You’re sitting at the table, clutching three cards, sweating slightly because your cousin is eyeing the squishy foam burrito in the center of the table with the intensity of an Olympic sprinter. Suddenly, someone yells "BRAWL!" and all hell breaks loose. This is the chaotic reality of Throw Throw Burrito: how a simple card game turned into the world's first "dodgeball card game." It sounds like a gimmick, but once you’re diving behind the sofa to avoid a flying legume, you realize it’s actually genius.
Exploding Kittens, the creators behind this madness, basically took the fast-paced matching of Spoons and injected it with high-octane physical violence—the friendly kind, mostly.
But here’s the thing. Most people mess up the flow. They get so caught up in the throwing that they forget how the actual scoring works, or they play in a room filled with Grandma's Ming vases. If you want to know Throw Throw Burrito: how to actually win while keeping your dignity (and your furniture) intact, you have to master the rhythm of the draw.
The Core Loop: It’s Faster Than You Think
Forget turns. Throw Throw Burrito doesn't have them. Everyone plays at the same time, which is why the game feels like a frantic blur of color and foam.
You’ve got a personal draw pile to your right and a discard pile to your left. Your goal is simple: get three matching cards. You pick up a card, decide if you want it, and pass the junk to your neighbor. It’s a conveyor belt of cardboard. The mistake beginners make is overthinking the cards. Don't. You need to move. If you aren't cycling through cards every two seconds, you're losing.
The non-battle cards are just points. Collect three "Logy Dogys" or "Barky Sharks" and you get a point. Great. Fine. But nobody buys this game for the sharks. You’re here for the Burrito Cards.
When the Cards Bite Back
There are three types of "battle" cards that trigger the physical part of the game.
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- Brawl: The players to your left and right have to race to grab a burrito and pelt each other.
- War: Everyone at the table (except the person who played the cards) is a target.
- Duel: You pick two people. They stand back-to-back, take three paces, and fire.
Honestly, the Duel is where friendships go to die. There’s a specific tension in those three steps—one, two, three, TURN—that feels way more dramatic than a $25 card game has any right to be. If you get hit, you take a Burrito Bruise. These are negative points. In a game where scores are usually low, one or two bruises can absolutely tank your chances of winning the round.
Throw Throw Burrito: How to Manage the Chaos
Setting up the room is arguably more important than reading the manual. I’ve seen people try to play this in cramped dorm rooms or, worse, kitchens with open containers of salsa. Bad move.
You need a "Clear Zone."
The game includes two squishy foam burritos. They’re soft, sure, but they’ve got enough heft to knock over a glass of water or sweep a smartphone off a coffee table. Pro tip: play on a rug. If you’re playing on hardwood, people will slip. I’ve seen a grown man wipe out trying to dodge a Brawl, and while it was hilarious, it definitely ended the night early.
The Art of the Catch
Here is a nuance many players miss: you can defend yourself.
If someone hurls a burrito at you, you don't have to just take it. You can swat it away. Even better, you can use a burrito you're already holding as a shield. But the ultimate flex? Catching the burrito. If you catch a thrown burrito, the person who threw it takes the hit. It’s the "No U" of the tabletop world.
However, don't get cocky. The burritos are intentionally aerodynamic-ish but slightly unpredictable. They wobble in the air. If you try to be fancy and catch it with one hand, you’ll probably just end up with foam in your eye and a Bruise token on your scoreboard.
Dealing with the "Tie-Breaker" Nightmare
The game is played in two rounds. If the same person wins both, they’re the champion. Easy. But if two different people win, you have to do a Duel to determine the overall winner.
This is where the "Fear the Bird" rule usually comes into play if you're playing the expansion or just getting competitive. In a standard Duel, the pressure is immense because everyone is watching. My advice? Aim for the torso. People always try to go for the "headshot" for the comedy value, but these foam toys aren't snipers. Aim for the biggest target.
Common Rule Disputes
- The "Double Hit": If two people hit each other at the exact same time during a War, usually the person who felt the impact first takes the hit. If it's a true tie, just redo it. Don't let a fun game turn into a legal deposition.
- The Table Hog: Some players try to hoard cards to stop the flow. If the discard pile to your left is getting huge, call them out. The game relies on the "conveyor belt" of cards moving constantly.
- Fake Outs: In a Duel, you can't fake a throw. It's unsportsmanlike and, frankly, ruins the vibe.
Why This Game Actually Works
Most "active" board games feel cheesy. They feel like something a camp counselor forces you to do on a rainy Tuesday. But Throw Throw Burrito: how it manages to bridge the gap between a serious strategy game and a frat party is pretty impressive.
It taps into that primal lizard brain that wants to throw things.
The game designers, Brian Spence and the Exploding Kittens team, spent a lot of time on the density of the foam. It’s a specific "Gushy" tech. It’s heavy enough to fly straight but light enough that it won't break a TV—usually. Still, "usually" isn't a guarantee. If you’re playing with someone who played varsity baseball, maybe tell them to dial it back to about 40% power.
Variations and the Extreme Version
If you find the base game too tame, there’s an "Extreme Outdoor" version with giant inflatable burritos. It’s ridiculous. You’re basically throwing pillows at each other in a park. It changes the dynamic because you can't really "hide" behind a chair when the projectile is three feet tall.
For the standard indoor version, the best way to spice it up is to play with the "Combo" rules if you also own Throw Throw Avocado. You can combine the decks for a "Combo Meal" game that involves specialized cards and even more projectiles. It's pure, unadulterated chaos.
Strategies for People Who Aren't Athletic
You don't have to be a dodgeball pro to win. In fact, the best players are often the ones who stay calm while everyone else is screaming.
Focus on the non-battle sets first. While everyone is distracted by a War or a Brawl between two other players, keep drawing and discarding. You can rack up three or four points in the time it takes two people to hunt for a stray burrito that rolled under the fridge.
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Also, keep your hand small. You’re only allowed five cards. If you’re holding onto too many "almost matches," you'll stall. Be ruthless. If a match isn't happening in three seconds, dump it and move on.
Real-World Tips for Your First Session
- Remove the Jewelry: Rings can scratch the foam burritos, and watches can get snagged during a particularly aggressive Brawl.
- Hydrate: You’ll be surprised at how much of a workout a 15-minute round can be when you’re diving over furniture.
- Lighting Matters: Don't play in a dim room. You need to see the card icons instantly. The difference between a "Brawl" and a "War" card is subtle when you’re looking at them at 100mph.
- The "No-Go" Zones: Establish areas where you can't run. Behind the TV or near the snack table should be off-limits for dodging.
Essential Next Steps for New Players
To get the most out of your first game, don't just rip the box open and start throwing. Start by dealing the cards and practicing the "passing" motion for two minutes without any throwing. Get the rhythm of the card-cycling down first. Once the table understands that the cards never stop moving, introduce the burritos.
Check your ceiling height too. If you have low-hanging chandeliers or ceiling fans, you are playing a dangerous game. Move to a space with at least eight feet of clearance if you plan on doing any overhead lobs.
Finally, designate a "Referee" for the first round—usually the person who bought the game. Having one person who isn't playing but is watching for who got hit first prevents the inevitable "I hit you first!" arguments that can derail the fun. Once everyone knows the feel of the foam and the speed of the cards, the referee can jump into the next round.
Winning at Throw Throw Burrito isn't just about aim; it's about staying focused when the room turns into a foam-filled war zone. Keep your eyes on the deck, your hands ready to catch, and for heaven's sake, clear the coffee table before you start.