Exploding Kittens review: chaotic card game is a hit with all ages

Price on writing: £20 | Buy now from Amazon | Buy now from Zatu Games | Buy now from Waterstones

Our verdict

“Why can’t all the games Mummy tests be this good?”

That’s the verdict of my five-year-old, who has developed nothing less than an obsession with Exploding Kittens over the past few weeks.

And she’s not alone. Deceptively simple, yet endearingly funny, thanks to the original illustrations on the cards, Exploding Kittens has become a firm favourite with Mumsnetters in recent years.

It’s pretty popular with the Mumsnet team too, as MN editor Jenny Wonnacott says: "We've been taking our pack on family holidays for years - our nine-year-old became a recent convert last summer - and even after playing it every night for the best part of a week, it's still fun, surprising and fast-paced. Its small size makes it a breeze to pack and there aren't any little parts to lose."

While the RRP of £20 is expensive for a card game, if you end up playing Exploding Kittens as often as I have over this last fortnight, you will agree that it’s money well spent.

Read next: Check out our guides to the best toys for four-year-olds, five-year-olds, six-year-olds, seven-year-olds, eight-year-olds, nine-year-olds and 10-year-olds.

How we tested

I played Exploding Kittens with my extended family and it was put through its paces by four adults, all aged in their 40s and 50s, my two kids, aged five and seven, and my grown-up nieces, aged 18 and 20. The game was rated on how easy it was to set up and play, its replayability and whether it represented good value for money.

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Is Exploding Kittens easy to set up?

Yes, Exploding Kittens is easy to set up. The four Exploding Kitten cards are removed from the deck and set aside. All six Defuses cards are also taken from the pack and one is dealt to each player. Two Defuses are then reintroduced into the pack and everything is given a good old shuffle. Seven cards are dealt face down to each player. Enough Exploding Kittens are inserted back into the deck so there is one fewer than the number of people playing. Then the fun begins.

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How do you play Exploding Kittens?

The aim of the game is to avoid the Exploding Kitten cards hidden within the deck. If you explode, you lose. The Defuse cards will prevent you from exploding, but other players will be doing their best to relieve you of your precious Defuse card. All the other cards - including Nope, Skip, Attack, Shuffle and more - will help lessen the chance of you exploding. Often described as Russian Roulette with cats, don’t be fooled - it’s a game of strategy, rather than luck.

Once you start playing Exploding Kittens, it’s very easy to pick up. The game is aimed at players aged seven and up, but my five-year-old was able to grasp the rules pretty quickly and can play the game (and often win!) on her own, without any help from an adult. She thrives on chaos, so a game featuring exploding felines and laser beams is right up her street.

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Is Exploding Kittens a good family game?

As long as your family appreciates the surrealist humour of Exploding Kittens, it’s a great game that can be played again and again with all the family. My five-year-old was able to play one-on-one with her 20-year-old cousin and could keep up when playing against a larger number of older players too.

The neat packaging means it is easy to slip Exploding Kittens into hand luggage and suitcases to make a great travel game when you go away, but it will also elicit a few chuckles as a great after-dinner game on Christmas day.

If you are already a veteran of the game, then why not try some of the alternative Exploding Kittens games, including the Exploding Kittens Party Pack for up to 10 players, the definitely not child-friendly Exploding Kittens NSFW edition, Exploding Minions for a bit of variety, and Exploding Kittens Good Vs Evil, which is tipped to be one of the best Christmas toys for 2024.

Looking for a Christmas gift for a younger child? Check out our guides to the best toys for 2-year-olds and the best toys for 3-year-olds, featuring products tried, tested and recommended by Mumsnet parents.

About the author

Laura Cooke is a Content Editor at Mumsnet, with a special focus on child’s play, outdoor play and toddler play content.

Laura started writing Swears By articles for Mumsnet in 2021, writing buyers' guides and product reviews to help Mumsnetters make informed choices when it comes to parting with their pennies.

Laura is also a freelance journalist and has written articles for publications including the Daily Mirror, the i, Metro, Stylist and Happiful magazine.

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