Card Games
Unstable Unicorns VS. Exploding Kittens: A Much-Needed Comparison
May
For some reason, people have been mistaking Unstable Unicorns and Exploding Kittens since forever. Yes, they indeed have stuff in common, but tons of differences as well.
And don’t worry; I used to mess them up too! To end this confusion once and for all, we’re about to present to you a comparison article, which, above all, could help you if you can’t choose which game to get.
Similarities Of Unstable Unicorns And Exploding Kittens
- Game name inspiration. Both include animals in their names (Unicorns and Kittens), fantasy, and the names are related to the gameplay, too! We just found out people think there’s a game called Exploding Unicorns…
- Simple gameplay & setup: Both of these card games have pretty simple playing instructions and setup as well.
- Competition: Neither UU nor EK are cooperative games. Players tend to sabotage the other players and become the winners themselves.
- Expansions: Considering the popularity of both games, they each have several expansions and extra packs.
- Contents: Each of these two card games contains cards only. There’s no extra equipment. Pure card games, by all means.
- Artwork: Exploding Kittens and Unstable Unicorns use adorable illustrations, with hidden dark humour.
Differences Between Unstable Unicorns & Exploding Kittens
Objective:
- In Unstable Unicorns, you win when you successfully create a unicorn army and reach the number of 7 unicorns in your deck, while in Exploding Kittens, you aim to be the last player standing in the game.
Game tactics:
- In general, how the game of Unstable Unicorns works is when it’s your turn, you draw a card, and then play one, or, if you don’t have one to play, you draw again. However, in Exploding Kittens, you first play cards (1 to as many as you might play), and then draw other cards from the draw pile, hoping it isn’t an exploding kitten!
Gameplay time:
- A usual game of Unstable Unicorns lasts around 30 to 45 minutes. On the other hand, games in Exploding Kittens last only around 15 minutes!
Strategies:
- Considering our experience with both games, Unstable Unicorns involves deeper strategic thinking and better card management. Exploding Kittens depends more on luck, and requires immediate and tactical decisions.
Level of difficulty:
- Counting the number of cards, different phases, luck factor, and the game goal, Unstable Unicorns is a bit more complex than Exploding Kittens.
Number of players:
- Unstable Unicorns can be played by 2 to 8 players (on the main game), while Exploding Kittens can be played by 2 to 5 players only.
Age group:
- Due to Unstable Unicorns being a little more complex, it is often better for teens/adults. Exploding Kittens, though, is preferred even by younger ages.
Replayability:
- Making allowance for one of the most significant elements of a game, we could say that Unstable Unicorns is more replayable. This is mostly affected by the number of cards & rules.
Overall Comparison: Which One’s Best For You?
It’s really up to what you prefer: If you love a more complex game, one that includes lots of strategy and where you have the chance to build collections, choose Unstable Unicorns.
On the other hand, if you prefer more luck-based games that have unpredictable fun, quicker rounds, and simpler rules, go for Exploding Kittens! And, consider who you’ll play with, too; that’s quite important!
