top of page

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, see our disclosures here.

Official Zombie Kittens Rules

Zombie Kittens is a hilarious and strategic card game that injects a dose of undead feline mayhem into the classic Exploding Kittens style game. Here's how to play:

Objective

Avoid drawing an Exploding Kitten and strategically use your cards to manipulate the deck and eliminate other players. The last player remaining (without exploding) wins the game!

Setup

2 Players:  8 cards each

3 Players:  7 cards each 

4 Players:  6 cards each 

5 Players:  5 cards each


1. Remove Exploding Kittens (Optional): If you're using a deck that includes both Exploding Kittens and Zombie Kittens, remove some Exploding Kittens from the deck so there's one fewer Exploding Kitten than the number of players. Shuffle the remaining deck thoroughly.


2. Deal the Cards:  Deal each player a specific number of cards based on the number of players:


3. Discard Pile:  Place the remaining deck face down in the center of the table as the draw pile.  Draw the top card and place it face up to start the discard pile.

Gameplay

The game follows a turn structure similar to Exploding Kittens:

  1. Your Turn:  On your turn, you can take two actions from the following options (or choose to do only one):

    • Play a Card: Play any card from your hand and follow its instructions. Many cards allow you to draw cards, peek at the top cards of the deck, or force other players to draw.

    • Draw a Card: Draw the top card from the draw pile and add it to your hand. Be cautious – if you draw an Exploding Kitten, you're (usually) out!

  2. End Your Turn: After taking your two actions (or one), discard a card from your hand face up to the discard pile. This ends your turn and play proceeds to the next player in clockwise order.

Special Zombie Kitten Rule:

  • Coming Back from the Dead: If you draw an Exploding Kitten and don't have a Zombie Kitten in your hand (or choose not to play it), you are technically "out" of the game. However, unlike Exploding Kittens, you're not completely eliminated! Discard the Exploding Kitten face up in front of you and keep the rest of your cards.

  • Being Resurrected: Any living player (not "out") can play a Zombie Kitten card from their hand on their turn. This allows them to choose one "out" player (who has an Exploding Kitten face up in front of them) and bring them back into the game! The revived player shuffles their discarded pile back into their deck and continues playing normally.

Winning the Game

  • The last player remaining who hasn't exploded wins the game and is declared the ultimate zombie kitten tamer (or maybe the luckiest one who avoided the fluffy doom!).

Notes/Variations

  • The specific actions of various cards will depend on the exact deck you're using. Read the card text carefully to understand its effect.

  • Some variations might include Defuse cards (from the Exploding Kittens deck) which allow you to "defuse" an Exploding Kitten you've drawn, saving yourself from elimination.

  • The game is all about strategy and a little bit of luck. Use your cards wisely, watch out for your opponents' tactics, and hope you don't draw the dreaded Exploding Kitten (unless you have a Zombie Kitten handy to cheat death!).

Zombie Kittens, like other games by Exploding Kittens, combines strategy and luck with a humorous and quirky theme. It's designed to be fast-paced and entertaining for players who enjoy games with unpredictable outcomes and interactive gameplay

Browse Related Games!

bottom of page