Exploding Kittens

1 Overview

Exploding Kittens is a card game for 2 to 5 players (up to 9 with multiple decks) designed by Elan Lee, Shane Small, and Matthew Inman (The Oatmeal). Players draw cards trying to avoid the Exploding Kitten. If you draw one, you explode and are out of the game -- unless you have a Defuse card. The last player standing wins.

Exploding Kittens became the most-funded Kickstarter game in history at the time of its 2015 campaign. It plays in 15 minutes, requires no reading, and generates pure chaotic fun. Games are fast, losses are dramatic, and the card illustrations are hilarious.

2 Components (Base Game)

• 56 cards total:
  • 4 Exploding Kittens
  • 6 Defuse cards
  • 4 Attack cards
  • 5 Skip cards
  • 4 Favor cards
  • 5 Shuffle cards
  • 5 See the Future cards
  • 4 Nope cards
  • Various cat cards (pairs for stealing)

3 Setup

1. Remove all Exploding Kittens and Defuse cards from the deck.
2. Deal 7 cards to each player. Also give each player 1 Defuse card (so each starts with 8 cards).
3. Insert remaining Defuse cards into the deck (0 for 2-3 players, 2 for 4-5 players -- see card for exact guidance). Shuffle.
4. Insert Exploding Kittens back into the deck: one fewer than the number of players (e.g., 4 players = 3 Exploding Kittens).
5. Shuffle the whole deck thoroughly. Place it face-down as the draw pile.
6. Youngest player goes first.

4 Gameplay

1. On your turn, you may play any number of action cards from your hand (or none).
2. At the end of your turn, you MUST draw the top card from the deck.
3. If you draw an Exploding Kitten and have no Defuse card: you explode, show your hand, and are eliminated.
4. If you draw an Exploding Kitten and DO have a Defuse card: play the Defuse to survive, then secretly reinsert the Exploding Kitten anywhere in the deck (face-down). Your turn ends.
5. All other drawn cards go to your hand.

Nope cards can be played out of turn on any player's action card (including another Nope, creating a Nope chain). Nope cannot cancel Exploding Kittens or Defuse cards.

5 Card Types

6 Winning

Last player alive wins. Players are eliminated when they draw an Exploding Kitten without a Defuse card. With 4 players and 3 Exploding Kittens in the deck, eliminations happen quickly.

7 Strategy Guide

See the Future + Skip is the Core Combo

See the Future tells you if the top card is an Exploding Kitten. If it is, play a Skip to end your turn without drawing. This is the most reliable survival combo in the game. Hold both together when possible.

Place Kittens at the Bottom

When you Defuse and reinsert an Exploding Kitten, place it at the very bottom of the deck. This delays the threat as long as possible and is a valid psychological move -- opponents who know the bottom is dangerous may start playing Shuffles.

Nope Hoarding

Save Nope cards for high-value targets: Attacks aimed at you, Favors that would strip your Defuse, or another player's See the Future when you know where a Kitten is. Wasting a Nope on a low-stakes card leaves you exposed.

Target the Defuse-Rich

Use Favor and cat pair cards to steal from players you suspect have multiple Defuse cards. Taking their Defuse dramatically improves your odds of surviving to the final two.

8 FAQ