Our Take
Exploding Kittens is a fast-playing card game of luck, strategy and cat-themed chaos for two to five players. Designed by The Oatmeal's Matthew Inman, it became one of Kickstarter's most-backed projects ever. Pitched at ages seven and up, it sits firmly in the casual party game market alongside titles like Uno and Dobble.
Key Features
Deck of 56 illustrated cards covering actions such as Defuse, Skip, Attack, and Shuffle
Core mechanic: draw from the deck each turn and hope not to pull an Exploding Kitten card
Defuse cards (rope, laser pointer, catnip sandwich) let you survive an Exploding Kitten and reinsert it secretly
Action cards let you steal from opponents, force extra draws, or peek at upcoming cards
Plays in roughly 15 minutes per game, making it well suited to back-to-back rounds
Compact box roughly the size of a paperback, easy to take to the pub or on holiday
Our Verdict
A solid buy for families, students, or anyone wanting a dead-simple game that still produces memorable moments. It earns its place as a gateway game. Dedicated hobbyists or those seeking meaningful strategic depth should look at something meatier — this is quick fun, not a brain-burner.