The Indian edition by Bored Game CompanyPhoto: Bored Game Company
The back of the boxPhoto: Bored Game Company
What's in the box: one deck of cardsPhoto: Bored Game Company
Card art by The OatmealPhoto: Bored Game Company
The three kinds of cardsPhoto: Crossword
Video

Party game

Exploding Kittens

Draw cards, dodge the exploding kitten, survive to the end

2–5players · best with 4-5
15–20 minplaying time
7+recommended age
Learning curve
Very easy1 / 5
EasyDemanding
Luck & skill
More luck than skill
LuckSkill
Interaction
High
Set-up
About 2 min
Reading
Some

The quick verdict

Full verdict ↓

Great for Mixed-age tables, because kids and grandparents can learn it in one round

Think twice if Someone at your table hates being knocked out early and waiting for the round to finish

How we rate it

Learning curve. Sits with UNO at 1 on our scale: play cards, then draw one. The only thing to learn is what each card does, and the cards say so.

Luck & skill. The draw decides a lot, but timing your Skips, Attacks and Nopes, and where you hide a defused kitten, does matter.

Interaction. Attacks, Favors, stolen cards and Nopes all hit other players, and you can plant a kitten right on top of the deck for the next player.

Set-up. Take out the Exploding Kittens and Defuses and deal everyone one Defuse. Shuffle 2 spare Defuses back in (1 with five players), deal seven cards each, then shuffle in one fewer kitten than there are players. It's the same every time; the first game only adds a minute to read the sheet.

Reading. Action cards have a short line of instructions plus a joke, in English; cat cards have no instructions. Children who can read simple English manage after one round.

Learning curve: 1 = UNO or Connect 4; 3 = Catan; 5 = a heavy strategy game. These describe the experience, not an overall score.

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Is Exploding Kittens right for you?

Great if

  • Mixed-age tables, because kids and grandparents can learn it in one round
  • Filling 15 minutes before dinner or between longer games
  • A light extra game for Diwali card nights
  • Travel, since it is just a small box of cards

Skip it if

  • Someone at your table hates being knocked out early and waiting for the round to finish
  • You want deep strategy, because the luck of the draw decides a lot
  • You regularly have more than 5 players and don't want to buy the Party Pack or an expansion

How Exploding Kittens plays

The goal is simple: be the last player who hasn't exploded. The deck hides Exploding Kittens, one fewer than the number of players, so every round someone gets knocked out until only one person is left.

  • Time to teach: about 5 minutes.
  • Reading and language: Card names and short instructions are in English. The jokes on the cards are in English too, but you only need to know what each card does, and that is easy to pick up after one round.

Exploding Kittens - How to Play · Exploding Kittens · Official

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A turn, step by step

  1. 1
    Play

    Play as many cards from your hand as you like, or none. Skip, Attack, See the Future, Shuffle and Favor help you dodge the kitten or trouble others. Anyone can play a Nope to cancel an action, even when it isn't their turn.

  2. 2
    Draw

    End your turn by drawing the top card of the deck. That draw is the scary part.

  3. 3
    Defuse

    If you draw an Exploding Kitten, play a Defuse and secretly slide the kitten back into the deck wherever you like. No Defuse means you explode and are out.

  4. 4
    Win

    The last player who hasn't exploded wins. A round takes about 15 minutes, so most groups play again straight away.

Read the official rules (PDF)Exploding Kittens Official Rulebook (Original Edition rule sheet) · English
The full explanation: how a game of Exploding Kittens goes

Everyone starts with a hand of seven cards plus one Defuse card. On your turn you can play as many cards from your hand as you like, or none at all. Then you must draw one card from the top of the deck, and that ends your turn.

If you draw an Exploding Kitten, you are out, unless you have a Defuse card. Play it, and you get to secretly slide the kitten back into the deck wherever you like. Putting it right near the top is a handy way to trap the next player.

The other cards help you avoid drawing or mess with your friends. Skip ends your turn without drawing. Attack makes the next player take two turns. See the Future lets you peek at the top three cards, Shuffle mixes the deck, and Favor makes someone give you a card. Nope cancels almost any action, even when it isn't your turn. A matching pair of cat cards lets you steal a random card from another player. Under the current rules any two cards with the same name work as a pair, and three of a kind lets you name the card you want.

A round usually lasts around 15 minutes, so most groups play several in a row and keep score informally.

What's in the box

What's in the box: one deck of cards · Photo: Bored Game Company
  • 4Exploding Kitten cards
    the deck always holds one fewer than the number of players
  • 6Defuse cards
    one dealt to each player; 2 spares go back into the deck (1 with five players), the rest stay in the box
  • 5Nope cards
  • 5See the Future cards
    peek at the top 3 cards
  • 4Attack cards
  • 4Skip cards
  • 4Favor cards
  • 4Shuffle cards
  • 20Cat cards
    5 kinds, 4 of each; no power alone, but a matching pair steals a card
  • 1Rule sheet
    2 pages, English

Box: 11.5 × 12 × 1.7 cm, 0.26 kg. Handy to know for gifting and travel.

Card counts are from the official Original Edition rule sheet ((c) 2025 Exploding Kittens), which Bored Game Company links from its product page; the same file is on explodingkittens.com. The counts add up to the 56 cards named on the sheet and on the Indian listings (one reads '1 Set of 56 Game Cards'). The rule sheet doesn't name the five cat cards. Not checked against a physical Indian box.

Where to buy

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How to make sure you get a genuine copyEditions and the details worth checking.

About the editions

There is a local edition. Bored Game Company, the publishing and distribution arm of Pune-based Band of Capes, makes an officially licensed Original Edition in India, sold as 'Exploding Kittens aka Billi Boom Boom'. Imported US copies from Exploding Kittens LLC also turn up, usually for more money. For most buyers, the Indian licensed edition is the sensible choice. Our Amazon.in link goes to Bored Game Company's edition.

Before you choose

  • Check the brand. It should be Bored Game Company for the Indian edition or Exploding Kittens LLC for imports. Several Amazon.in search results list 'Exploding Kittens' under other brand names, and those come from neither company.
  • Check the price. Be wary of a deck that costs a fraction of the usual price, or a listing that claims 60-70% off; much cheaper decks sold under the name come from other makers.
  • Check the listing details. The Indian edition is described as 'Officially Licensed', 'Original Edition' and '56 cards', and Indian listings give a manufacturer address in India (Vasai East, Maharashtra).
  • Check the print. Blurry artwork, flimsy paper-thin cards or spelling mistakes on the box suggest an unofficial print.
  • On Amazon.in, check that the brand is Bored Game Company and that you can identify the seller before you pay.

What reviewers and players say

Exploding Kittens is the light, silly card game that non-gamers ask to play again. Family reviewers love that it takes minutes to learn, makes people laugh and fits in a small box. Hobby gamers are cooler on it: the luck of the draw decides a lot, and the choices start to feel obvious after a few games. The other catch is player elimination, since whoever explodes first sits out, though a round only lasts about 15 minutes. Take-that cards such as Attack and Favor can also upset sensitive young children.

What people love

  • Learnable in a few minutes, so children, parents and grandparents can play together
  • The Oatmeal's cartoon art and jokes get laughs, even from people who don't usually play games
  • Tension builds as the deck shrinks, and a well-timed Nope or See the Future feels great
  • Small, quick and portable, so it suits travel and short gaps in the evening

Common complaints

  • Mostly luck: experienced players find few real decisions
  • Player elimination: the first person out waits for the round to finish
  • Very competitive take-that play can frustrate sensitive kids, and the humour isn't for everyone
Based on 7 reviews and discussions

Summarised in our own words from the sources above. We don't use Amazon reviews or ratings.

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Why consider itThis game

Draw cards, dodge the exploding kitten, survive to the end

A different fit

The same quick, take-that card play that most Indian families already know

A different fit

Another short card game for mixed ages that is easy to teach

A different fit

A step up for party groups who want more talking and teamwork

Players2–52–102–62–8
Best with4-54-64-6, in two teams6-8
Play time15–20 min10–30 min20 min15 min
Age7+7+6+14+
RulesEasyEasyEasyEasy
Indian editionAvailableImportedAvailableImported
On this pageExplore UNO Explore Guess in 10 Explore Codenames

Questions people ask about Exploding Kittens

Is Exploding Kittens available in India?

Yes. Bored Game Company makes an officially licensed Indian edition of the Original Edition, and our Check price on Amazon.in button goes to that edition. Imported US copies also turn up, usually for more money. Make sure the brand is Bored Game Company.

What is 'Billi Boom Boom'?

'Billi Boom Boom' is the Indian nickname used on Bored Game Company's licensed edition, 'Exploding Kittens aka Billi Boom Boom'. The listings describe the same 56-card Original Edition for 2-5 players aged 7 and up.

Can 2 people play Exploding Kittens?

Yes, the Original Edition plays 2 to 5. With fewer players there are fewer Exploding Kittens in the deck (always one fewer than the number of players), and the rules suggest removing about a third of the deck for a faster 2- or 3-player game. The publisher also makes a separate 2-Player Version.

Is Exploding Kittens suitable for kids?

The publisher rates the Original Edition for ages 7 and up, and the artwork is cartoonish. There is also a separate NSFW edition meant only for adults, so check the box before you buy for children.

Game facts

Designed by
Elan Lee, Matthew Inman, Shane Small
Publisher
Exploding Kittens LLC
In India
Bored Game Company (publishing arm of Band of Capes Pvt. Ltd., Pune) - officially licensed, Indian-made edition
First published
2015
Players
2–5
Language
Little reading – Card names and short instructions are in English. The jokes on the cards are in English too, but you only need to know what each card does, and that is easy to pick up after one round.
Box size and weight
11.5 × 12 × 1.7 cm, 0.26 kg
Sources & photo creditsThe references behind this guide.

Facts on this page come from the publisher, the Indian maker or distributor, and the sources below. Photos are credited under each one.