If you’re looking for a fun game that brings a little excitement, with a lot of giggles, (not to mention the opportunity to prevent your fellow players’ victory with a loud “NOPE”), you can do no wrong with Exploding Kittens. The wacky, Russian-roulette-style card game promises unpredictable outcomes, hilarious cards and actions, and minor explosions – if you can’t defuse them first, of course!
Exploding Kittens is Russian Roulette with cartoon cats
What is Exploding Kittens?
Exploding Kittens is a tiny card game with epic surprises, that exploded (pun intended) onto the scene in 2015. The game launched on Kickstarter, a crowdfunding website that lets you pay towards a project to help make it happen, and is a common way for first time game creators to bring an idea to life. Exploding Kittens’ Kickstarter however, smashed records at the time, becoming the most backed project at the time, with 219,382 backers, and earning a whopping $8,782,571, making it the most funded game in Kickstarter history.
Who made Exploding Kittens?
Exploding Kittens was designed and made by Elan Lee, Shane Small, and Matthew Inman, the latter of which was the cartoonist and creator for The Oatmeal. This meant that the Russian Roulette style game also benefited from cartoon style images and quirky commentary. You only have to look at the artwork to be drawn in… and Netflix agreed, as they’ve commissioned a series based on the game (though arguably, the plot is pretty adjacent to the original card game).
How do you play Exploding Kittens?
In the game, you want to somehow avoid drawing an Exploding Kitten card from the deck, because if you do, you lose! In the meantime, you might be able to defuse the explosion, or use a combination of cards to increase your chances of either not drawing the card at all, or making it so that your fellow players draw multiple cards instead. You can also use cards to interrupt your fellow players’ plans, making the game highly interactive and competitive.
Exploding Kittens is a highly strategic kitty-powered version of Russian Roulette, where the game intensifies with each drawn card, increasing the chance of drawing the exploding kitten and losing the game.
Easy to learn how to play, you’ll pick up the Exploding Kittens rules straight away
Exploding Kittens Rules
It’s surprisingly straightforward to learn how to play Exploding Kittens. You start by removing the Defuse cards, and Exploding Kitten cards from the deck, and giving every player one Defuse card and seven random cards. Then, both the Exploding Kittens (one for every player in the game minus one), and two of the Defuse cards are shuffled back into the deck, ready to play. Leftover Exploding Kittens and Defuse cards can go back in the box.
Each player begins their turn by choosing to pass (by playing no cards), or play any number of cards from their hand. Once cards are played, they are placed into the discard pile. Once the player has chosen to either play or pass, the player then draws a card to their hand – let’s hope it’s not an Exploding Kitten!
If you draw an Exploding Kitten Card
When you draw an Exploding Kitten card, one of two things will happen. The first, is that you’ll play your super powerful Defuse card (if you have one). You put it into the discard pile, and put the Exploding Kitten card back into the deck… wherever you want to! As you have defused the situation, you remain the game, though now, you’ve not got your handy Defuse card if it were to happen again.
Alas, if you haven’t got a Defuse card, the second occurs, which is where you have exploded alongside the kitten, and are out of the game. The last player standing wins.
Exploding Kittens Cards
All other cards you draw give you an opportunity to take an action. For example, if you collect three See the Future Cards, you can play these down to be able to look at the top three cards in the deck, and put them back in the same order. That’s powerful, as if you might find out that there’s an Exploding Kitten waiting for you…
Imploding Kittens is an expansion pack that adds new cards and mechanics, increasing the maximum number of players and introducing additional content to the game.
So you’d need to look at your other cards. Different combinations allow you to shuffle the draw pile, force the next player to take their actions, skip your turn (each of these would be useful if you know you have an Exploding Kitten awaiting you), or to take a card from another player (depending on the cards, either they pick or you can select randomly, meaning you might manage to take a Defuse card), or prevent the action of another player.
The last example is called a Nope card, and this is responsible for the most hilarity when playing the game. This card stops a person from completing the action they’re trying to play – the only exception being the Defuse card.
You can play a Nope card even when it’s not your turn. Perhaps someone wants to shuffle the deck because they know there’s an Exploding Kitten? You could Nope, play the card, and prevent them from doing so. However, Nope’s can be countered, so they could Nope your Nope. Who knows? Maybe you could Nope their Nope of your Nope… and so on. Exclaiming “NOPE” alongside the card is optional, but entirely fun.
You never quite know what you’ll draw next in Exploding Kittens!
How many cards are in Exploding Kittens?
There are 52 cards in the Exploding Kittens base game. There are four Exploding Kittens cards, and six Defuse cards. Then there are four of each of the different cat card cards, the Skip card, the Shuffle card, the Attack card, and the Favor card. There are then five of the Nope cards, and the See the Future cards.
Related Article: Looking for more card games? Check out our list of Uno alternatives.
Why play Exploding Kittens?
If you are looking for a serious, strategic game, then I’d suggest you keep moving; this is not the one for you. But if you like player interaction, with wacky swings and memorable ‘take-that’ moments then this game has got you covered.
It’s very luck driven, which is totally fine, as long as you know what kind of game you are playing. The game certainly embraces the madness and doesn’t take itself seriously at all. It’s quick and punchy and doesn’t outstay its welcome.
You are playing a silly party game. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
Here’s three things we love about this game:
Exploding Kittens is Quick to Learn and Fun to Play
In a small box that you can take with you wherever you go, with just a few card types to pick up, and a very quick and easy explanation before you can start playing, it’s a perfect game for anyone who doesn’t want to have to sit through a long rule book. The game forces you to interact with everyone around the table, keeping everyone engaged in the game, wondering what you’re plotting, and trying to stack the perfect combination of cards to prevent disaster. The utter randomness of the draw means that anyone can draw an Exploding Kitten, preventing even the most competitive from their perfect victory.
Because it’s so easy to learn and play, we recommend this on our list of the best games for seven year olds, which you can check out for more recommendations.
Exploding Kittens Artwork is Fun
Drawing from the fun style and quirky commentary of the Oatmeal, Exploding Kittens cards have cartoonish qualities and descriptions. Take for example, the TacoCat – the drawing is of a taco as a cat, (with “I’m a Palindrome” as the flavor text).
I’m a Palindrome!
Exploding Kittens Expansions Add Even More
Exploding Kittens may have begun as a simple 52 card game, but it certainly didn’t stay that way, as people who love it just wanted more. Exploding Kittens now has a whole range of variants to the game, as well as expansion packs to the existing game, many of which will mix and match to increase the areas you like the most. These expansion packs introduce new cards, mechanics, and gameplay elements, enhancing the original game and providing fresh excitement for seasoned players. There are now nine games of it, and three expansions, not including territory exclusives.
Exploding Kittens Party Pack
If your game nights often include a large group of friends, the Exploding Kittens Party Pack is a must-have. This edition of the game accommodates up to 10 players, making it ideal for parties and gatherings. The Party Pack includes all the fun of the original game, with added cards and increased player capacity for more explosive fun!
It also features hilarious new cards and artwork, ensuring that even seasoned players of Exploding Kittens will find fresh and exciting twists. Designed to be played by both beginners and more experienced gamers, the Party Pack keeps all players engaged, laughing, and strategizing till the last kitten explodes.
Exploding Kittens Good vs Evil
One of the more recent expansions, and indeed the one that Netflix has based its Exploding Kittens series around, is that of Good vs Evil. This now contains Armageddon Cards, which trigger a mini game to be played amidst the Exploding Kittens game, which has players battle for control of the most powerful card. This is a variant, so you don’t need the original to play.
Exploding Kittens NSFW
Although the game is family friendly, the NSFW (Not suitable for work) version tailors its humor towards ages 18+. It’s been immensely popular, outranking even the original on the popular board games rating site Board Game Geek, and is a standalone to the main version.
Exploding Kittens Barking Kittens
Ready to wear a cat crown for victory?
The Barking Kittens expansion is one that adds an extra 20 cards, and a hat. That’s right, the cat crown lets you stash additional cards in your hat under the right circumstances. Barking Kittens cards also add the mechanic of chicken, whereby if you think your fellow player has one, you should play yours first. If you’re right, they might explode, if you’re not? You become the target…
The mobile game version also includes exclusive features and digital expansions like Streaking and Barking Kittens.
Conclusion: a Wacky Card Game
Exploding Kittens is a delightfully chaotic and entertaining card game that brings so much fun, laughter, and strategy to the forefront of game night. Its simplicity and ease of learning make it accessible to all players, while the unpredictability of the draw ensures that no two games are ever the same.
Whether you are enjoying the base game or exploring its numerous expansions and variants, Exploding Kittens promises a memorable experience filled with quirky artwork and unexpected twists. Perfect for groups of friends or family gatherings, this game offers endless fun and opportunities for both collaboration and rivalry. So grab your deck, gather your players, and brace yourself for a wildly explosive adventure!
We recommend this as one of our best games for 7 year olds. Check out that list for more recommendations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the age range for Exploding Kittens?
Exploding Kittens is suitable for ages 7 and up. There is also an NSFW version tailored towards ages 18+ for those seeking more adult humor.
How many players can play Exploding Kittens?
The base game of Exploding Kittens is designed for 2 to 5 players. However, with expansions, you can increase the number of players, allowing for larger group gameplay.
How long does a game of Exploding Kittens take?
Typically, a single game of Exploding Kittens takes around 15 minutes. The fast-paced nature of the game allows multiple rounds to be played in a short time, making it ideal for game nights or quick breaks.
Can you combine different versions and expansions of Exploding Kittens?
Yes, you can mix and match different expansions and versions of Exploding Kittens to enhance your gameplay experience. Each expansion and variant brings unique cards and rules, ensuring endless variety and fun.
Is it necessary to have the original Exploding Kittens game to play the expansions?
Not all expansions require the original game. For example, the Good vs Evil variant is standalone and does not require the base game to play. However, some expansions may need the original game to function properly.
Where can I buy Exploding Kittens and its expansions?
Exploding Kittens and its various expansions are available at local game stores, on the official Exploding Kittens website, and online through retailers like Amazon. There is also a digital version available on iPhones and via a downloadable app.
Are there any digital versions of the game?
Yes, you can play Exploding Kittens digitally. There is an app available for iPhones for a small fee, and the game can also be accessed via your Netflix subscription.