This post was last updated on November 26th, 2023
Back in the day, I didn’t even know what NSFW stands for.
So when a friend of mine explained it to me, it became pretty clear that we needed to add Exploding Kittens NSFW to our collection ASAP.
Did I absolutely need it? No.
Was I super curious to know how dirty Exploding Kittens NSFW was? Yes, yes, yes!!
In the end, while under the effects of a curiosity overdose, I ended up buying it.
And there you have it! The story of how I became the possessor of not just the standard version of Exploding Kittens, but also its NSFW version.
Let’s dig into the game to find out if it’s really 17-rated!
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Game overview
Exploding Kittens NSFW has a really simple concept: like in a Russian roulette you draw and play cards, but as soon as you get an exploding kitten card you’re out of the game.
There are cards that can help you dodge the exploding kittens and pass them to your opponents; you just have to play strategically.
Play with no remorse, no friendships are allowed in this game.
What is Exploding Kittens NSFW?
Exploding Kittens NSFW sparks a bit of confusion: is it an Exploding Kittens expansion? Do I need the standard Exploding Kittens version to play with it?
Let’s clear any doubts.
Exploding Kittens NSFW is a “grown-up” version of the board game Exploding Kittens, in which the cards are a bit more adult-like.
It’s a stand-alone game, that can be combined with any other versions (either standard or NSFW) to allow more people to play (up to 9 players).
How to play Exploding Kittens NSFW
Set up
Start the game by removing all the Exploding Kitten and Defuse cards, leaving them on the side for now.
Deal 1 Defuse card to each player and insert the remaining ones into the deck.
Note: in a game with only 2 – 3 players, put only two of the extra Defuse cards into the deck.
Shuffle the deck and deal 7 cards to each player.
Insert the extra Defuse cards and Exploding Kitten cards (always 1 less than the number of players) back into the deck; shuffle and place it face down: this will be the Drawing Pile.
Choose the player that goes first.
Turns
During each turn, you have several options:
- Play no cards and pass;
- Play as many cards as you want by placing them face up in the Discard pile.
End your turn by drawing a card from the Drawing pile.
Turn after turn the game continues until one of the players draws an exploding kitten card; if that player has a defuse card in his hand he’s safe (for now!), otherwise he’s out of the game.
The game ends when all the exploding kittens have burst and only one player is left “alive”.
Cards overview
Let’s find out what type of cards you can use against your opponents.
Exploding Kitten
The most terrifying card in the deck!
As soon as you draw it, you’re dead… unless you have a Defuse Card in your hand!
Defuse
You can play this card once you drew an Exploding Kitten. It will protect you from the explosion and allow you to secretly place the Exploding Kitten card wherever you want in the drawing pile (also on top).
You’ll have to discard the Defuse card after you used it.
Nope
You can stop any player’s action (except the exploding kitten) as long as it hasn’t taken place yet.
The targeted player can dispel a Nope by playing the same card; in that case, it will become a “Yup”.
Shuffle
Simply shuffle the Drawing pile.
It’s really useful if you know an Exploding Kitten is coming.
Skip
Your turn will immediately end, without drawing a card.
You can play the Skip card while being under an Attack, it will end one of the 2 turns unless you use 2 Skip cards.
See the future
This card will allow you to privately and secretly see the top 3 cards in the Drawing pile.
It can be really useful if played at the right time.
Favor
Force any other player of your choice to give you one card of their choice.
Attack
Your turn ends and you’ll force the next player to play 2 turns in a row.
The targeted player can also play an Attack card, in this way the following player will have to play the remaining turns plus the number of attacks on the Attack card.
Cat Cards
These cards are powerless (they can be recognised by the lack of action move in the brackets) unless you find the matching card and play them as a pair.
Once you have a pair you can steal a card from any player.
By strategically using all these cards, find your way to stay alive and be the last player standing!!
How dirty is Exploding Kittens NSFW?
Despite the suggested 17+ years old rate written on the box, is Exploding Kittens NSFW really that dirty?
Let me start by saying that the classic version of Exploding Kittens was already a card game that you couldn’t really consider “family-friendly” due to its nature. Kittens shouldn’t explode!
But the sense of humour inherent in the cards made it playable by the youngest too.
The Not Safe For Work version, though, takes the cards a step further towards a hilarity pretty much on the edge.
But this is only true for just a bunch of cards in the deck. And that’s pretty much it.
In a world where watching any kind of content is almost the normality, Exploding Kittens NSFW is pretty tame and not that dirty at all!
Other games, such as Unstable Unicorns NSFW or Cards Against Humanity, are way worse.
Conclusion
Exploding Kittens is a fun game that everyone can play, but not everyone will love it.
Despite the simple core concept behind it and the fact that is very easy to understand, players will be required to have a good amount of concentration and strategy, as it’s not so simple to come out winners.
The most important skills to have while playing? A poker face and a cold heart.
Yes, because Exploding Kittens is a mind brawl between friends. Everyone is against everyone, without prisoners.
You can only win if you keep your friendly emotions away!
If you look for a quick and fun game, flavoured with tons of sense of humour, this could be a game that you would probably like. But only if you play and look at it from the right angle.
- How to Play: Prepare for an outrageous game night with Exploding Kittens: NSFW Edition! Draw cards until someone reveals an Exploding Kitten, causing them to explode and lose the game—unless they defuse the kitten using clever tactics like a catnip sandwich. Use powerful action cards to sabotage friends, relocate Exploding Kittens, or avoid explosions. Last player standing wins!
- What’s Included: Unleash the chaos with 56 hilariously inappropriate cards featuring original artwork by The Oatmeal. This NSFW edition includes everything you need for explosive fun—just add friends (or frenemies)! Also includes an instruction manual that you’ll probably skim, but hey, it’s there!
- Who’s it For? Designed for ages 17+, this game is perfect for those who enjoy dark humor, strategic gameplay, and a bit of friendly betrayal. Ideal for adult game nights, college gatherings, or anytime you want to laugh until you explode—literally!
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Exploding Kittens Party Edition
The Exploding Kittens designers weren’t happy with just two versions of the game, so they decided to publish the third one.
This time is a party edition that allows the game to be played up to 10 players.
In this version of the game, they’ve added some new cards and a bunch of selected cards from Exploding Kittens and Imploding Kittens.
And as a cherry on the cake, every time you open the box a catchy song will be played with the only aim to be stuck in your head for the whole day!
If your group of players is large, this is the best version of the game you can get.
- HOW TO PLAY: Dive into the excitement of Exploding Kittens: Party Pack Edition, a thrilling card game where players draw cards, dodge explosions, and outsmart friends using clever strategies. Ideal for family card games, kids games, and party games for adults!
- WHAT’S INCLUDED: The Party Pack Edition features 120 cards with hilarious illustrations by The Oatmeal, plus an easy-to-follow guide for quick setup. Packaging may vary, but the fun and excitement are always guaranteed in this ultimate family card game!
- WHO’S IT FOR? Designed for 2-10 players, ages 7 and up, this card game is a hit with everyone! Whether you’re looking for kids games, family games, or board games for adults, it’s ideal for any crowd or occasion.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you. See our Affiliate Disclosure