We do game night every Friday, so we’re always on the hunt for new and exciting games to keep things fresh (and keep the kids off screens!). Our latest find? Exploding Kittens: The Board Game, and wow, it delivered! I played it with my two daughters, Cassie (10) and Vivi (8), and we were all in fits of laughter within minutes. It’s silly, fast-paced, full of surprises, and just the right mix of strategy and chaos for a fun family night in.
Why We Loved It
The Board Game had us laughing from the moment we opened the box. It’s a mix of strategy, silliness, and pure chaos… exactly what we look for in a Friday night game.
Players move their tokens around the board, trying to avoid landing on exploding kitten spots while collecting action cards along the way. The goal: be the first one to make it to the end of the yarn….
The twist? There are so many! The move cards are full of surprises:
- Add a magnet
- Alter the future
- Mega move
- Draw to five
- Defuse
- Draw from the bottom
- Flip
- 1 small step
- Fast step
- Slow and steady
- Nope
- Ditto
- Shuffle
- Expose the future
- Skip and draw 3
- Swap top and bottom
- Cat card
Some of those cards give you the power to flip the board, completely changing the path and shaking up the game (literally). You can flip it when it helps you dodge danger or, in true mischievous kitten fashion, when it causes trouble for someone else.
Cassie and Vivi thought this part was brilliant. It was surprisingly easy to flip the board without everything falling off, and it added a layer of excitement every time one of us picked up a flip card.
The game also includes cards that let you mess with other players, like swapping places or jumping ahead, which added plenty of giggles and friendly competition.
The rules were easy enough for the kids to follow once we’d read through the cards together, and it wasn’t long before they were coming up with clever ways to avoid those pesky exploding kitten spaces.
Why We Loved It
- Flipping the board is a blast – The highlight for Cassie and Vivi was when you intentionally flip the board mid‑game. Even with pieces on it, flipping is super easy and adds hilarious chaos while everyone tries to avoid landing on the “exploding kitten” spots!
- Fast, fun, action‑packed – Each turn feels tense and playful. You either play cards to sabotage opponents or try to duck the dreaded kitten card.
- Fun competition – No family games night is complete without a little friendly competiton. Viv took out first place in our initial game, so of course Cassie was eager for a rematch straight away!
Tips for Parents
- Pre‑play reading helps – There’s a fair bit of text on the cards. I recommend sitting down and reviewing the cards with your kids before the first round. It makes gameplay so much smoother.
- Strategy grows with practice – Once kids understand card combos (like using See the Future + Shuffle), it becomes much more strategic and exciting.
Recommended for ages 7+, but younger players (around 6) can enjoy it with a bit of reading help. My 8‑year‑old Vivi did great after a few practice rounds. Games last 15–20 minutes, which makes it ideal for short attention spans.
| Feature | Why It Stands Out |
|---|---|
| Introducing Game | Simple setup and rule‑explaining makes it quick to start. |
| Reading/Prep | Best to review cards together before playing. |
| Board Flip | Adds dramatic fun and unpredictability. |
| Combo Strategy | Cards like See the Future + Defuse let kids outwit opponents. |
| Art & Comedy | Lovely illustrations and silly humour delight all ages. |
| Playtime | ~15–20 minutes—fast rounds, easy to replay. |
Where to Buy
You can find Exploding Kittens: The Board Game at major Australian retailers:
