# The Complete Exploding Kittens Review: Are These Wacky Card Games Worth Buying? - Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/exploding-kittens-review/ - Published: 2024-09-03 - Author: Terry Williams - Categories: [Consumer](https://33rdsquare.com/category/consumer/) --- ## Exploding Kittens Company Background Exploding Kittens was founded in 2015 by former Xbox game designer Elan Lee and web cartoonist Matthew Inman, creator of The Oatmeal. The idea for their first game was conceived by the duo one night over dinner and drinks when they wondered how they could combine the Russian Roulette concept with kittens. They launched the Exploding Kittens card game on Kickstarter, seeking only $10,000 in funding. But the amusing concept and quirky art struck a chord with backers. The campaign raised an unbelievable $8.7 million from over 219,000 supporters in just 30 days, breaking records for the most backed and most funded game in Kickstarter history at the time. Since that explosive debut, Exploding Kittens has expanded to offer over 10 games across cards, board games, and mobile apps. Total game sales have surpassed 11 million units so far. The company has also expanded beyond just games into throwing toys like burritos and avocados. So with this much success behind quirky concepts like exploding kittens and throwing burritos, are these games actually worth buying? Let‘s find out… ## Overview of Top Exploding Kittens Games Here is a quick overview of some of Exploding Kittens‘ most popular games before we dive into full reviews of each one: **Exploding Kittens** (2-5 players, ages 7+) The original card game that started it all. Players draw cards and try to avoid the exploding kitten cards. **Throw Throw Burrito** (2-6 players, ages 7+) A card/dodgeball hybrid where matched sets let you throw squishy burritos at opponents. **A Little Wordy** (2 players, ages 7+) A head-to-head word guessing game with a 7-letter tile twist. Race to expose your opponent‘s words first. **You‘ve Got Crabs** (2-6 players, ages 7+) Catch crabs with tweezers before opponents in this frantic reaction card game. ## Exploding Kittens Original Game In-Depth Review As the game that launched the company, we had to take a closer look at the Exploding Kittens original card game that sparked this empire of wackiness. Here is an in-depth review of exactly how it works and what customers love (or don‘t love) about it: **Gameplay** Exploding Kittens is essentially UNO meets Russian Roulette, blending luck and strategy with hilarious art and humor. The deck contains four "Exploding Kitten" cards that players are trying to avoid. On a turn, you draw cards until you draw an action card or choose to stop drawing. Action cards let you avoid drawing, force opponents to draw, or allow you to defuse Exploding Kittens. If you draw an Exploding Kitten card, you "explode" and lose…unless you play a Defuse card first. The last player standing wins. Games take about 15 minutes. **What Reviewers & Customers Are Saying** - "Easy to learn and teach but with enough strategy to keep all ages entertained" – The Board Game Family - "It‘s fun and fast-paced" – WellPlayed - "This game is perfect for family game night when you‘re tired of the ‘same old‘" – Amazon reviewer The game has a 4.7/5 average rating on Amazon based on over 57,000 reviews. So customers and critics definitely seem to enjoy it! **The Pros** - Simple rules but offers strategic choices - Short 15 minutes playtime - Hilarious and lighthearted art style - Portable and good for travel - Affordable at around $20 **The Cons** - High luck factor reduces strategy - Best with 3+ players - Kids may struggle with reading cards - Expansions are almost required for more variety **Who It‘s Best For** The Exploding Kittens card game shines for casual gamers and non-gamers looking for light strategy and maximum laughs in a short package. The simplicity makes it accessible for kids but still amusing for parties or adults looking for fun group activities. Fans of Cards Against Humanity or Apples to Apples should enjoy the similar humor. Die-hard board game enthusiasts may find it too simple or random over repeated plays. But Exploding Kittens delivers exactly what it promises: explosive fun in a tiny box! ## Throw Throw Burrito Review One of Exploding Kittens‘ biggest new card game hits is Throw Throw Burrito, combining card matching with dodgeball skills. Let‘s take a closer look at how it works: **Gameplay** To start, each player draws an equal hand from their own deck of cards. You‘re looking to collect sets of matching cards to score points. When you get a three-of-a-kind set, that allows you to pick up one of the soft Burrito Blasters in the middle of the table and throw it at any opponent to try removing their cards. You play through all your cards, adding up any sets you collected. High score wins! Games usually take 5-15 minutes. It‘s a race of card playing speed, pattern recognition skills and dodgeball reflexes. And it often ends quite messily thanks to stray burrito throws! **What Reviewers & Customers Are Saying:** - "It‘s a riot! Nonstop hilarity" – Toys, Kids & Fun - "A perfect game to hype up a dull party" – Pedestrian - "My family couldn‘t stop laughing every time we played" – Amazon reviewer The game has a 4.7/5 average rating on over 24,000 Amazon reviews, with almost all praising how fun and interactive it is. **The Pros** - Perfect for parties and family gatherings - Easy to learn and quick to play - Encourages activity and interaction - Inflatable burritos limit damage! - More strategy than expected with card combos **The Cons** - Requires space for throwing safely - Younger kids likely need adult supervision - Card decks wear down after repeated use - Price is somewhat high for content **Who It‘s Best For** Anyone looking to add action, laughter and chaos to game night should immediately grab Throw Throw Burrito. It breaks down barriers and brings all ages and abilities together into the fun. The laughter and screaming it generates means it will steal the show at family events, parties for all ages, sleepovers or camping trips. Competitive players that want deeper strategy may be disappointed. But this game knows exactly what it is…and it‘s an absolute blast! ## More Top Exploding Kittens Games Beyond their two breakout hits above, Exploding Kittens has expanded into a variety of other fun and unique games. Here is a quick look at more top options gamers love: **A Little Wordy** A head-to-head word game similar to Scrabble but with a guessing twist. Players get 7 lettered tiles to build a secret word, then take turns trying guess their opponent‘s word first. Simple but cerebral fun that travels perfectly for two. ($15) **You‘ve Got Crabs** Players race to catch 100 crabs with tiny tweezers before opponents can in this fast-paced family card game. Unique theme and elements of speed, luck and motor skills combine for quirky fun. ($15) **Poetry for Neanderthals** Role play as cavemen by describing words and phrases to teammates using only single syllable "Ug" type words. Getting caught using multi-syllable terms earns you a blow from the inflatable club! Great for parties. ($20) **A Game of Cat & Mouth** Don giant masks shaped as a cat and mouse to act out silly phrases for teammates to guess, like charades on steroids. Equal parts goofy, awkward and hilarious. Another party favorite. ($25) All of the above games rate between 4.5 and 4.7 stars on Amazon from hundreds to thousands of reviewers. So Exploding Kittens clearly knows how to consistently design fun and crowd-pleasing games! ## Promotions & Discounts Exploding Kittens offers a few ways to save on your laugh-filled game purchases: - Newsletter Signup – Get 10% off your first order for joining their mailing list - Bundled Deals – Save vs. buying separately when you purchase expansion packs or party packs - Sales – Occasional sales around holidays can offer up to 25% off select games - Free Shipping – Get free shipping to the US on orders over $25 The company has also offered exclusive discounts to teachers in the past. And likelihood of deals increases during popular periods like Black Friday Cyber Monday. So be sure to check their website and subscribe to the mailing list for the most up-to-date discount opportunities! ## Where To Buy Exploding Kittens Games Due to the mainstream popularity of games like Exploding Kittens and Throw Throw Burrito, you can now find most of the top titles at major national retailers. Here are some of the best places to buy: - Direct from ExplodingKittens.com - Amazon - Target - Walmart - Best Buy - Barnes and Noble - Indigo (Canada) Certain specialty toy stores may also carry select options in-store. And Exploding Kittens party packs with multiple games are sometimes available from wholesale suppliers like Costco as well. Wherever you choose to buy from, take advantage of free shipping thresholds and bundled pricing when possible to maximize savings! ## The Verdict: Are Exploding Kittens Games Worth Buying? After taking an in-depth look across numerous fun-filled games from Exploding Kittens, our reviewers agree that they offer great value and entertainment for casual gamers. The simplicity mixed with humor, creativity and quirkiness leads to moments of pure fun and laughter that everyone can enjoy. We recommend trying out gateway options like Exploding Kittens Original and Throw Throw Burrito to most families, friend groups or those seeking party games. Competitive players may eventually grow bored of the luck-based mechanics. But quick laughs and good times are virtually guaranteed with Exploding Kittens! --- Source: [The Complete Exploding Kittens Review: Are These Wacky Card Games Worth Buying?](https://33rdsquare.com/exploding-kittens-review/)