Is Exploding Kittens appropriate for kids?

Is Exploding Kittens violent?

No, it's just an exercise in the power of cuteness.

A lot of people seem to be having trouble getting past the idea that a children's game can be violent. They can't help but feel that something has to be wrong with it. I have my own issues with the word violence, but if we're talking about real violencethe kind that takes away people's lives and lands you in jailthat's something else.

Exploding Kittens is the one game that I've played that actually has earned the violent label. It is not a violent game, however, because there is no death and nobody gets hurt. In fact, this is the first time I've seen a card that says No Violence on it. There are some funny jokes, some mildly scary moments, and some really good moments of lighthearted silliness. There are even some moments that are both silly and serious, like the part where a character explains to another what would happen if they were to hit the kitten out of a vehicle.

I'm not here to take a stand on whether Exploding Kittens is a violent or non-violent game. I just want to let everyone know that there is no violence in the game. If you don't like it, then that's your prerogative, but no one is being hurt. In fact, if they were, the player would probably be in trouble for causing bodily harm, but the kitten would probably be okay. There is no real violence, just lighthearted silliness.

To be clear, if someone actually kills someone over Exploding Kittens, that is a separate issue, and would probably be a crime, but that's not what this is about. I'm talking about the idea that Exploding Kittens is violent. That's why I used the term violent. It's not the card art or the rules, but the idea that a card game could be violent.

It's important to understand that most of the cards in Exploding Kittens have nothing to do with violence, just a lot of silliness. A hit is when the kitten explodes into a cloud of stars.

Is Exploding Kittens an adult show?

It's actually more of a children's card game, but the name and premise of the game is so popular that it's been adapted to a TV show and a movie.

Here's what you need to know about Exploding Kittens.

Exploding Kittens is a children's card game for 2 to 6 players. Each player is dealt a hand of four cards face down, with one card for each of them to be exploded to reveal their cards.

The goal of the game is to be the first person to remove all their cards from the playing board by exploding the cards of other players. This is done by taking two of your cards and laying them face up on the playing board in front of you.

Once you explode one of your opponent's cards, you must now choose one of your cards to explode. If you explode one of your own cards, you lose, but if you explode an opponent's card, you win.

You can't explode more than one card per round, and the game ends when all cards have been exploded and no cards are left on the board. The cards on the board are like a giant Rubik's Cube of cards. Each card has a number and a suit: Hearts, Clubs, Spades, and Diamonds.

There are 24 unique cards in the game, divided into four suits. Each player has four of the same cards, two in each suit.

If there are six players, you get three of each of the four suits, but the suit you get is determined randomly at the beginning of the game. In order to explode a card, you have to remove it from the board. A card is removed if it is face up, and you must choose to remove either two or one card, depending on how many of the same card you have in your hand.

Exploding Kittens Movie. The movie was released on March 14, 2026, starring Jane Levy as Molly, Anna Kendrick as Lily, and Matthew Lillard as Mr. Kitty. The movie is a comedy, based on the card game.

Is Exploding Kittens appropriate for kids?

We asked that question of a couple of children's book authors and experts to try and make some sense of it.

? Exploding Kittens is the card game created by Super Best Friends a small press publisher of picture books that quickly gained popularity among adults and became a phenomenon across the country. The book, about two kittens from outer space sent to Earth to cause destruction and mayhem, became an instant best-seller and was recently optioned for film.

But it also inspired some controversy over the appropriateness of a card game marketed as a children's product for kids and parents alike. Exploding Kittens has sold more than 4.5 million copies and was recently nominated for the Caldecott medal.

Katherine Locke, co-author of the book and a writer-illustrator, said the book was intended for "tweens and up." She said it was made with an understanding of children's tastes, such as in the inclusion of adult humor and the fact that it is illustrated in a way that mimics comics.

"I think it's kind of a big part of why it's gotten so much attention," she said. "We're thinking about the people who are doing the most damage, which is the adults. We thought of ourselves as being the safe space for them, but what we've found is that there's also a large percentage of people who are really into it."

She said the book was designed to appeal to a variety of audiences. "Some people think it's a children's book, but we really designed it as something for adults to enjoy," she said. "It's fun to play, and it's kind of like a party game. So you can either do it with your kids, or do it with your friends and just laugh at all the bad things you've done."

But some children's book authors and experts say the game is not suitable for children, and have questioned its portrayal of women and gender. The image of the book came as a surprise to some of them. "The way the characters are drawn is very strange for a children's book.