReal Reviews From Real Publishers
Public, verified and impossible for us to curate.
80+ reviewsRecommended by
- TrustpilotMay 13, 2026
Jayne Boggs
There isn't enough words to explain the gratitude I have towards HeroTime! From the beginning to...
- TrustpilotMar 19, 2023
Cam
Hershel and Herotime have been exceptional to work with. We first stumbled onto them while...
- TrustpilotMay 22, 2026
Alex
Working with Hero Time was a wonderful experience. Their communication was top notch and ultimately...
- TrustpilotJul 17, 2024
Samuel Nielson
I reached out to many companies to manufacture my game, Super Battle Pets. I had a complicated...
- TrustpilotOct 17, 2023
Zach Isaak
Partnering with Herotime was a great decision for us. Most Chinese manufacturers barely speak...
- TrustpilotDec 2, 2025
Catherine Jackson
Partnering with Hero Time for a bulk run of our first dice game was absolutely the way to go...
- TrustpilotOct 28, 2025
Jez Schembri-Stothart
We used Hero Time to manufacture the prototypes and first bulk order of our tabletop card game, The...
- TrustpilotJan 9, 2026
Abby Brammell
I was lost in the dark, struggling with how to bring my vision to life and Hero Time finally began...
- TrustpilotMay 4, 2026
Teresa Gonzalez
It was my first time producing a game. Hero Time helped me throughout the process from A t Z. They...
- TrustpilotApr 24, 2026
Allie Williamson
Wonderful company to work with. My representative, Silver, went above and beyond, accommodating our...
- TrustpilotFeb 13, 2026
Michael Hitch Combe
Jerick and the entire team were great to work with. This is the first game I have published and...
- TrustpilotSep 4, 2024
Thomas K. Carpenter
Hero Time has been a fantastic partner in bringing my game, Champions of the Hundred Halls to life...
- TrustpilotJan 13, 2025
Curtis Humphreys
I have been working with Hero Time for several years now a fantastic company with dedicated...
Hero Time vs. a Typical Overseas Manufacturer
For anyone skipping straight to the summary.
| Service / Point | Typical Overseas Manufacturer | Hero Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing & Shipping | ||
| Setup costs | Billed separately, after the quote | Included by default |
| Landed cost (duties, VAT, tariffs) | Often excluded, or discovered after the invoice | Quoted upfront, via Prime Ship |
| Quote reply time | Instant self-serve, or 1–2 weeks for a custom quote | 48 hours |
| Lead Time & Ship Dates | ||
| Lead time, simple card game | A general range, confirmed late | From 30 days |
| Cargo-ready to loading | Not stated | ~7 days, via Prime Ship |
| Communication | ||
| Project manager | Shared inbox or rotating support | One dedicated, fluent-English PM |
| File setup contact | Relayed through sales | Direct line to the printing engineer |
| Print & File Quality | ||
| Quality standard named | Rarely a named AQL level | AQL Level 2: Critical <0.6%, Major <1.5%, Minor <4% |
| Damaged components | Buyer's problem to resolve | Free replacement, shipped direct |
| Shrink-wrap as a QC step | Not addressed | Checked for tight/hot application; 4 formats offered |
| Box-to-card fit | Checked once, if at all | Checked pre-production and again during the run |
| Consistency at Scale | ||
| In-house production | Mostly outsourced, can shift batch to batch | 80%+ on our own presses |
| Same standard, every batch | Can vary between a first run and a reorder | Same AQL standard, every batch |
| Trust & IP | ||
| IP instrument | An NDA, if any | NDA or NNN, your choice, plus a lawyer referral |
| Reviews | Curated on the company's own site | Live, independent (Trustpilot) |
| Certifications | Varies, not always named | Disney FAMA, ISO, FSC, BSCI, worldwide safety |
| Minimum Order | ||
| Standard MOQ | A few hundred to 2,500+ units | 1,000 units standard, 500 if needed |
| Pre-production sample | Rarely free | Free, within 20 days of a confirmed order |
| Production-quality prototype | Usually 1–2 copies, if any | Up to 10 copies, up to 50% credited back |
How It Works
From Quote to Delivery, in 5 Stages
- 1
- 2
Prototype
Your deck can move into prototyping — low-cost copies built for crowdfunding or real playtesting.
Up to 10 units, up to 50% credited back.
- 3
Feedback & Adjustment
Every comment and sample issue gets tracked back to your project — documented, not relayed informally.
A file report at every stage — you choose the fix.
- 4
Pre-Mass-Production Sample
A sample matching the final run exactly, including box fit after shrink wrap, so you can confirm before the full run.
Get it right before mass production, not after.
- 5
Mass Production
Production runs with updates throughout — you're connected to the PM, the printer, and the floor the whole way.
Live updates from the production floor.
Card Game Components We Make
What goes into a custom card game
A custom card game is simpler than a board game, but packaging has more room for creativity: cards in any size, stock weight or finish; boxes — tuckboxes, two-piece telescoping boxes, magnetic flip boxes, standing deck boxes, hang-tag packaging for retail, or a fully custom unique build; and supporting pieces — divider cards, rulebooks and instruction cards. Most projects mix several.
How we make them
Around 90% of printed components come off our own Heidelberg presses. Cards can take holofoil or cold-stamp foiling; boxes and boards take foil stamp and spot UV — each applied to the surface it actually works on, not a generic effect everywhere. Shrink-wrap comes with an easy-open tear line, without one, a paper band, or a PVC band, checked so it never damages the top cards. How each component is made, machine by machine →
Cards
Any size, stock weight or finish.
Tuck & Two-Piece Boxes
Standard automated styles, including magnetic flip.
Custom Unique Boxes
Drawer, neck, hexagon, or a fully custom build.
Finishes & Effects
Holofoil, cold stamp, foil stamp and spot UV.
Standing & Hang-Tag Packaging
Retail-ready display options, beyond a standard box.
Divider Cards & Rulebooks
Organize an expanding card game or TCG.
Our Card Game Manufacturing Facility
Located in Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, about 1.5–2.5 hours from Shanghai.
- 6,000m²factory floor
- 80%+of production in-house
- 22in-house workers
Up to
10,000 sheets/hr
Printing — Heidelberg Speedmaster
Across a wide range of card and box sizes.
Up to
4,000 sheets/hr
Oil Coating
The standard finish for playing-card color and anti-scratch protection.
Up to
3,000 sheets/hr
Laminating — HOQO Series
Up to
1,500 sheets/hr
Card Cutting & Collation
Cards cut and collated with high precision.
Averaging
10,000 games/day
Assembly Line
Double line, two different products at once, up to 12 people per side.
Down to
12×12mm
Stamp Cutting
Smallest token/divider size.
Our quality commitment is AQL General Inspection Level 2: Critical under 0.6%, Major under 1.5%, Minor under 4%, checked at a process level, not per-product.See our full quality control standard →
Approved by: Disney FAMA
- 500-Unit MOQ
- Lead Times from 30 Days
- Upfront Landed Cost