Counting to 9 has never been this high stakes! 9 Lives is the addictive party game from Exploding Kittens where you win by making someone else lose. Take turns adding numbered cards to the pile. As the total creeps closer to 9, blindside the other players with special action cards that force them to bust. Then you get to steal their cards and add them to your score pile. The player with the most points when the deck runs out wins!

Gameplay Overview: 9 Lives is quick and easy to learn, with a sneaky streak. On your turn, you play a card and add its value to the running total. Push the total past 9, and you bust, handing your cards over to the player who set you up. The fun is in the action cards. Reverse, Skip, New Total, and Super Steal let you change the direction of play, jump past your turn, reset the count, or grab extra cards, so the player you’re trying to trap might turn it right back on you. If you can add up to nine, you can play, which makes it great for kids practicing their math, but the take-that tactics keep adults hooked too. The shiny, rainbow-foiled cards look great on the table, the box is small enough for a purse or backpack, and a full game takes about ten minutes. It’s an easy pick for family nights, travel, and quick laughs between bigger games.