If you haven’t heard of Exploding Kittens then where have you been hiding? Not only is it a popular physical card game but also a Netflix series. It is now, thanks to Asmodee Entertainment and Saber Interactive, a video game. I present to you Exploding Kittens VR! I know what an unexpected name. Released on the Meta store for Quest 3, Quest Pro as well as the Quest 2 you can take on friends, foe and AI in this heart stopping chaotic card game where the main aim is to blow up your friends.
WARNING: HIGH LEVELS OF EXPLOSIVI-KITTY
As someone who loves it when card games make the jump to VR I was super excited to play Exploding Kittens VR. So let’s dive into the virtual world and see the experience.
Gameplay
The gameplay loop is quite straightforward in Exploding Kittens VR; Don’t Blow Up! Which sounds pretty easy, and for the majority of the time it is. Aside when other players try to make exactly that happen. The exploding I mean. All’s fair in card games and VR though, so use all the dastardly tactics and a multitude of tools at your disposal right back. Be me like me, do anything you can to not blow up!
When you load into the game for the first time you are greeted with a fun little tutorial. It walks you through what you will expect from a normal game of Exploding Kittens. Culminating in you playing a game against an AI competitor. Once you are through this tutorial you are released into your Hub world. This is where you can edit your in-game avatar, get a closer look at the tools and generally just mooch about.
Moving into the Social Hub area of Exploding Kittens VR you are greeted with a colourful environment to explore. There are mini-games to play as well as several tables for you to take on all comers. Fancy some 1v1, just head to the duel table and wait for a player!
Playing the game is great fun, sitting in your seat interacting with others and even breaking up some friendships, what isn’t there to love?
Tools
So as I mentioned earlier, there are a whole host of tools to make use of during a round. You start each round with a random selection to see who goes first. Then you are given a random selection of tools and some special cats. These special cats when combined in pairs turn into a magnet for stealing an item from one of the other players. When it’s your turn you have the device in front of you and a timer starts counting down. Hit the big red button and a ball rolls onto the table in front of you. This is a random item, or it could even be the dreaded bomb. It’s ok though because if it is the bomb you have a defuse item in your inventory right… RIGHT?!
If you have the defuse item (a pair of pliers) then it’s a simple snip snip on the wires. If not, it’s a good night Vienna and the end of the game for you. Collect your biscuits and tokens and back off to the social hub you go. The fun doesn’t stop there though. You can use your tokens on one of the mini-games and potentially earn tickets for purchasing new avatar outfits, or for customising your profile banner.
Graphics & Audio
The graphics themselves are pretty nice. The art is a cartoon style which is in keeping with the comical humour that you experience within Exploding Kittens VR. The cats are cute in their own way as well. As far as the audio goes, it’s all just sound effects with a neat little soundtrack. There is nothing either ground breaking or boring about the game.
Longevity
At it’s core Exploding Kittens VR is a party game, so it can potentially last a long time. As long as you have enough people to consistently play the game with and have fun, the time is endless. I did however experience a slight bit of discomfort when the transition between the loading screen and gameplay screen occurred. It wasn’t enough to make me nauseous but it was definitely a moment where I found myself reeling at the animation. It is almost a corkscrew circular transition from the centre of the screen and it just isn’t very smooth. Now don’t get me wrong its a small thing, but each time it happened I found myself a little discombobulated for a second or two.
Final Thoughts
Exploding Kittens VR lives up to the expectation set from the physical game as well as the ever popular Netflix series. With its comical graphics and gripping gameplay you will be able to lose hours of time while having fun with friends and strangers alike.
Exploding Kittens VR receives the Thumb Culture Gold Award.
Disclaimer: A code was received to write this review.
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