Exploding Kittens is a fun, fast‑paced, and extremely popular card game that combines strategy, luck, and lots of humor. It was created by Elan Lee (a former Xbox game developer) and Matt Inman, which is reflected in its unique blend of playfulness and absurdity.
The game is built around a simple yet tense concept: you don’t want to draw an exploding kitten. Each player takes on the role of a survivor in a kind of “cat‑themed Russian roulette,” where explosive cats are hidden in the deck. If you draw one and don’t have a Defuse card, you’re eliminated from the game. The last surviving player wins.
Humor is a core part of the experience—expect cards featuring lasers, goats, taco cats, and other wildly entertaining illustrations.
The goal is to be the last player who hasn’t exploded. On your turn, you may play as many cards as you like, then you must draw one card from the deck. If you draw an Exploding Kitten, you must immediately play a Defuse card or you are out. Defuse allows you to put the exploding kitten back into the deck anywhere you choose (ideally so the next player draws it).
Special cards include:
- Skip – skip your turn
- Attack – the next player takes two turns
- See the Future – look at the top cards of the deck
- Shuffle – shuffle the deck
- Nope – cancel another player’s card
Playing two identical cards lets you steal a random card from another player; playing three identical cards lets you choose a specific card.
You can learn Exploding Kittens in two minutes—making it ideal for beginners and families. 😹💥🃏
