View source for Exploding Kittens

{{short description|2015 American card game}}
{{About|the card game|the TV series|Exploding Kittens (TV series)}}
{{italic title}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox game
| title         = ''Exploding Kittens''
| subtitle      = 
| image_link    = Exploding Kittens.png
| image_caption = 
| width         = 
| label_width   = 
| manufacturer  = 
| designer      = [[Elan Lee]] and Shane Small
| illustrator   = The Oatmeal
| actor         = 
| voice_over    = 
| publisher     = The Oatmeal
| date          = July 2015
| years         = 
| genre         = [[Card game]]
| language      = English
| system        = 
| players       = 2–5
| blank_label = Ages
| blank_data = 7+
| setup_time    = < 1 minute
| playing_time  = 15 minutes
| random_chance = Medium
| skills        = 
| media_type    = 
| web           = {{URL|explodingkittens.com}}
| footnotes     = 
}}

'''''Exploding Kittens''''' is a casual [[dedicated deck card game]] designed by Matthew Inman of ''[[The Oatmeal]]'' [[webcomic]], [[Elan Lee]] and Shane Small, and first published in 2015. Beginning as a [[Kickstarter]] project seeking US$10,000 in [[crowdfunding]], it exceeded its goal in eight minutes.<ref name="newsweek1">{{Cite web |last=Kooser |first=Amanda |title=But why blow up cats? Inman gives inside scoop on Exploding Kittens |publisher=CNET |accessdate=February 4, 2015 |url=http://www.cnet.com/uk/news/exploding-kittens-card-game-annihilates-kickstarter-goal/}}</ref>

On January 27, 2015, after seven days, it passed 103,000 backers, setting the record for the most backers in Kickstarter history. At completion on February 19, 2015, it had US$8,782,571 in pledges by 219,382 backers. The campaign ended as the fourth most-funded campaign on the crowdfunding site.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Most Funded Kickstarter projects |work=Kickstarter |accessdate=February 13, 2015 |url=https://www.kickstarter.com/discover/most-funded}}</ref>

The first playtest of ''Exploding Kittens'' was recorded on [[YouTube]] by [[Smosh Games]], who had the first deck.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/yhsgYhUDA_M Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20150217010319/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhsgYhUDA_M Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhsgYhUDA_M| title = EXPLODING KITTENS IS HERE! (Game Bang) | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Delivery to backers started in late July 2015; all backers received the game by September 2015.<ref name=Kickstarter>{{cite web |title=Exploding Kittens by Elan Lee |url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elanlee/exploding-kittens |website=Kickstarter |accessdate=February 10, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Imam |first=Jareen |title='Exploding Kittens' most backed Kickstarter ever |date=January 28, 2015 |publisher=CNN |accessdate=January 29, 2015 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/28/homepage2/exploding-kittens-most-backed-kickstarter/index.html}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Vincent |first=James |title=Exploding Kittens becomes the most backed Kickstarter project of all time |work=The Verge |date=January 28, 2015 |accessdate=January 29, 2015 |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/1/28/7927121/exploding-kittens-most-backed-kickstarter-project-ever}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bischof |first=Jackie |title=A Card Game About Exploding Kittens Broke a Kickstarter Record |work=Newsweek |date=February 2, 2015 |accessdate=February 4, 2015 |url=http://www.newsweek.com/how-card-game-about-exploding-kittens-broke-kickstarter-record-303771}}</ref>

== Gameplay ==
{{One source|date=April 2024}}
[[File:Exploding Kittens game play test 01.JPG|thumb|right]]
All cards are put into a deck, except for the Defuse and Exploding Kitten cards. The deck is shuffled and each player draws four cards and takes a Defuse card (but in the newer version with extension packs each  player draws seven cards and a Defuse card). The Exploding Kitten cards are then shuffled back into the deck so that the number of Exploding Kitten cards in the deck is one less than the number of players. The remaining Defuse cards are then also put back in the deck. A turn order is decided upon any trivial condition.

Each player may then play as many cards from their hand as they like on their turn, or choose not to do so, before drawing a card. Players are not to tell any other player what cards are in their hand. Played cards are put into a discard pile.

If a player draws an Exploding Kitten card, they must show it immediately and they are out of the game unless they have a Defuse card. The last player still in the game wins.<ref name=Kickstarter />

== Development ==
{{More citations needed section|date=July 2021}}
As of 2015, Exploding Kittens stood as the third-biggest campaign ever mounted on Kickstarter.<ref name="theg_Expl">{{Cite web |title=Exploding Kittens card game raises $8.8m on Kickstarter |last=Dredge |first=Stuart |work=The Guardian (UK) |date=February 23, 2015 |accessdate=March 4, 2015 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/feb/23/exploding-kittens-card-game-kickstarter}}</ref> It launched with an initial goal of US$10,000, but by the end of the first day, the campaign had raised $1,333,586 from nearly 35,000 backers. By day four, it had raised more than $3,500,000 from more than 91,000 backers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kicktraq.com/projects/elanlee/exploding-kittens/#chart-daily |work=Kicktraq |accessdate=March 17, 2015 |title=Kicktraq:Exploding Kittens}}</ref> Ultimately, it raised $8.7 million from 219,382 backers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elanlee/exploding-kittens |title=Exploding Kittens |work=Kickstarter |accessdate=February 26, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/02/21/exploding_kittens_kickstarter_most_valuable_ever_8million/ |title=Kickstarter folk pay $8 MEELLION for joys of EXPLODING KITTENS |work=The Register |accessdate=February 26, 2015}}</ref>

On February 3, 2015, achievements were announced in lieu of stretch goals because the game designers did not want to delay production or distribution of the game to backers. As of February 16, 2015, 30 achievements had been unlocked and the second stretch goal (Unlock 20 Achievements) and third stretch goal (Unlock 30 Achievements) were completed. With the first stretch goal accomplished, the company expanded the NSFW deck to a full stand-alone game.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elanlee/exploding-kittens/posts/1128337 |title=Unstoppable |publisher=kickstarter.com |accessdate=February 26, 2015}}</ref> The second stretch goal gave all backers an upgraded storage box that holds two full decks of cards,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elanlee/exploding-kittens/posts/1131038 |title=We said "STRETCH" and you said "HOW FAR?" |publisher=kickstarter.com |accessdate=February 26, 2015}}</ref> and the third and final stretch goal includes a Kickstarter-exclusive surprise in the box.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elanlee/exploding-kittens/posts/1137509 |title=YOU DID IT! LET'S PARTY! |publisher=kickstarter.com |accessdate=February 26, 2015}}</ref>

Exploding Kittens began shipping to backers in late July 2015.

=== Game conventions ===
At the 2018 [[South by Southwest|South by SouthWest]] festival, Exploding Kittens maintained a booth that displayed merchandise and had interactive components such as a large kitten human vending machine.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harrison |first=Will |date=March 17, 2018 |title=Five things we loved at SXSW Gaming 2018 |work=Austin American Statesman |url=https://www.512tech.com/technology/five-things-loved-sxsw-gaming-2018/GxrM4xI1treXEqA2fAWmWN/ |access-date=March 28, 2018 |archive-date=March 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328041034/https://www.512tech.com/technology/five-things-loved-sxsw-gaming-2018/GxrM4xI1treXEqA2fAWmWN/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Expansions ==
Expanding on the base game of Exploding Kittens, multiple [[expansion packs]] have been released, which require a copy of a Exploding Kittens base game to play. These packs add additional cards, new mechanics, and often new gimmicks to the game

The First Expansion, "Imploding Kittens", was released in October 2016. It increased the top number of players from five to six and added 20 new cards.<ref>{{cite web |url=  https://www.ultraboardgames.com/exploding-kittens/imploding-kittens.php |title= Imploding Kittens Game Rules |author= |date= |format= |work=  Ultra Board Games |accessdate=  September 20, 2019 |quote=  
}}</ref>  It introduced the cards/mechanics of Alter the Future, Draw from the Bottom, and Reverse from the mobile game, and the new Imploding Kitten card/mechanic.

Next, the "Streaking Kittens" pack was released on October 9, 2018. Its 15 new cards/mechanics included Mark, Swap Top and Bottom, Catomic Bomb, Curse of the Cat Butt, Garbage Collector, Super Skip, and the Streaking Kitten.<ref>{{cite tweet|number=1018945476832313344|user=gameofkittens|title=Happy #PrimeDay2018The latest expansion of Exploding Kittens is now available for preorder. 15 game-changing card…<!-- full text of tweet that Twitter returned to the bot (excluding links) added by TweetCiteBot. This may be better truncated or may need expanding (TW limits responses to 140 characters) or case changes. --> |date=July 16, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://shop.explodingkittens.com/collections/all/products/streaking-kittens-expansion-of-exploding-kittens|title = STREAKING KITTENS: Expansion}}</ref>

The "Barking Kittens" expansion was released on June 5, 2020. Its 20 cards introduced Bury, Alter the Future Now, I'll Take That, Share the Future, Tower of Power, Personal Attack (3x), Potluck and Barking Kittens.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://shop.explodingkittens.com/collections/featured-stuff/products/barking-kittens-expansion-pack|title = BARKING KITTENS: Expansion}}</ref>

The final expansion released in this format was "Zombie Kittens", however, this pack was quickly replaced by the standalone version of the game.

=== Variant editions ===
Variant decks for Exploding Kittens have been released which replace the base game with a new set of cards, which can be played on its own as a standalone game, or (in some cases) can be mixed and implemented with each other and the expansions into one larger game.

A "NSFW" version of the base game was released, with the same mechanics of the base game, just with updated NSFW artwork, along with replacing the standard cats with new variants, such as Bikini Cat & Shy Bladder Cat.

"Zombie Kittens" was next released as a full standalone game, which added new mechanics to allow those previously eliminated players to continue playing once exploded.

“Exploding Kittens Good Versus Evil” released in conjunction with the Netflix show, adding new mechanics linked to the characters of God Cat & Devil Cat, with new graphics in the Defuse cards, and an "Armageddon" card that links to the new God Cat & Devil Cat cards. 

"Exploding Kittens: UK Edition" released as another reskin of the base game, just with British references and jokes.

"2-Player Edition" released as a grab and go style game, having a cut back version of the standard deck, providing a travel version of the game.

"Cat Burglar Edition" added a collectible squishy Cat Burglar figure with new mechanics. 

"10th Anniversary Edition" has just been revealed in a collectible tin box with cards originally launched on Kickstarter. 

"Exploding Kittens: The Board Game" is the first board game version. The board completely transforms: In this family game, your goal is to make it to the end of the board without exploding. But one wrong move can cause the board to flip, revealing a whole new path where every move could be your last. "Exploding Kittens: The Board Game" won the TOTY Game of the Year award in 2026. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Langsworthy |first=Billy |date=2026-02-23 |title=2026 TOTY winners revealed |url=https://www.mojo-nation.com/2026-toty-winners-revealed/ |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=Mojo Nation |language=en-GB}}</ref>

=== Expanded versions ===
Expanded versions of the game have been released, with the main purpose of providing more cards to make the game last longer.

On July 30, 2017, the "Exploding Kittens Party Pack" went on sale exclusively at [[Target Corporation|Target]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Formichelli |first=Linda |date=2017-07-28 |title=Target Unleashes Over 50 New Exclusive Games For The 2017 Holiday Season |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lindaformichelli/2017/07/28/target-unleashes-over-50-new-exclusive-games-for-the-2017-holiday-season/#75dda79b5af5 |access-date=2017-08-02 |website=Forbes}}</ref> The party pack is an update to the original game that allows for up to 10 players. It removes the Attack card/mechanic and replaces it with the Slap mechanic from the mobile game. The mechanics introduced in the Imploding Kittens expansion are also included. The Exploding Kittens display at Target stores also contained a hidden shelf containing an update for the [[Cards Against Humanity]] game dubbed the Hidden Compartment Pack. This pack contains five cards of the new mechanic, Blind as a Bat, and 15 new white CAH cards.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-07-28 |title=Secret shelf |url=https://imgur.com/Wx45V5Y |access-date=2018-04-25 |website=Imgur}}</ref>

Following this, a version called “Exploding Kittens: Recipes for Disaster” which provides a greatest hits of cards from many of the previously mentioned games best mechanics into a game with 121 cards, and provides "Recipes" for different cards to use in different decks to play variations of the game. This version can also be played with the other decks, however this is recommended against.

=== Mobile versions ===
Microsoft's [[Zo (bot)|Zo chatbot]] offered a single-player version of Exploding Kittens.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://venturebeat.com/2017/09/13/microsofts-zo-bot-wants-to-play-exploding-kittens-with-you/|title = Microsoft's Zo bot wants to play Exploding Kittens with you|date = September 13, 2017|access-date = May 6, 2018|archive-date = May 7, 2018|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180507090004/https://venturebeat.com/2017/09/13/microsofts-zo-bot-wants-to-play-exploding-kittens-with-you/|url-status = dead}}</ref>

In January 2016, a multiplayer version of the game was released on the [[iOS]] platform with new content not found in the original game.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/01/21/the-wacky-exploding-kittens-debuts-on-mobile-with-ios-game/ |title=The Oatmeal's wacky Exploding Kittens debuts on mobile with iOS game |date=January 21, 2016 |publisher=VentureBeat |accessdate=January 21, 2016 |archive-date=October 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191027151807/https://venturebeat.com/2016/01/21/the-wacky-exploding-kittens-debuts-on-mobile-with-ios-game/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In April 2016, the mobile version was also released onto the [[Android (operating system)|Android]] platform, and allowed for [[cross-platform play]] between all mobile versions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2016/04/20/exploding-kittens-is-now-on-android/|title='Exploding Kittens' is now on Android|work=Engadget|date=April 20, 2016|accessdate=April 22, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.techtimes.com/articles/152304/20160421/exploding-kittens-now-available-on-android-new-cats-hilarity-and-more.htm|title='Exploding Kittens' Now Available On Android: New Cats, Hilarity And More|work=Tech Times|date=April 21, 2016|access-date=April 22, 2016}}</ref> It was also available on [[Nintendo Switch]].

The Attack, Nope and Favor cards from the original card game were not released in the mobile versions on iOS and Android.{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}}

A free-to-play mobile game "Exploding Kittens - The Game" was announced in April 2022. It was launched on May 31 by [[Netflix]].<ref name="THR">{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/exploding-kittens-animated-series-mobile-game-coming-to-netflix-1235130935/|title='Exploding Kittens' Animated Series, Mobile Game Coming to Netflix|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=April 18, 2022|access-date=April 18, 2022}}</ref><ref name="Idhun">{{cite press release|url=https://about.netflix.com/en/news/all-the-new-mobile-games-coming-to-netflix-in-may|title=All the New Mobile Games Coming to Netflix in May|date=May 24, 2022|website=Netflix Media Center}}</ref> The game is available to its users at no additional cost and has no in-app purchases.<ref name="THR"/>

== TV series adaptation ==
{{Main|Exploding Kittens (TV series)}}

In April 2022, an adult animated television series was also announced by [[Netflix]] and was co-produced by [[Bandera Entertainment]] and [[Chernin Entertainment]], with ''[[King of the Hill]]'' creators [[Mike Judge]] and [[Greg Daniels]] serving as executive producers, alongside [[Peter Chernin]].<ref name="THR"/> Additional [[game mechanics]] and cards tied to the show will be added to the mobile game at a later date.<ref name="THR"/>

The series had a first-look preview at the [[Annecy International Animation Film Festival]] on June 14, 2023.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thewrap.com/netflix-annecy-film-festival-nimona-chicken-run-2/ |title=Netflix to Debut Official First Looks at 'Nimona,' 'Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget' at This Year's Annecy |website=[[TheWrap]] |last=Taylor |first=Drew |date=April 24, 2023 |access-date=April 24, 2023}}</ref> A teaser trailer was released on November 11, 2023,<ref name="ek-trailer-11nov2023">{{cite web |last1=Inman |first1=Matthew |title=Exploding Kittens: Official Teaser Trailer |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TojtfL-l-aA |publisher=[[YouTube]] |access-date=November 11, 2023 |date=November 11, 2023}}</ref> followed by a full trailer in May 2024.<ref name="avc-9may2024">{{cite news |last1=Carr |first1=Mary Kate |title=Netflix's Exploding Kittens trailer is about as random as you'd expect |url=https://www.avclub.com/netflix-exploding-kittens-trailer-tom-ellis-mike-judge-1851466422 |access-date=May 9, 2024 |work=[[AV Club]] |date=May 9, 2024}}</ref><ref name="ek-yt-9may2024">{{cite web |author1=[[Netflix]] |title=Exploding Kittens - Official Trailer |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3F0Nt6ssLU |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=May 9, 2024 |date=May 9, 2024}}</ref> Originally planned for a late 2023 release,<ref name="THR"/> the premiere was postponed to July 12, 2024.<ref name="avc-9may2024" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/exploding-kittens-teaser-unveils-tom-ellis-as-god-in-cat-form|title=Exploding Kittens Teaser Unveils Tom Ellis as God in Cat Form|last=Reul|first=Kate|website=[[IGN]]|date=November 11, 2023|access-date=November 11, 2023}}</ref>

== Additional games ==
The Exploding Kittens team has since used the name of their original game as a brand, and continues to create additional games, including ''[[Poetry for Neanderthals]]''<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Takahashi |first=Dean |date=2020-06-22 |title=Exploding Kittens launches Zoom-based word-guessing game Poetry for Neanderthals |url=https://venturebeat.com/business/exploding-kittens-launches-zoom-based-word-guessing-game-poetry-for-neanderthals/ |access-date=2024-08-06 |website=[[VentureBeat]] |archive-date=August 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240807050025/https://venturebeat.com/business/exploding-kittens-launches-zoom-based-word-guessing-game-poetry-for-neanderthals/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and ''[[Throw Throw Burrito]]''.<ref name=":02">{{Cite magazine |last=Crecente |first=Brian |date=2019-02-26 |title=Latest From 'Exploding Kittens' Creators Tosses Burritos, Players Into Mix |url=https://variety.com/2019/gaming/news/throw-throw-burrito-interview-stretch-goals-1203150151/ |access-date=2023-09-27 |magazine=Variety Magazine}}</ref> The team launched a line for kids called "Kitten Games" and their game "Hurry Up Chicken Butt" won Good Housekeeping's 2024 Best Toy Award. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-17 |title=We Tested Hundreds of Toys to Find the Only Ones Worth Buying This Year |url=https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/childrens-products/toy-reviews/a62267877/best-toy-awards-2024/ |access-date=2026-05-05 |website=Good Housekeeping |language=en-US}}</ref>

== In other media ==
[[Zen Studios]] released an ''Exploding Kittens'' pinball table for [[Pinball FX (2023 video game)|''Pinball FX'']] on December 7, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Square |first=Push |date=2023-11-28 |title=It's Going to Be a Big Few Days for Virtual Pinball Fans on PS5, PS4 |url=https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2023/11/its-going-to-be-a-big-few-days-for-virtual-pinball-fans-on-ps5-ps4 |access-date=2025-01-08 |website=Push Square |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Official website|explodingkittens.com}}
* {{bgg title|172225}}
* [https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/elanlee/exploding-kittens Exploding Kittens] at [[Kickstarter]]

[[Category:Exploding Kittens games| ]]
[[Category:Dedicated deck card games]]
[[Category:Card games introduced in 2015]]
[[Category:Kickstarter-funded tabletop games]]
[[Category:Netflix games]]