Exploding Kittens
Exploding Kittens Coyote Card Game
A fast sequence-building game with both cooperative and competitive modes built in, designed with Tim Ferriss. A 10-minute game that can flex between working together and playing against each other depending on the group.
See current price on AmazonAbout Exploding Kittens Coyote
Coyote came out of a two-year collaboration between Tim Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Workweek and Tools of Titans, and Elan Lee, co-creator and CEO of Exploding Kittens. It was announced in spring 2025 and rolled out first at Walmart before landing on Amazon and Target later that year, so it is one of the newer entries in the Exploding Kittens lineup rather than a variant of the original deck.
The game is built around a growing sequence of action cards. Each card tells the group to do something, tap the table, say a word, make a sound, and every player has to repeat the whole sequence in order before adding their own action on top, all while keeping a steady rhythm going. Coyote and attack cards get mixed in specifically to throw off that rhythm and make someone break the chain. The same 66-card box flexes between two ways to play: a competitive mode where players who mess up are eliminated until one person is left standing, and a cooperative mode where the whole group wins or loses together. A handful of blank cards let a family write in its own rules or inside jokes, so repeat games do not feel identical.
For a parent sizing this up as a gift or a game-night pickup, it plays fast (about ten minutes a round), fits 3 to 8 people, and is rated for ages 10 and up. Because the cooperative mode is one of its bigger selling points, it sits naturally alongside the picks in our best cooperative card games for kids guide if a team-based option matters more to your group than head-to-head competition.
The Honest Take
What We Like and What We Don't
What we like
- Fast to teach, reviewers describe kids as young as 9 picking up the rules within a few minutes and getting fully into it
- Works across mixed groups, one reviewer specifically bought it for friends with very different game preferences, from heavy strategy players to people who do not normally play games at all, and said it landed with everyone
- Packs into a small 66-card box, so it travels well and doubles as a stocking-sized gift
- Blank cards let a family bake in its own custom rules, which keeps the game from feeling the same every time
What holds it back
- The cards are printed to be read from one direction only, a reviewer pointed out that since play happens in a circle, whoever is reading the sequence upside down is at a real disadvantage
- Needs a minimum of three players, so it is not an option for a two-person household or a single kid playing with one parent
- A couple of reviewers noted the first round or two can feel slow while the group is still learning the rhythm, before the pace picks up
Is This For You?
Who Should (and Shouldn't) Buy This
Get it if…
your group leans toward games that reward speed, rhythm, and a little friendly sabotage over deep strategy, you want one box that can flex between a cooperative team mode and a competitive last-one-standing mode depending on who is playing, or you need a compact, travel-friendly game for three or more people ages 10 and up.
Skip it if…
you're shopping for just two players, since Coyote needs at least three people to work, or you want a game with real strategic depth rather than fast reflexes and rhythm. A player sitting across from the dealer being at a text-orientation disadvantage during the sequence is also worth knowing about going in.
The verdict
Coyote earns its 4.6-star average honestly: it is quick to learn, genuinely funny in practice, and the cooperative mode gives it more range than a typical party card game, see our best cooperative card games for kids guide for how it compares to similar picks. The one recurring complaint, one-directional card text that puts some players at a disadvantage around the table, is a real design nitpick rather than a dealbreaker. It is not a deep strategy game and it needs at least three players, so judge it against what it actually is: a fast, loud, easy-to-teach group game built for laughs rather than long-term replay depth.
What Real Buyers Say
“Good family fun that gets intense in a good way and is challenging once you get the hang of it, without taking long to learn. We play with our 9 and 12 year olds and they get the game play fine. It moves fast and keeps everyone's hands pounding the table between turns, a good way to keep devices out of the picture. Best ten bucks spent for family or game night with friends.”
United States · May 29, 2026
“Absolutely hilarious played with adults and older teens. Fun, easy but also hard at the same time, fast paced, and just about perfect. Would make a great gift for holidays or birthdays.”
United States · December 6, 2025
“Bought it to play with a mixed group, from friends who spend hours on heavy strategy games to friends who don't normally like games at all, and it was a hit with both. Fast, memory-driven, and full of friendly bluffing, with rounds around ten minutes long.”
United States · August 13, 2025
“Starts out slow and can feel too family-oriented at first, but stick with it: the more you play the faster and goofier it gets, and the players set their own pace. Everyone loosens up and ends up laughing, myself included. A good one to bring along anywhere, and fun to just watch being played too.”
United States · October 10, 2025
“I was excited about Tim Ferriss's involvement and like that it's family friendly, easy to learn, and creates a fun atmosphere. My main complaint is that the cards are only designed to be read from one direction, which is a real disadvantage for whoever is reading them upside down in what is usually a circle of players, feels like an easy fix that was missed. It also costs more per pack than some comparable card games.”
United States · August 15, 2025
“Felt like a nice idea that stayed just an idea, the instructions weren't clear and I ended up making up the rules.”
Italy · August 26, 2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Coyote's cooperative and competitive modes?
In competitive mode, players who break the growing action sequence are eliminated one by one until a single player is left standing. In cooperative mode, the whole group either succeeds or fails together on the same sequence, so it plays more like a team challenge than a head-to-head contest. The same 66-card deck supports both, so a group can switch modes depending on the night.
What age range is Coyote actually right for?
Amazon lists Coyote for ages 10 and up. It leans on quick reflexes, memory, and keeping a rhythm going, which younger kids can find harder to keep pace with, though several reviewers say kids around 9 picked it up without much trouble once an adult walked them through the first round.
How many people can play Coyote?
Coyote is built for 3 to 8 players. It needs at least three people for the sequence-building and sabotage mechanics to work, so it is not a fit for a two-player household looking for a head-to-head game.
How long does a round of Coyote take?
A round runs about 10 minutes, which is part of why reviewers describe it as an easy pick for a quick game-night filler or something to bring along on a trip.
What comes in the box?
The box includes a 66-card deck, with a handful of blank cards included so a family can write in its own custom actions or house rules for repeat plays.
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