Exploding Kittensis a casualdedicated deck card gamedesigned by Matthew Inman ofThe Oatmealwebcomic,Elan Leeand Shane Small, and first published byThe Oatmealin 2015. Beginning as aKickstarterproject seeking US$10,000 incrowdfunding,it exceeded its goal in eight minutes.[1]
 | |
| Designers | Elan Leeand Shane Small |
|---|---|
| Illustrators | The Oatmeal |
| Publishers | The Oatmeal |
| Publication | July 2015 |
| Genres | Card game |
| Languages | English |
| Players | 2–5 |
| Setup time | < 1 minutes |
| Playing time | 15 minutes |
| Chance | Medium |
| Ages | 7+ |
| Website | explodingkittens |
On January 27, 2015, after seven days, it passed 103,000 backers, setting the record for the most backers in Kickstarter history. At completion on February 19, 2015, it had US$8,782,571 in pledges by 219,382 backers. The campaign ended as the fourth most-funded campaign on the crowdfunding site.[2]
The first playtest ofExploding Kittenswas recorded onYouTubebySmosh Games,who had the first deck.[3]Delivery to backers started in late July 2015; all backers received the game by September 2015.[4][5][6][7]
Gameplay
editThis articlerelies largely or entirely on asingle source.(April 2024) |
All cards are put into a deck, except for the Defuse and Exploding Kitten cards. The deck is shuffled and each player draws 4 cards and takes a Defuse card (but in the newer version with extension packs you each draw 7 cards and a defuse card). The Exploding Kitten cards are then shuffled back into the deck so that the number of Exploding Kitten cards in the deck is one less than the number of players. The remaining Defuse cards are then also put back in the deck. A turn order is decided upon any trivial condition.
Each player may then play as many cards from their hand as they like on their turn, or choose not to do so, before drawing a card. Players are not to tell any other player what cards are in their hand. Played cards are put into a discard pile.[citation needed]
If a player draws an Exploding Kitten card, they must show it immediately and they are out of the game unless they have a Defuse card. The last player still in the game wins.[4]
Development
editThis sectionneeds additional citations forverification.(July 2021) |
As of 2015, Exploding Kittens stood as the third-biggest campaign ever mounted on Kickstarter.[8]It launched with an initial goal of US$10,000, but by the end of the first day, the campaign had raised $1,333,586 from nearly 35,000 backers. By Day 4, it had raised more than $3,500,000 from more than 91,000 backers.[9]Ultimately, it raised $8.7 million from 219,382 backers.[10][11]
On February 3, 2015, achievements were announced in lieu of stretch goals because the game designers did not want to delay production or distribution of the game to backers. As of February 16, 2015, 30 achievements had been unlocked and the second stretch goal (Unlock 20 Achievements) and third stretch goal (Unlock 30 Achievements) were completed. With the first stretch goal accomplished, the company expanded the NSFW deck to a full stand-alone game.[12]The second stretch goal gave all backers an upgraded storage box that holds two full decks of cards,[13]and the third and final stretch goal includes a Kickstarter-exclusive surprise in the box.[14]
Exploding Kittens began shipping to backers in late July 2015.
At the 2018South by SouthWestfestival, Exploding Kittens maintained a booth that displayed merchandise and had interactive components such as a large kitten vending machine.[15]
Expansions
editThe creators released four expansion packs, most of which require a copy of Exploding Kittens to play.
In October 2016, the Imploding Kittens pack was released. It increased the top number of players from 5 to 6 and added 20 new cards.[16]It introduced the cards/mechanics of Alter the Future, Draw from the Bottom, and Reverse from the mobile game, and the new Imploding Kitten card/mechanic.
On July 30, 2017, the Exploding Kittens Party Pack went on sale exclusively atTarget.[17]The party pack is an update to the original game that allows for up to 10 players. It removes the Attack card/mechanic and replaces it with the Slap mechanic from the mobile game. The mechanics introduced in the Imploding Kittens expansion are also included. The Exploding Kittens display at Target stores also contained a hidden shelf containing an update for theCards Against Humanitygame dubbed the Hidden Compartment Pack. This pack contains 5 cards of the new mechanic, Blind as a Bat, and 15 new white CAH cards.[18]
On October 9, 2018, the Streaking Kittens expansion pack was released. Its 15 new cards/mechanics included Mark, Swap Top and Bottom, Catomic Bomb, Curse of the Cat Butt, Garbage Collector, Super Skip, and the Streaking Kitten.[19][20]
The Barking Kittens expansion was released on June 5, 2020. Its 20 cards introduced Bury, Alter the Future Now, I'll Take That, Share the Future, Tower of Power, Personal Attack (3x), Potluck and Barking Kittens.[21]
Mobile versions
editMicrosoft'sZo chatbotoffered a single-player version of Exploding Kittens.[22]
In January 2016, a multiplayer version of the game was released on theiOSplatform with new content not found in the original game.[23]In April 2016, the mobile version was also released onto theAndroidplatform, and allowed forcross-platform playbetween all mobile versions.[24][25]It was also available on Nintendo Switch.
The Attack and Nope cards from the original card game were not released in the mobile versions on iOS and Android.[citation needed]
A free-to-play mobile game "Exploding Kittens - The Game" was announced in April 2022. It was launched on May 31 byNetflix.[26][27]The game is available to its users at no additional cost and has no in-app purchases.[26]
TV series adaptation
editIn April 2022, an adult animated television series was also announced byNetflixand was co-produced byBandera EntertainmentandChernin Entertainment,withKing of the HillcreatorsMike JudgeandGreg Danielsserving as executive producers, alongsidePeter Chernin.[26]Additional game mechanics and cards tied to the show will be added to the mobile game at a later date.[26]
The series had a first-look preview at theAnnecy International Animation Film Festivalon June 14, 2023.[28]A teaser trailer was released on November 11, 2023,[29]followed by a full trailer in May 2024.[30][31]Originally planned for a late 2023 release,[26]the premiere was postponed to July 12th, 2024.[30][32]
Additional games
editThe Exploding Kittens brand has since created additional family-oriented games, includingPoetry for Neanderthals[33]andThrow Throw Burrito.[34]
References
edit- ^Kooser, Amanda."But why blow up cats? Inman gives inside scoop on Exploding Kittens".CNET.RetrievedFebruary 4,2015.
- ^"Most Funded Kickstarter projects".Kickstarter.RetrievedFebruary 13,2015.
- ^Archived atGhostarchiveand theWayback Machine:EXPLODING KITTENS IS HERE! (Game Bang).YouTube.
- ^ab"Exploding Kittens by Elan Lee".Kickstarter.RetrievedFebruary 10,2015.
- ^Imam, Jareen (January 28, 2015)."'Exploding Kittens' most backed Kickstarter ever ".CNN.RetrievedJanuary 29,2015.
- ^Vincent, James (January 28, 2015)."Exploding Kittens becomes the most backed Kickstarter project of all time".The Verge.RetrievedJanuary 29,2015.
- ^Bischof, Jackie (February 2, 2015)."A Card Game About Exploding Kittens Broke a Kickstarter Record".Newsweek.RetrievedFebruary 4,2015.
- ^Dredge, Stuart (February 23, 2015)."Exploding Kittens card game raises $8.8m on Kickstarter".The Guardian (UK).RetrievedMarch 4,2015.
- ^"Kicktraq:Exploding Kittens".Kicktraq.RetrievedMarch 17,2015.
- ^"Exploding Kittens".Kickstarter.RetrievedFebruary 26,2015.
- ^"Kickstarter folk pay $8 MEELLION for joys of EXPLODING KITTENS".The Register.RetrievedFebruary 26,2015.
- ^"Unstoppable".kickstarter.RetrievedFebruary 26,2015.
- ^"We said" STRETCH "and you said" HOW FAR? "".kickstarter.RetrievedFebruary 26,2015.
- ^"YOU DID IT! LET'S PARTY!".kickstarter.RetrievedFebruary 26,2015.
- ^Harrison, Will (March 17, 2018)."Five things we loved at SXSW Gaming 2018".Austin American Statesman.Archived fromthe originalon March 28, 2018.RetrievedMarch 28,2018.
- ^"Imploding Kittens Game Rules".Ultra Board Games.RetrievedSeptember 20,2019.
- ^Formichelli, Linda (July 28, 2017)."Target Unleashes Over 50 New Exclusive Games For The 2017 Holiday Season".Forbes.RetrievedAugust 2,2017.
- ^"Secret shelf".Imgur.July 28, 2017.RetrievedApril 25,2018.
- ^@gameofkittens (July 16, 2018)."Happy #PrimeDay2018The latest expansion of Exploding Kittens is now available for preorder. 15 game-changing card…"(Tweet) – viaTwitter.
- ^"STREAKING KITTENS: Expansion".
- ^"BARKING KITTENS: Expansion".
- ^"Microsoft's Zo bot wants to play Exploding Kittens with you".September 13, 2017.
- ^"The Oatmeal's wacky Exploding Kittens debuts on mobile with iOS game".VentureBeat. January 21, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 21,2016.
- ^"'Exploding Kittens' is now on Android ".Engadget.April 20, 2016.RetrievedApril 22,2016.
- ^"'Exploding Kittens' Now Available On Android: New Cats, Hilarity And More ".Tech Times.April 21, 2016.RetrievedApril 22,2016.
- ^abcde"'Exploding Kittens' Animated Series, Mobile Game Coming to Netflix ".The Hollywood Reporter.April 18, 2022.RetrievedApril 18,2022.
- ^"All the New Mobile Games Coming to Netflix in May".Netflix Media Center(Press release). May 24, 2022.
- ^Taylor, Drew (April 24, 2023)."Netflix to Debut Official First Looks at 'Nimona,' 'Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget' at This Year's Annecy".TheWrap.RetrievedApril 24,2023.
- ^Inman, Matthew (November 11, 2023)."Exploding Kittens: Official Teaser Trailer".YouTube.RetrievedNovember 11,2023.
- ^abCarr, Mary Kate (May 9, 2024)."Netflix's Exploding Kittens trailer is about as random as you'd expect".AV Club.RetrievedMay 9,2024.
- ^Netflix(May 9, 2024)."Exploding Kittens - Official Trailer".YouTube.RetrievedMay 9,2024.
- ^Reul, Kate (November 11, 2023)."Exploding Kittens Teaser Unveils Tom Ellis as God in Cat Form".IGN.RetrievedNovember 11,2023.
- ^Takahashi, Dean (June 22, 2020)."Exploding Kittens launches Zoom-based word-guessing game Poetry for Neanderthals".VentureBeat.RetrievedAugust 6,2024.
- ^Crecente, Brian (February 26, 2019)."Latest From 'Exploding Kittens' Creators Tosses Burritos, Players Into Mix".Variety Magazine.RetrievedSeptember 27,2023.