Card Games
How to play Exploding Kittens
Avoid exploding and remain the last player in the game.
QUICK ANSWER
How do you play Exploding Kittens?
Play any number of cards or none. End the turn by drawing one card. Use a Defuse after drawing an Exploding Kitten, then secretly return the kitten to the deck. Continue until only one player remains.
Jump to the step-by-step rules ↓EDITOR'S TABLE NOTES
Is Exploding Kittens a good fit for your group?
This game works especially well for groups that want a portable game with quick turns and rules that become clearer after the first deal; the listed 2–5-player range and 15 min playing time should also fit the group. Before setting up, decide whether that matches the experience your group wants today.
Rules version covered here
This guide uses the common casual version played with the materials listed below. Card-game traditions vary, so agree on dealing, scoring, and optional rules before the first hand. For Exploding Kittens, pay particular attention to the stated setup and ending condition below.
QUICK VIDEO GUIDE
Learn Exploding Kittens in under a minute
About this video
This original mini lesson covers what you need, setup, normal play, the winning condition, and one beginner tip. Continue below for the complete written guide.
INTERACTIVE LEARN-TO-PLAY
Practice Exploding Kittens before the first round
Walk through the setup, try a sample turn, and get a quick answer when play stalls.
Remove enough Exploding Kitten cards to leave one fewer than the players.
Give each player a Defuse card, deal hands, and shuffle the remaining cards.
Playable example turn
Step 1 of 4
Play any number of cards or none.
What should we do now?
Start with this action: Play any number of cards or none.
Scoring and winning
Continue until only one player remains.
Common dispute to prevent
Drawing before playing an intended action. Agree on any edition-specific variation before the first turn.
The objective
Your goal is to avoid exploding and remain the last player in the game. Before play begins, make sure every player can explain how the game ends and what determines the winner. That one check prevents many mid-game disagreements.
What you need
An Exploding Kittens deck. Lay out every required item before teaching the rules. If pieces, cards, controllers, or play space are missing, resolve that before the practice turn.
How to set up
- Remove enough Exploding Kitten cards to leave one fewer than the players.
- Give each player a Defuse card, deal hands, and shuffle the remaining cards.
Setup check: Ask one player who did not arrange the game to compare the table, field, or screen with these steps. A fresh look often catches an incorrect starting position.
How to play: step by step
- Play any number of cards or none.
- End the turn by drawing one card.
- Use a Defuse after drawing an Exploding Kitten, then secretly return the kitten to the deck.
- Continue until only one player remains.
Example first round
A useful first-round walkthrough for Exploding Kittens begins this way: Play any number of cards or none. Next, end the turn by drawing one card. Continue in normal turn order until the ending condition applies: continue until only one player remains.
How scoring and winning work
- The result is determined by the guide's stated objective: Avoid exploding and remain the last player in the game.
- The final step explains when play stops: Continue until only one player remains.
- For the most common rules question, use this clarification consistently: Yes, before drawing.
Useful variations
- For younger learners, keep hands visible during a practice deal and remove the score until turn order is familiar.
- For a shorter session, announce a stopping time before starting; 15 min is the normal planning range for Exploding Kittens.
- When playing with beginners, demonstrate this strategy before scoring begins: Save a Defuse when possible.
Beginner strategies
- Save a Defuse when possible.
- Use information cards before deciding whether to draw.
Choose one of these ideas for the first game instead of trying to remember every strategy at once. Afterward, identify one decision that changed the result and one move you would test next time.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Drawing before playing an intended action.
- Showing where an Exploding Kitten was returned.
If an illegal move is discovered, pause and agree on the least disruptive correction. For casual play, consistency and a shared understanding matter more than reconstructing many turns.
Frequently asked questions
Can you play several cards?
Yes, before drawing.
What if you draw an Exploding Kitten without a Defuse?
You are eliminated.
Related card games guides
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