I've been waiting for this day ever since the project was announced on Kickstarter and now, after lots of game sessions, it's finally time to review the addictive game... Exploding Kittens.
The game is created by Elan Lee (Xbox, ARGs), Matthew Inman (The Oatmeal), and Shane Small (Xbox, Marvel). I will be honest here, I bought the cards because of The Oatmeal’s unique style and creativity. I’ve been a fan ever since I discovered him while searching for some grammar corrections. Also, this is my first backed-up project on Kickstarter.
The packaging
I ordered the combo package (basic + NSFW decks). I received them via Blackbox. The boxes are very nicely assembled - they include the cards and the rules. I also received a customized comic-strip letter which is a nice touch. Moreover, the basic set includes a special surprise - a Taco Cat mechanism which meows every time you open the box (a bit disappointed here, because the mechanism is a bit cheap looking and it doesn’t work all the time - maybe next time, kittens!).
Gameplay
I will not talk about it. They did a excellent job explaining how the game works. Just watch the video below:
Instead, I will talk about the game’s side effects. If you thought you had friends, well, you can forget about it. Your closest friends will transform into card-stabbing-hungry-evil-doers and they will try to explode you directly or using tactics, while your "couple" friends transform into a two-headed-sneaky-hydra. Yes, couples are the worst. They promise not to work together, but let’s be honest - that never works or none of them won’t get any tonight. Right? And that’s the beauty of it. Just like Cards Against Humanity, the game encourages you to explore your evil side in a fun, creative and strategic way in order to survive and win the game. It's that awesome.
The NSFW version
The Not-Safe-For-Work version extends the game. You can play up to ten players while at the same time you can enjoy a new and kinky line of Oatmeal illustrations (although some of them I found to be a bit too safe for a NSFW package). You can find some examples in the gallery below.
Conclusion
I truly recommend you stop wasting time and subscribe for pre-order if you missed the first line of production. It’s a must-have for all evil-cardboard-games-dark-humour-loving fans out there.
Final Rating
Awesomedary ★★★★★
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