Exploding Kittens is like a game of Russian roulette but with a twist – instead of bullets, you have exploding kittens in your deck.
Imagine a room full of adorable kittens armed with dynamite, and you’re trying to avoid being cuddled to oblivion. It’s a purr-fectly hilarious game that combines strategy with sheer randomness.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to collect cards, avoid those explosive furballs, and use your wits to make sure you’re not the one left holding the exploding kitten.
What’s included in Exploding Kittens
- Exploding Kittens Cards (20 cards):
- Defuse Cards (6 cards):
- Action Cards (23 cards):
- Numbered Cards (54 cards):
- Instructions: The game includes a rulebook with instructions on how to play.
How to play Exploding Kittens
Setup
- Remove the Exploding Kittens and Defuse cards from the deck and set them aside. The number of Exploding Kittens depends on the number of players:
- 2-3 players: Use 1 Exploding Kitten
- 4 players: Use 2 Exploding Kittens
- 5 players: Use 2 Exploding Kittens
- Shuffle the remaining deck of cards, including the Defuse cards, and deal 4 cards to each player.
- Give each player a Defuse card, and the remaining Defuse cards are returned to the deck and shuffled.
Rules for Exploding Kittens
The game is played in turns, and each player must perform these three steps in order during their turn:
- Draw a Card: You must start your turn by drawing one card from the deck. You should always have 4 cards in your hand at the end of your turn.
- Play Cards: After drawing, you can play one or more cards from your hand. You can play cards of the same type as a combo if you have them (see Card Breakdown for a list of what the cards/combos are)
- End Your Turn: After playing cards, your turn ends, and you must have exactly 4 cards in your hand. If you have more or fewer than 4 cards, you must select cards to reach or discard down to 4.
Exploding Kittens: If a player draws an Exploding Kitten card during their turn, they are out of the game unless they have a Defuse card to play. If they have a Defuse card, they can use it to defuse the kitten, place it back in the draw pile in a location of their choice, and then shuffle the deck. The player’s turn ends after defusing, and they are still in the game.
Winning the Game: The game continues until all but one player has been eliminated. The last player standing wins the game.
Card Breakdown in Exploding Kittens
In Exploding Kittens, cards are categorized into several types based on their functions and abilities. Here are all the cards in the game, organized by type and their functions:
1. Exploding Kittens
These cards are the central threat in the game. If a player draws an Exploding Kitten, they are eliminated from the round unless they can defuse it with a Defuse card.
2. Defuse
These cards can be used to defuse an Exploding Kitten when drawn, allowing the player to place the Exploding Kitten back into the deck and shuffle it. Each player starts with one Defuse card, and any additional Defuse cards are placed back into the deck.
3. Action Cards
These cards have various actions that can be played during your turn. Action cards include:
- Skip (4 cards): Ends your turn without drawing a card.
- Attack (4 cards): Forces the next player to take two turns.
- Nope (5 cards): Cancels the effect of another card, including Exploding Kittens and Actions.
- See the Future (5 cards): Allows you to peek at the top three cards of the draw pile.
- Shuffle (5 cards): Shuffles the draw pile.
4. Numbered Cards
These cards are numbered from 1 to 4 and come in various illustrations of quirky characters and creatures. They are used for matching number combos and requesting specific cards from other players. If you get doubles (Two of a Kind) of the same numbered card, you can take a random card from your opponent of your choice. If you have triples (Three of a Kind) of a numbered card, you get to ask any opponent for any card – if they don’t have the card you asked for, you get nothing; if they do, they must give you the card. If you possess five different numbered cards, you can grab any card you want from the discard pile.
For the official rules, see the link below:
How to win Exploding Kittens
- Defuse Wisely: Use your Defuse cards strategically. These cards are your lifeline when you draw an Exploding Kitten, so don’t waste them on non-emergencies.
- Keep a Poker Face: Lie until you make it so to speak. Bluffing is an essential skill. Even if you don’t have a Defuse card, try to act like you do to discourage other players from targeting you.
- Plan Card Combos: Look for opportunities to combine action cards effectively. For example, you can pair an Attack card with a Nope card to force an opponent to take two turns without the chance to Nope your Attack.
- Target Players with Few Cards: Attack players who have fewer cards. The fewer cards they have, the more likely they are to draw an Exploding Kitten when it’s their turn.
- Watch the Discard Pile: Pay attention to the cards that have been played and are in the discard pile. This can help you deduce which cards are still in play.
- Use See the Future Wisely: If you have a See the Future card, don’t waste it. Use it at the right moment to get valuable information about the upcoming cards in the draw pile.
- Count Defuse Cards: If you can, try to keep track of the Defuse cards that have been played. Knowing how many are left can help you make informed decisions.
- Negotiate and Form Alliances: Don’t be afraid to negotiate and form temporary alliances with other players. You can team up to target a specific player or help each other avoid Exploding Kittens.
- Maintain a Healthy Hand Size: Don’t hoard too many cards. You want to have a balance between having enough options to play and reducing the risk of drawing an Exploding Kitten.
- Stay Calm and Enjoy: Remember that Exploding Kittens is meant to be a fun and unpredictable game. Enjoy the humor and camaraderie with your fellow players, and don’t take it too seriously.