Barking Kittens – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Barking Kittens

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Board Game2020

68%

WISE Score

6.8

Board Game Geek

Exploding Kittens expansion that makes you wear a cardboard cat crown—silly, chaotic, and honestly the weakest of the expansions.

Barking Kittens

Board Game

7+, 2020

68%

WISE Score

6.8

Board Game Geek

Exploding Kittens expansion that makes you wear a cardboard cat crown—silly, chaotic, and honestly the weakest of the expansions.

4.7

6.8

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Where to Play

Amazon

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Screenwise Verdict

Look, Barking Kittens is fine. It's not going to ruin game night, but it's also not going to become anyone's favorite expansion. The crown is funny for about three rounds, then it's just a cardboard hat you're obligated to wear.

The real issue is that Exploding Kittens already lives or dies on its chaotic randomness, and this expansion doubles down on luck rather than adding interesting decisions. If your kids are 7-9 and think wearing a cat crown is peak comedy, you'll get your money's worth. If they're older or you're hoping for strategic depth, skip this and grab a different expansion.

It's perfectly safe, reasonably wholesome, and will generate some laughs. But Reddit's right—it's the weakest expansion in the lineup. Not bad, just forgettable.

Age Fit

Best for ages 7-14 who already enjoy the base Exploding Kittens and want to mix things up. Teens and adults might play along for family game night but won't seek it out—it's pretty juvenile compared to other expansions.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A silly expansion that adds physical comedy via a wearable cat crown. The 'Barking Kitten' mechanic creates laughter and shared absurdity rather than mean-spirited competition. The humor is accessible and goofy—wearing a cardboard crown while playing cards is inherently ridiculous in a healthy way. Some 'take that' mechanics exist (it's Exploding Kittens after all), but the crown element softens the blow with physical humor.

Imaginative

Adds 20 new cards to the base game with the standout 'Tower of Power' crown mechanic—when you draw certain cards, you wear the crown and face consequences if another player matches your card. It's a creative physical twist on card play, but ultimately it's still random draw luck with hand management. The imagination is in the social theater of wearing a silly crown, not in strategic depth or creative problem-solving. BGG weight of 1.14 confirms this is extremely light.

Safe

Board games are inherently safe, and this one has no concerning content. Age rating of 7+ is appropriate. The 'take that' mechanics could create minor friction between players, but the crown element actually diffuses tension by making everyone laugh. No gambling mechanics, no mature themes in artwork. The social dynamics are silly rather than cutthroat. Amazon rating of 4.7 and 7.2K BGG owners suggest no red flags in the wild.

Enriching

This is a 15-minute party game expansion focused on luck and laughter, not deep skill-building. You practice basic hand management and risk assessment, but mostly you're just trying not to explode while wearing a cat crown. The real value is in family bonding and getting kids comfortable with losing gracefully in a low-stakes environment. It's enriching in the 'family game night glue' sense, not in the 'builds critical thinking' sense. Entertainment value is high for what it is.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

The wearable crown adds physical comedy that gets everyone laughing, especially younger kids who love the absurdity
Super quick gameplay (15 min) means low commitment and easy to squeeze in before dinner
Gets kids comfortable with light risk-taking and losing gracefully in a goofy, low-stakes environment
The 'Barking Kitten' pairing mechanic adds a new layer of tension to the base game without complex rules

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What to Watch For

You need the base Exploding Kittens game—this is an expansion, not standalone
Reddit users note this is the least favorite expansion for many players, so temper expectations
Very luck-heavy with minimal strategy, which might frustrate kids (or adults) who want more control
The crown gimmick is funny the first few times but may wear thin faster than other expansions

Conversation Starters

"Which is worse: exploding or having to wear the Tower of Power?"
"If you could design a new card for this game, what would it do?"
"Do you think it's fair when someone targets you with a card, or is that just part of the game?"

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