Customer Reviews (500)

Accept my name apple! • 2025-01-03T07:23:42-07:00

Unbelievable I paid 5 dollars just to get 1 deck and a bunch of options to spend more money. I will be asking for a refund.

TheMiningMiner27 • 2024-12-31T10:42:00-07:00

Sometimes, when I open up the game, it bugs out and makes it so I can’t use the expansion decks. It also glitches out the avatar selection and removes all of the purchasable avatars except for the god one, which is now called Mike. Exiting and Reentering it causes Blue to duplicate each time. Mike is also unable to be selected, and just plays the sounds. Restoring purchase also doesn’t work properly.

Chops0000 • 2024-12-28T11:52:44-07:00

Says can be played by multiple players together in a room. NOwhere does it specify that each player has to purchase their own copy. I want a refund!

Summary of Key Insights

The Exploding Kittens app enjoys a generally positive reception, stemming from its faithful adaptation of the popular card game. Users appreciate the game's humor, addictiveness, and the ability to play with friends online. However, several issues detract from the overall experience, including frequent bugs and crashes, connectivity problems, concerns about cheating in online play, and the perceived cost of additional content after the initial purchase. The "Shuffle" card mechanic and AI cheating allegations also raise concerns. The overall sentiment is positive, but the negative reviews highlight critical areas needing improvement.

  • Overall Rating: The app has a good rating, with a score distribution heavily skewed towards 5-star reviews (51.2% of reviews).
  • Strengths: Humorous gameplay, faithful adaptation of the card game, ability to play with friends online, and engaging single-player mode (despite AI concerns).
  • Weaknesses: Bugs and crashes, connectivity issues, perceived cheating, the cost of in-app purchases after the initial purchase, concerns over the "Shuffle" card mechanic, and offensive usernames.

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: The reviews appear to be recent, spanning the last few months. A specific date range isn't available.
  • Analysis Methods: The analysis involved a qualitative review of the user reviews, identifying recurring themes, sentiments, and feature requests. Keyword extraction was used to determine the most frequently mentioned issues and desired features. Sentiment was inferred from the star ratings and the language used in the reviews.

Key User Pain Points

  • Bugs and Crashes: Many users reported frequent crashes and glitches, disrupting gameplay and causing frustration. Several reviews mentioned specific bugs in the "Barking Kittens" pack.
  • Connectivity Issues: Disconnections during online games are a common complaint, even with a strong Wi-Fi connection. This issue prevents users from finishing games and creates a negative experience.
  • Perceived Cheating: Users frequently accuse the AI in single-player mode of cheating, particularly the "hard" difficulty. Also, many users report cheating in online multiplayer games, specifically in the Barking Kittens pack.
  • In-App Purchase Costs: A significant number of users express dissatisfaction with the cost of additional decks and avatars after paying for the initial app purchase. They feel that the base game is limited and that expansions are too expensive.
  • "Shuffle" Card Issues: Several users believe the "Shuffle" card doesn't function correctly, often resulting in an Exploding Kitten being drawn immediately after shuffling.
  • Offensive Usernames: Some users have reported encountering offensive and inappropriate usernames, creating an uncomfortable environment.
  • Friend Code Issues: Some users report friend codes not working, making it impossible to play with friends.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Pass-and-Play Mode: Many users requested a pass-and-play mode for playing locally without needing multiple devices.
  • More Players: Some users would like the ability to play with more than 5 players.
  • Improved Friend System: Users want a friend list or easier ways to connect with and invite friends to games.
  • Ranking/Stats System: Many users desire a ranking system, leaderboards, or statistics tracking to add a sense of progression and competition.
  • More Customization: Users want more customization options, such as custom decks, more avatars, and the ability to use multiple expansion packs simultaneously.
  • Voice Chat: Some users have requested voice chat for online games.
  • Nope Card: Many users miss the Nope card from the original card game.
  • Imploding Kittens Expansion: Many users want the Imploding Kittens expansion added to the game.
  • Adjustable Turn Timer: Users want the option to adjust or disable the turn timer, especially when playing with friends.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Humorous Gameplay: Users consistently praise the game's humor and lightheartedness.
  • Faithful Adaptation: Many users appreciate that the app accurately recreates the experience of the physical card game.
  • Addictive and Engaging: The game is described as addictive and easy to pick up, making it a good choice for casual play.
  • Online Multiplayer: The ability to play with friends and strangers online is a major draw for many users.
  • Unique Art Style: The original art by The Oatmeal is well-received and adds to the game's appeal.
  • Easy to Learn: The game is simple to understand, making it accessible to a wide audience.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

  • High Priority:
    • Fix Bugs and Crashes: Address the most frequent bugs and crashes to improve overall stability and user experience.
    • Improve Connectivity: Optimize network performance to reduce disconnections during online play.
    • Address Cheating Concerns: Implement measures to prevent cheating in online games and re-evaluate AI logic in single-player mode.
    • Implement Username Filtering: Add a filtering system to prevent offensive usernames.
  • Medium Priority:
    • Re-evaluate In-App Purchase Model: Consider offering more content in the base game or adjusting the pricing of expansion packs.
    • Improve "Shuffle" Card Functionality: Investigate and fix the perceived issues with the "Shuffle" card.
    • Implement Pass-and-Play Mode: Add a pass-and-play mode for local multiplayer.
    • Add Friend System: Implement a friend list or easier way to connect with friends.
  • Low Priority:
    • Add Ranking/Stats System: Implement a ranking system, leaderboards, or statistics tracking.
    • Add Voice Chat: Consider adding voice chat for online games.
    • Add More Customization Options: Explore additional customization options, such as custom decks or more avatars.
    • Consider adding the Nope card: Add the Nope card to add to the fun gameplay.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Anti-Cheat System Development: A startup could specialize in developing anti-cheat systems for mobile card games, addressing a clear pain point for Exploding Kittens and other similar games.
  • Mobile Game Community Platform: A platform that integrates friend lists, voice chat, and ranking systems specifically for mobile games could enhance the social experience for games like Exploding Kittens.
  • Subscription-Based Mobile Gaming: A subscription service offering access to a library of mobile card games and expansions could provide a more cost-effective alternative to individual in-app purchases.
  • AI-Powered Game Balancing: A service that uses AI to analyze game data and identify imbalances, such as perceived AI cheating, could help developers create fairer and more engaging single-player experiences.

Trends and Observations

  • Language Preference: The reviews are overwhelmingly in English.
  • Shifting Sentiment: Some older reviews are more positive, while newer reviews highlight persistent bugs and connectivity issues, suggesting a decline in user satisfaction over time.
  • Impact of COVID-19: Several reviews mention playing the game with friends during the COVID-19 pandemic, indicating that the app has become a popular way to connect with others remotely.
  • Netflix Version Confusion: Several reviews mention the Netflix version of Exploding Kittens, indicating some user confusion or a desire for feature parity between the two versions.

Conclusion

The Exploding Kittens app has a solid foundation and enjoys a generally positive reputation. However, addressing the key pain points related to bugs, connectivity, perceived cheating, and in-app purchase costs is crucial for maintaining user satisfaction and attracting new players. Implementing frequently requested features like pass-and-play, a friend system, and a ranking system could further enhance the game's appeal and longevity. By focusing on these improvements, the developers can solidify Exploding Kittens' position as a leading mobile card game. Overall, it's recommended that the developers prioritize addressing bugs and connectivity issues, and then focus on improving the social aspects of the game and re-evaluating the in-app purchase model.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/exploding-kittens/id1040227414?uo=2