Exploding Kittens: Choosing an Edition, Player Counts, Expansions and Party Packs

Exploding Kittens is a card game publisher that began with one hugely successful crowdfunded game of the same name, illustrated by The Oatmeal. The Exploding Kittens shop now sells many editions of that original game, expansions, and a growing list of other party and family games.

The range is bigger than most people expect, and similar-looking boxes play very differently. A good Exploding Kittens order comes down to matching the edition to your group's size and age, and deciding whether you need an expansion at all.

The original game and its editions

Exploding Kittens is a fast card game of luck and light strategy: players draw until someone draws an exploding kitten and is out, unless they can defuse it. A game takes about fifteen minutes and the rules fit on a short sheet.

That simplicity is why Exploding Kittens works for groups who do not usually play board games. It is less satisfying for players who want long strategic games, who may prefer one of the other titles below.

The standard Exploding Kittens edition suits family play. There is also an NSFW edition with adult humour, clearly labelled, which is not for children. A two-player version exists for couples, and themed editions change the artwork and some cards.

Read the box description on each Exploding Kittens product page before buying. The title alone does not always make the content rating obvious.

Player counts and the party pack

The base Exploding Kittens deck plays best with a small group, around two to five players. Larger groups need the Party Pack, which contains more cards and supports many more players in one game.

If you regularly play with six or more, buy the Party Pack rather than combining two base decks. It is balanced for bigger groups and usually costs less than two separate boxes.

Expansions: when they are worth it

Exploding Kittens sells expansions such as Imploding Kittens and Streaking Kittens, which add new cards and twists and often raise the player count by one. They need the base game to play.

Add an expansion once your group knows the base game well and wants variety. For new players, the base game alone is simpler and more fun. Check that the expansion suits your edition; most are designed for the original deck.

Other Exploding Kittens games

Exploding Kittens publishes other games that fit different occasions. Throw Throw Burrito is a physical, noisy game with squishy burritos that suits families and parties. Poetry for Neanderthals is a word-guessing game for groups. Bears vs Babies is a monster-building card game.

Think about the players. Young children and mixed-age families tend to enjoy the physical and simple games; adults may prefer the word and bluffing games. Each Exploding Kittens product page states an age range and player count.

Gifts and bundles

Exploding Kittens games make easy gifts because they are cheap, quick to learn and portable. The Exploding Kittens shop often sells bundles pairing a base game with an expansion or two games together, which usually saves money over buying separately.

Before buying a bundle as a gift, check whether the recipient already owns the base game. An expansion without the base deck is useless on its own.

Some Exploding Kittens gift editions come in special packaging or collectable tins. They play the same as the standard box, so pay the premium only when presentation matters to the recipient.

Order gifts early in December. Popular Exploding Kittens editions can sell out before the holidays, and delivery is slower in the last weeks of the year.

Shipping and returns

Shipping costs depend on your country and basket size, and free-shipping thresholds appear at times. Unopened games are generally returnable within a set window; opened games often are not. Check the current Exploding Kittens policy before ordering.

Where the Exploding Kittens savings are

The 25% code is the strongest Exploding Kittens discount here. Try it first on a bundle or a basket of several games, where the saving is largest.

The 20% code is the everyday fallback. On a single base game the difference between 20% and 25% is small, so use whichever the Exploding Kittens checkout accepts.

The 10% code is the last resort for a small order, or for items that exclude the bigger codes.

Exploding Kittens codes generally do not stack with each other or with bundle pricing. Compare a bundle at its set price with the individual games plus a code; sometimes separate games with 25% off come out cheaper.

Common questions

Which Exploding Kittens edition is best for families?

The standard edition. Avoid the NSFW edition with children.

How many players can play Exploding Kittens?

The base deck suits a small group. Buy the Party Pack for large groups.

Do Exploding Kittens expansions need the base game?

Yes. Expansions add cards to the original deck and cannot be played alone.

Do Exploding Kittens codes work on bundles?

Sometimes. Test the code at checkout and compare the total.