Exploding Kittens
Exploding Kittens Original Edition Card Game
A high-stakes card game for 2 to 5 players, 15 minutes to play: draw cards, betray your friends, and try not to explode. The flagship game that built the Exploding Kittens brand, see our full Exploding Kittens guide for the rest of the lineup.
See current price on AmazonAbout Exploding Kittens Original
Exploding Kittens was designed by Elan Lee, Shane Small, and Matthew Inman, the cartoonist behind the webcomic The Oatmeal. The three launched the game on Kickstarter in January 2015, where it funded its goal within minutes and went on to set a record for the number of backers in the platform's history at the time, becoming one of the most-funded campaigns ever run on Kickstarter. Inman's Oatmeal studio illustrated the cards, which is why the artwork has that same offbeat, slightly irreverent cartoon style Oatmeal readers will recognize.
The game itself plays like a card-based version of Russian roulette. Everyone starts with a hand of cards, including one Defuse card, and on a turn you can play as many action cards as you like (skip your turn, force the next player to draw twice, peek at the top of the deck, and more) before drawing from the deck. Pull an Exploding Kitten and you are out, unless you can play a Defuse card to neutralize it and slide the bomb back into the deck for someone else to find later. The deck always has one fewer Exploding Kitten than there are players, so someone is guaranteed to survive to the end.
For a parent sizing this up as a gift, the appeal is how fast a round moves (most games wrap up in five to fifteen minutes) and how little setup or rules explanation it needs before kids are playing on their own. It is a strong pick for family game night, and if it clicks with your crew, our Exploding Kittens buying guide walks through how the rest of the card game line stacks up against this original edition.
The Honest Take
What We Like and What We Don't
What we like
- Genuinely fun across ages, reviewers with kids around 8 to 11 say it has stayed their go-to game for years, not just a novelty that gets played once and shelved
- Fast to teach and fast to play, most rounds take five to fifteen minutes, which reviewers compare favorably to Uno for how quickly new players catch on
- Card art and humor have real personality thanks to Matthew Inman's Oatmeal-style illustrations, several reviewers call out how quirky and funny the cards are
- Solid production quality for the price, more than one reviewer described the cards and box as a pleasant surprise
What holds it back
- The humor and illustrations lean cheeky and a little edgy, one reviewer called it "the teensiest bit rude," worth a quick look before buying for a sensitive or very young child
- The base deck has a limited variety of action cards, one detailed reviewer specifically wished for more variety after multiple plays
- A few buyers were surprised the box and cards are smaller in person than they expected from the photos
Is This For You?
Who Should (and Shouldn't) Buy This
Get it if…
you want a fast, funny card game that teaches itself in one round and holds up for repeat family game nights, especially with kids around age seven and up who already enjoy games like Uno. It also travels well since a full round takes well under fifteen minutes.
Skip it if…
you are shopping for a young or easily unsettled child who might not enjoy the game's cheeky, slightly irreverent humor and cartoon peril, or if you want a game with a large variety of cards and mechanics that keeps unlocking new strategy over dozens of plays. Serious strategy gamers may also find it too light and luck-driven to hold their interest long term.
The verdict
Exploding Kittens earns its reputation as a reliable family card game: it teaches in one round, plays fast, and holds up for repeat game nights with kids around age seven and up. It will not satisfy players chasing deep strategy or a huge variety of card types, and the artwork's cheeky sense of humor is worth previewing if you are buying for an easily rattled child. For most families looking for something to pull out instead of screens, it delivers exactly what it promises. See how it compares with the rest of the line in our Exploding Kittens buying guide.
What Real Buyers Say
“Fun for the whole family, high quality, and just an overall nice way to spend time together.”
United States · June 16, 2026
“My kids love this game, they are always laughing when we play. We bring it to family parties for their cousins too, everyone loves it.”
United States · July 7, 2026
“So many laughs playing this with my boys. It has been our go-to game since they were 10 and 11, and three years later they still love it. It is clever, and this is our favorite version of the game.”
United States · June 25, 2026
“A nice surprise, simple and easy to get into while still leaving room for real strategy. Each player starts with four cards plus a Defuse card and can play as many action cards as they want before drawing. My kids (8 and 11) had no trouble learning it, each round takes about five minutes, similar to Uno. My only wish was a bigger variety of cards, and note that a Defuse cannot be blocked with a Nope card, we learned that the hard way.”
United States · December 30, 2015
“This game is fun. If you like the artist's webcomic you will enjoy it even more, though you do not need to know the source material. It sounds complicated at first but is actually simple and quick, with a lot of laughs. The card illustrations are quirky and a little strange, the teensiest bit rude but funny rather than offensive. It plays two to five people, buy a second deck if your group is bigger.”
United States · January 4, 2016
“I was expecting something bigger for the price, the box and cards looked larger in the photos than they are in person.”
Turkey · November 19, 2022
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Exploding Kittens appropriate for?
The box lists it for ages 7 and up, and reviewers report kids as young as 8 catching on quickly. The card art does have a cheeky, slightly edgy sense of humor, so it is worth a quick look if you are buying for a sensitive younger child.
How many players can play?
The Original Edition supports 2 to 5 players out of the box. Reviewers note that buying a second deck lets larger groups join in.
How long does a game take?
A typical round takes about 5 to 15 minutes, which is one of the reasons reviewers call it a good fit for travel or a quick game before bed.
What comes in the box?
The Original Edition includes the full deck of illustrated cards, Exploding Kittens, Defuse cards, and action cards, plus a rulebook, enough to run games for 2 to 5 players.
Is the game too intense or scary for younger kids?
It is not graphic or frightening, the exploding theme is played for cartoon comedy rather than horror. The illustration style is quirky and occasionally a little cheeky, so it is worth previewing the art if you are buying for a very young or easily unsettled child.
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Main Guide
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Best Exploding Kittens Card Games
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