Exploding Kittens Card Game Review: Fun for Teens?
A Kickstarter card game that became a fixture of family game nights, drawn by The Oatmeal. Short rounds, simple rules and a lot of shouting.
Yes, for families with teens and anyone who wants a game everyone can learn in minutes. It plays two to five players, seven and up [1], and rounds are quick. Skip it for a group that wants a long strategy evening.
By Andrew Pataleta, GiftX founder · Updated October 28, 2026 · Sources
Specs at a glance
| Players | 2 to 5 [1] |
| Ages | 7 and up [1] |
| Cards | 56 [1] |
| Art | Illustrated by The Oatmeal [1] |
| In the box | Cards and an instruction manual [1] |
| Format | Compact, travel friendly [1] |
Pros and cons
- Tops out at five players in the base game [1]
- Luck decides a lot of rounds
- Some adults tire of it after many games in a row
The game after the dishes
Christmas evening has a gap: dinner is done, nobody wants to move, and a long board game feels like work. Exploding Kittens fills that gap without a learning curve.
Everyone draws from one deck. Draw an Exploding Kitten without a Defuse card and you are out, so the tension rises with every card as the deck gets thin.
Fifty-six cards and a few rules
The box holds 56 cards illustrated by The Oatmeal and an instruction manual [1]. Action cards let players skip a turn, shuffle the deck or defuse a kitten with laser pointers or catnip sandwiches [1].
It is designed for two to five players, ages seven and up, and the listing pitches it at kids, teens and adults alike [1]. The compact box packs easily for road trips and camping [1]. According to the listing, it began as one of the most successful Kickstarter campaigns ever [1].
Luck, limits and replay
A lot of the game is luck. Strategy players who like to plan several moves ahead will find it thin, and a bad draw ends a round early.
The base deck also stops at five players, so a big family gathering needs a second game or an expansion. After many rounds in a row, the card jokes lose a little shine for some adults, which is fine for a game that costs about as much as a movie ticket.
Opening it on Christmas morning
Put it near the top of the stocking so it gets played the same day. It is the stocking gift the whole room ends up using.
From this guide, pair it with The Genius Square for a puzzle fan, or with the What Do You Meme? Core Game for an adults-only table later in the evening.
FAQ
What age is Exploding Kittens for?
The listing says ages seven and up, for two to five players [1]. Younger kids can play with a little help, and teens and adults enjoy it too because the cartoons are absurd rather than babyish. The original edition is the safe pick for a mixed family table [1]
How long does a game of Exploding Kittens take?
Rounds are short, because players drop out as the kittens appear and the deck shrinks fast [1]. That is the reason it gets replayed so often. A group usually plays several rounds in a row, so plan for a stretch of the evening rather than a single game [1]
How many people can play Exploding Kittens?
The original edition is designed for two to five players [1]. With a bigger group, add an expansion or switch to a party game built for crowds. Two players works, but the game is at its liveliest with four or five people around the table and a few rounds to settle the score [1]
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Sources and how we checked
- Amazon.com listing for the Exploding Kittens Card Game, Original Edition
Source check: Amazon prices and contents above were checked on October 28, 2026. We did not test these products hands-on. Picks are based on manufacturer specs, Amazon listings and the reasons people actually give these gifts.
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