How to Play Exploding Kittens: Imploding Kittens

Game Objective

The goal of the game is to be the last player who doesn't implode or explode. Players try to avoid drawing an Imploding Kitten or an Exploding Kitten, which will knock them out of the game. The last remaining player wins.

Setup

1. Remove the Imploding Kitten (1 card) from the expansion deck, and all Exploding Kittens (4 cards) and Defuse (6 cards) from the main game deck.
2. Combine the remaining 19 cards from the expansion with the rest of the main game deck.
3. Deal 6 face-down cards to each player. (2 more than in a normal game, since you're playing with more cards.)
4. Deal 1 "Defuse" card to each player, totaling a hand of 7 cards per player. Keep your hand secret.
5. Insert the Imploding Kitten and enough Exploding Kittens into the deck so that the total number of Kittens (Exploding and Imploding) is one less than the number of players in the game.
6. Remove any additional Exploding Kittens from the game.
7. Add any extra "Defuse" cards back into the deck.
8. Shuffle the deck and place it face-down in the center of the table. This is the Draw Pile. Make sure to leave some space for the Discard Pile.
9. Choose a player to go first and start the game as usual.

Setup Variations

2-Player Variant

Play the game with 1 Exploding Kitten and the Imploding Kitten from the expansion deck. Now there are 2 players and 2 ways to die. Whoever dies first loses the game.

Include only 2 of the 4 "Defuse" cards in the deck. Remove the other 2 "Defuse" cards from the game.

3-Player Variant

Include only 3 of the 4 "Defuse" cards in the deck. Remove the remaining "Defuse" card from the game.

Quick Variant

Before adding any Kittens to the deck, randomly remove about one-third of the deck. (You'll play with two-thirds of the deck, but you won't know which cards are removed.) Then shuffle the Imploding Kitten and any additional Exploding Kitten(s) into the Draw Pile and start the game.

Game Flow

Refer to the manual for details on this section.

Actions and How to Play

Card Types

• Imploding Kitten (1 card): When this card is drawn, insert it face-up into the Draw Pile anywhere in the deck you choose, in secret. Do not use a "Defuse" card. When you have no choice but to draw this face-up card, you immediately implode and are out of the game. This card cannot be "Defused" or "NOPEd." When the Imploding Kitten implodes and kills a player, it must be placed in the Discard Pile as if it were an Exploding Kitten. If there is a face-up Imploding Kitten on top of the deck and you play a "Shuffle" card under the table, you may still have the chance to drag the Imploding Kitten back to the top of the deck without realizing it. The Imploding Kitten card allows playing with up to 6 players or using it as a replacement for one of the Exploding Kittens in the main game.
• Wild Cat (4 cards): Use it as any Cat Card (any of the cards without instructions on them). This card cannot be used as a Non-Cat Card (Shuffle, Attack, etc.).
• Targeted Attack (3 cards): End your turn without drawing a card. Choose any player to attack. That player must take 2 consecutive turns. The victim of this card takes a normal turn (play cards, then draw). Then, when their first turn ends, it's their turn again. The game continues after the attacked player. If you are hit with a Targeted Attack and you play any type of Attack card (Targeted Attack or normal Attack), the player you attacked must take the 2 turns in your place.
• Alter the Future (4 cards): Secretly look at the top 3 cards of the Draw Pile and rearrange them in any order you like. Return them to the top of the deck and continue your turn.
• Draw From the Bottom (4 cards): End your turn by drawing the bottom card of the Draw Pile.
• Reverse (4 cards): Reverse the order of play and end your turn without drawing a card. If there are only 2 players, this card acts as a Skip card. If you play this card after being attacked, the order of play reverses, but you've only completed one of your 2 turns.

The Cone of Shame

The first player to forget whose turn is next becomes a human direction indicator and must wear the Cone of Shame for the rest of the game. Rotate the Cone around your head so the arrow points in the correct direction of play, outward, so players can see it. When a "Reverse" card is played, spin the Cone around your head to indicate the new direction.

End of Game and Scoring

The game ends when only one player remains. Other players are eliminated from the game by drawing an Exploding Kitten (and failing to defuse it) or being forced to draw a face-up Imploding Kitten. The last remaining player wins the game.

Tips to Win

• The Imploding Kitten card allows playing with up to 6 players or using it as a replacement for one of the Exploding Kittens in the main game.
• If you are hit with a Targeted Attack and you play any type of Attack card (Targeted Attack or normal Attack), the player you attacked must take the 2 turns in your place.