From the moment you lay eyes on the huge box that that this card game expansion come in your interest will be piqued. The majority of the packaging comes from trying to wrap up the new “Cone of Shame” device. This enormous comedy vet cone which while fun to play with a couple of times soon gets discarded from play in favour of pointing and laughing. Let me explain; one of the new card types and mechanics introduced in this game is the ability to reverse the direction of play (using a snappily named “Reverse” card.). The Cone of Shame allows someone who keeps getting the direction of play wrong to have a visual aid placed round their neck much to the mirth of the other players.
That aside there rare new versions of the Attack card allowing you to nominate a victim, a see into the future card that use can use to manipulate the top of the deck, a draw from the bottom of the deck card and of course the eponymous Imploding Kitten. This new horror replaces one of the exploding kittens in your game with an unavoidable, once revealed, Kitten card that you can see coming. Waiting for this new form of instant death card to slowly inch its way to the top of the deck adds a new level of dread to the almost Landmin-esque form of the original game.
To summarise, this is a very nice addition to an already tight, silly, competitive card game. If you play the original semi-regularly the new cards slot in to the original very well without diluting the feel or extending the time taken to play.
Vital Statistics
• Card Game Expansion (requires Base Game)
• 2-6 players (Adds player to Exploding Kittens)
• 10 – 25 mins a game (no noticeable time added to game)
• Age range: A smart 8 year old will be fine.
• Website https://explodingkittens.com/
