Exploding Kittens: You Lying Sack Review
DISCLOSURE – THIS ITEM WAS GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW. ALL THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS ARE THE REVIEWER’S OWN.
Reviewed by Katy Nettleton
Crafted by Penn Jillette, renowned for his role in the legendary magic duo Penn & Teller, You Lying Sack from the Exploding Kittens is a unique and entertaining addition to family game night. Initially appearing simple, the gameplay unfolded into a hilarious experience that captivated all our family. This game proved perfect for short bursts of family time, becoming a regular pre-bedtime activity over the past week that has brought everyone together for laughs. Perfect as a Christmas gift for all ages. My Children aged 10, 13, 13, absolutely loved it and my husband and I found ourselves continuing to play after they left the game!
In the box you are provided with foam triangles (50 bad things), the Lying Sack, a good thing, a dice, and a small board with a counter. The accompanying wheel (counter) on the board simplified the process of remembering how many bad consequences to retrieve, and the board’s clear instructions were a handy reference, especially for our family. Although if I am being critical the instructions over complicated the game, and as soon as we took our first turn the instructions made sense and it was easy to pick up. In essence, you take the number of bad things that the counter shows, or a good thing, and they try to get the rest of players to guess incorrectly if you have bad thing or a good thing in your clenched hand. If your fellow players guess correctly, you have to take the consequence, and vice versa if they guess incorrectly, they take the consequence.
The suggested age is for 7+, but I think if you were having a family game a child age 5+ would be able to participate, but this would also depend on how well they are able to bluff! For us the length of time was perfect for our family games, and easy to fit into a small unit of time, which did not take over the whole evening, and is the reason why I think younger players would be suitable to play, alongside adults.
The foam “bad things”, though initially appearing basic, turned out to be a clever design choice. The squishable foam ensures that players of all ages and hand sizes can comfortably grip the game pieces and hide them within their mitts! While the gameplay itself provided constant amusement, with players taking on bad consequences or attempting comical bluffs, the unnecessary plastic wrapping of some components was a downside.
You Lying Sack has become a valuable addition to our game’s cupboard, and one that we have taken out for a leisurely meal which proved a perfect table game. When we eat out, we like to make it a great opportunity for the family to talk, and this game was certainly a conversation starter! And had the neighbouring tables looking on and asking about what game we were playing.
Our children (13) did think there was a need for an eco-friendlier approach to the packaging, suggesting a recyclable bag for the game’s components. Despite this concern, the game’s overall appeal remained strong.
The compact and portable box is a plus, fitting easily in my handbag and making it an ideal travel companion. It became a catalyst for conversation and laughter, prompting us to predict that this game will become a regular in our family gatherings and beyond. Despite initial concerns about potential monotony, the strategic nature of decision-making kept us on our toes, with everyone eager for more rounds. A true family favourite and perfect for ages 7-100.
Overall, Exploding Kittens: You Lying Sack deserves a solid 4.5 out of 5. It promises to be a repeat contender in our game nights, offering a delightful mix of strategy and amusement.
RRP: £19.99
Rating: 4.5/5
For more information or to buy direct from Exploding Kittens, visit www.explodingkittens.com.