# Exploding Kittens ## General Info - **Year Published**: 2015 - **BGG Rating**: 6.1 - **BGG Rank**: #3980 - **Players**: 2-5 (Best with: 4) - **Duration**: 15 min - **Weight**: 1.08 / 5 - **Designers**: Elan Lee, Matthew Inman, Shane Small - **Artists**: Elan Lee, Matthew Inman, Shane Small - **Publishers**: Ad Magic, Inc. (AdMagic Games), Exploding Kittens, (Self-Published), ADC Blackfire Entertainment, Angry Lion Games, asmodee - **Categories**: Animals, Card Game, Comic Book / Strip, Humor - **Mechanics**: Hand Management, Hot Potato, Player Elimination, Push Your Luck, Set Collection, Take That ## Verdict If you're looking for a quick, lighthearted game with a dash of chaos, Exploding Kittens is a purr-fect fit! It's a delightful blend of Russian Roulette and strategic card play that keeps everyone on their toes. Simple rules, easy to learn Quick playtime, great filler game High player interaction and tension Humorous theme and artwork Luck plays a significant role Limited strategic depth Can feel repetitive over time RECOMMENDED ## Description Get ready for an explosive feline version of Russian Roulette! In Exploding Kittens, adrenaline runs high as players take turns drawing cards from a deck that hides one or more exploding kittens. The goal is simple: don't be the unlucky one to draw one of these pyrotechnic felines, or you're out of the game! But don't worry, the game isn't just blind luck. The deck is packed with cards that are your best friends (or worst enemies, depending on who uses them). You can peek at upcoming cards to avoid an imminent disaster, force an opponent to draw multiple cards and get closer to the explosion, or even shuffle the deck to change everyone's luck. With each card drawn, the tension increases exponentially, because the fewer cards remaining, the higher the probability of finding an exploding kitten and being ejected from the game in a hilarious fireball. The only salvation is to have a defuse card in hand, capable of calming the kitten and keeping you in the game. The other cards are strategic tools to manipulate the deck, divert the exploding kittens to other players, and, of course, avoid your own detonation. With a nonsensical humor and rules that can be learned in five minutes, Exploding Kittens is a perfect party game for those who like to laugh, bluff, and see their friends (literally) explode. Can you escape the explosion and be the last player standing? ## How to Play Game Objective Get ready for an explosion of feline fun! In Exploding Kittens, your objective is simple yet challenging: don't explode! You and your friends will take turns drawing cards from a deck full of explosive kittens, and the last player not to be turned into fiery cat poop will be the big winner. All other cards in the game are there to help you avoid this catastrophic fate. It's a crazy race to see who can survive the fury of the kittens! Setup Let's set up this table for the feline carnage to begin! Follow these steps to prepare your game of Exploding Kittens: First, separate all Exploding Kitten Cards (the 4 explosive kitten cards) and all Defuse Cards (the 6 cards that can save you) from the deck. Shuffle the remaining cards (those that are not Exploding Kitten or Defuse) and deal 7 cards face down to each player. These will be each player's starting hand. Now, give 1 Defuse Card to each player. This way, each player will have a total of 8 cards in hand (including the powerful Defuse Card). Take the Exploding Kitten Cards you separated. The number of Exploding Kittens you will put back into the deck is equal to the number of players in the game minus 1. For example, if there are 4 players, put 3 Exploding Kittens back into the deck. Remove any extra Exploding Kittens that are not used from the game. This ensures that everyone but one will be eliminated! Any extra Defuse Cards that are left over (after each player has received one) should be returned to the main deck. A two-player variant: if there are only two of you, put only 2 Defuse Cards back into the deck and remove the other two from the game. Shuffle all the cards well (those remaining from step 2, the Exploding Kittens, and the extra Defuse cards) and place the deck face down in the center of the table. This will be the Draw Pile. Make sure to leave a space next to it for the Discard Pile. Finally, choose a player to start. This can be by any fun criterion: whoever has the coolest beard, the most intimidating smell, the longest thumb, etc. The game proceeds clockwise. Gameplay Turn On your turn, you'll have the chance to manipulate fate (and the deck) to avoid exploding! Here's how it works: Look at your cards: Start by looking at the 8 cards you have in your hand. Possible actions: You can do one of two things: Pass your turn: Don't play any cards. It's that simple. Play cards: Choose a card from your hand, place it face up on top of the Discard Pile, and follow its instructions. You can play as many cards as you want on your turn, one after another, following the instructions of each. End your turn: After playing (or passing), you must draw the top card from the Draw Pile. This is where the danger lies! Hope you don't draw an Exploding Kitten! The game continues clockwise. Remember: play as many cards as you want and then draw one to end your turn. Specific Cards and their Effects: Exploding Kitten: If you draw this card, you must immediately show it. Unless you have a Defuse Card, you are out of the game! Discard all your cards (including the Exploding Kitten). Defuse: If you draw an Exploding Kitten, you can play this card to save yourself. Discard the Defuse Card, take the Exploding Kitten, and secretly place it back anywhere in the Draw Pile. Your turn ends after using the Defuse. Want to be a bit mischievous? Place it on top for the next player! NO!: This powerful card can stop any action, except an Exploding Kitten or a Defuse Card. You can play a "NO!" on top of another "NO!" to nullify it and create a "YES!", and so on. It can be played at any time before the action is taken, even if it's not your turn. Attack: End your turn without drawing a card and force the next player to play twice in a row. If the victim of an Attack plays another Attack, their turn ends and the next player plays twice. Skip: Immediately end your turn without drawing a card. If used to defend against an Attack, it only nullifies 1 of the two turns. Two Skip Cards nullify both turns. Favor: Choose a player to give you a card from their hand. They choose which card to give. Shuffle: Shuffle the Draw Pile without looking at the cards. Perfect for when you know an Exploding Kitten is nearby! See the Future: Secretly look at the top 3 cards of the Draw Pile and put them back in the same order. Cat Cards: Alone, they do nothing. But they are the key to Special Combos! Special Combos: Two matching cards: Play two cards with the same name (not just Cat Cards) to steal a random card from another player. Three matching cards: Play three cards with the same name to choose any card from another player's hand. If they have it, you take it. If not, you get nothing. Five different cards: Play five cards with different names to take any card from the Discard Pile. Grab it quickly to avoid a "NO!"! When playing combos, ignore the cards' original instructions. End of Game and Scoring The game of Exploding Kittens ends when only one player remains. That player, the last one not to have exploded, is the big winner! Don't worry, the Draw Pile will never run out before there's a winner, as the number of Exploding Kittens is always enough to eliminate all but one player. Tips for Winning Want to be a phenomenal player and not a loser full of fiery cat poop? Pay attention to these tips: Save your cards early: At the beginning of the game, your chances of drawing an Exploding Kitten are lower. It's a good strategy to save your most powerful cards (like Defuse or Skip) for higher-risk moments, when the deck is thinner. Count the cards: Keep an eye on the Draw Pile! It's possible to count the remaining cards to get an idea of the probability of you exploding. If the deck is small and you know there's an Exploding Kitten nearby, use your "See the Future" or "Shuffle" cards wisely! Be strategic with the Defuse: The Defuse Card is the most powerful card in the game. When you use it, you can place the Exploding Kitten anywhere in the Draw Pile. Think carefully: do you want to put it on top to screw over the next player, or hide it in the middle to get rid of it for a while? The choice is yours and can change the course of the game! ## FAQ ### How many players can participate in Exploding Kittens? The game is designed for 2 to 5 players, making it great for small groups of friends or family. ### What is the average game duration? Games are quite fast, usually lasting between 15 and 30 minutes. Perfect for playing multiple times or in short sessions. ### Is it a complex game? Does it take long to learn the rules? Not at all! Exploding Kittens is known for having super simple rules that can be learned in about 5 minutes. The complexity comes from player interaction and the cards themselves. ### What are the main components of the game? The game primarily consists of a deck of cards with hilarious, cat-themed illustrations, including Exploding Kitten cards, Defuse cards, and various action cards. ### Who is Exploding Kittens best suited for? It's ideal for anyone looking for a light, fun game with lots of player interaction. Great for parties, casual gatherings, and for introducing new players to the world of board games, especially those who appreciate humor and a dash of luck. ### Is the game language dependent? Not heavily. Although cards have text, the actions are very intuitive and repetitive, making them easy to memorize. 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