Customer Reviews (100)

Michael Thielen • 2025-03-20T20:54:37.642Z

It's actually fun, but it keeps asking for a rating and won't give the option to stop being asked to rate, so here you go.

Christopher Goff • 2025-03-18T01:09:33.267Z

This is a really nice refresh of the first game that I enjoyed playing alot. The animations are great, the catchy phrases of who goes first. I can't wait from more updates !!! thank you for fixing the customization!

Thành Đạt Nguyễn • 2025-03-17T19:07:57.558Z

Really poor gameplay experience. A lot of bugs even on high-end devices. Even though the gameplay is true to real life, the animation can be shorter or reduce. Do not recommended or just wait for more stable version.

Summary of Key Insights

Exploding Kittens® 2 receives mixed reviews, with a significant number of users experiencing bugs, glitches, and performance issues that detract from the gameplay experience. While many appreciate the updated animations, the inclusion of the Nope card, and the core gameplay, technical problems and monetization strategies (expansion packs, mandatory third-party logins) are major sources of frustration. There's a clear demand for more content (especially the Streaking Kittens expansion), better optimization, and a smoother online experience. Overall sentiment is moderately positive, but the numerous reported issues suggest a need for significant improvements.

Quantitatively, the app has an average rating of approximately 3.6 stars (based on the distribution). The breakdown percentages are: 46% 5-star, 13% 4-star, 13% 3-star, 7% 2-star, and 21% 1-star. The high number of 1-star reviews suggests that a significant portion of users have had very negative experiences.

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 100 reviews
  • Time Frame: Not explicitly stated, but assumed to be recent due to the app version (0.0.27) and mentions of specific updates and future content.
  • Analysis Methods: Primarily qualitative analysis, focusing on identifying recurring themes and sentiments expressed in the user reviews. Basic quantitative analysis to calculate the average rating and percentage distribution of star ratings. Keyword extraction to identify frequently mentioned issues and features.

Key User Pain Points

  • Bugs and Glitches: This is the most prevalent issue. Users report freezes, crashes, and glitches that interrupt gameplay. Specific examples include freezing when playing "See the Future" cards and issues with card selection.
  • Performance Issues (Lag): Many users, especially on older or mid-range devices, experience lag that makes the game unplayable. Optimization is a recurring concern.
  • Online Issues: Problems with online play are frequently mentioned, including the need for a third-party account (Bubble), the presence of bots, and connectivity issues.
  • Expansion Pack Limitations: Users are frustrated that friends cannot play with expansion pack cards unless they also purchase the expansion, even when the host has the expansion pass. This is perceived as greedy and negatively impacts the social gaming experience.
  • Microtransactions: The addition of a microtransaction store is viewed negatively by some, who feel it detracts from the spirit of the game.
  • Slow Gameplay/Animations: Some users find the animations slow and unnecessary, adding extra time to each turn.
  • Unclear Instructions: Some users feel the game lacks clear instructions on how to play cards and the game correctly.
  • Forced Ratings: The app repeatedly asking for a rating without providing an option to stop is annoying to users.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Streaking Kittens Expansion: This is by far the most requested feature. Users are eagerly awaiting its release.
  • More Game Modes: Requests for more gameplay style modes, such as "all cards" and higher player counts (up to 12), are common.
  • More Customization Options: While some users appreciate the avatar customization, others want more options or improvements to the existing system (e.g., preventing the game from shuffling outfits every match).
  • Improved AI: Users want the AI to be less buggy and more challenging.
  • In-game Card Instructions: Users are requesting in-game instructions on how to play the cards and game correctly.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Faithful Recreation of the Card Game: Many users appreciate that the app accurately recreates the physical card game experience.
  • Fun and Addictive Gameplay: The core gameplay is generally well-received, with users describing it as fun, entertaining, and addictive.
  • Updated Animations: The updated animations are a positive aspect for many users.
  • Inclusion of the Nope Card: The addition of the Nope card is a popular feature.
  • Single-Player Mode: The ability to play against AI is appreciated, especially by those who lack friends to play with.
  • Optimizing Updates: Some users have noticed and appreciated optimizing updates.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Fix Bugs and Glitches: Address the reported crashes, freezes, and glitches that are severely impacting the user experience. This should be the top priority.
  • Optimize Performance: Improve performance, especially on mid-range and older devices, to reduce lag and ensure smooth gameplay.
  • Address Online Issues: Resolve issues with the Bubble login, bots, and connectivity problems to improve the online multiplayer experience.

Medium Priority:

  • Release Streaking Kittens Expansion: Fulfill the high demand for the Streaking Kittens expansion pack.
  • Re-evaluate Expansion Pack Sharing: Consider allowing users who own expansion packs to share them with friends in online games to encourage social play.
  • Improve AI: Enhance the AI to provide a more challenging and less buggy single-player experience.
  • Address Point System Issues: Fix the point system so that players receive appropriate rewards for winning.

Low Priority:

  • Add More Game Modes: Explore adding new game modes based on user suggestions.
  • Improve Customization Options: Consider adding more customization options for avatars.
  • Add In-Game Card Instructions: Implement in-game instructions for cards and gameplay.
  • Stop Forced Rating Prompts: Provide an option to stop being asked to rate the app.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Mobile Game Optimization Service: A service that specializes in optimizing mobile games for performance across a wide range of devices, helping developers identify and fix performance bottlenecks.
  • Social Gaming Platform with Shared Expansion Packs: A platform where users can share expansion packs with friends in online games, creating a more collaborative and social gaming experience.
  • AI-Powered Game Testing: A service that uses AI to automatically test games for bugs, glitches, and performance issues, providing developers with comprehensive reports and actionable insights.

Trends and Observations

  • Strong Sentiment for the Core Gameplay: Despite the technical issues, users generally enjoy the core gameplay of Exploding Kittens.
  • Frustration with Monetization: Users are sensitive to perceived "greedy" monetization practices, such as requiring all players to purchase expansion packs.
  • Importance of Stability and Performance: Stability and performance are critical for a positive user experience. Bugs and lag are major detractors.
  • Demand for Content: There is a clear demand for more content, particularly the Streaking Kittens expansion.

Conclusion

Exploding Kittens® 2 has the potential to be a highly successful mobile game, but it is currently held back by technical issues and monetization concerns. Addressing the bugs, optimizing performance, and re-evaluating the expansion pack sharing policy are critical steps to improving the user experience and increasing user satisfaction. Prioritizing these improvements will likely lead to higher ratings and increased player engagement.

Based on the analysis, the recommendation is to focus immediately on bug fixes and performance optimization. These are critical for retaining current users and attracting new ones.

Original App Link

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.marmalade.explodingkittens