You’re sitting at the kitchen table, clutching three cards like your life depends on them, and suddenly someone screams "Brawl!" Before you can even blink, a squishy, foam burrito hits you square in the face. This is the reality of Throw Throw Burrito, the game that basically turned family game night into a dodgeball tournament with snacks.
It’s chaotic. It’s loud. Honestly, it’s a little bit dangerous if you have low-hanging chandeliers or a fragile ego.
Exploding Kittens, the creators behind this madness, didn't just want to make another card game where you sit and wait for your turn. They wanted to weaponize the deck. Most games ask you to think; this one asks you to duck. It’s a "dodgeball card game," which sounds like an oxymoron until you’ve actually been pelted by a piece of foam food while trying to complete a set of Loggers.
The game operates on a simple premise: collect matching sets of cards to earn points while avoiding getting hit by the burritos. If you get hit, you lose points. If you hit someone else, you feel a fleeting sense of superiority. It’s a visceral experience that taps into something primal—the urge to throw things at your friends.
How Throw Throw Burrito Breaks Your Brain (and Your Vases)
Most people think they can handle a simple matching game. You’ve played Go Fish. You’ve played Rummy. You think you’re prepared. You aren't.
Throw Throw Burrito removes the concept of "turns." Everyone plays at the same time. You’re drawing cards from your right and discarding to your left as fast as your hands can move. It’s a frantic, sweaty blur of card stock and foam. You’re looking for three-of-a-kind. Some sets are worth points, but the "Burrito Cards" are the ones that matter.
When someone matches a set of Brawl cards, the players to their left and right have to race to grab the burritos from the center of the table and hurl them at each other. If it’s a War, everyone at the table is fair game. If it’s a Duel... well, that’s when things get cinematic. Two players stand back-to-back, take three steps, and fire.
The tension in a Duel is real. I’ve seen grown adults take the "three steps" so seriously they end up in the next room, trying to use the refrigerator as cover.
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The Psychology of the Squish
There is a specific kind of "burrito amnesia" that happens. You get so focused on cycling through your deck to find that third Goth Penguin that you completely forget there are two projectiles sitting three inches from your hand. Then, someone shouts "WAR," and the panic sets in.
Because the burritos are made of a super-soft slow-rise foam, they don't actually hurt. Usually. But the threat of being hit creates a level of adrenaline you just don't get from Monopoly. It changes the way you think. You start eyeing your opponents, watching their hands instead of your own cards. You become a card-playing commando.
The game thrives on this high-low split. It’s a sophisticated set-collection mechanic layered under a very unsophisticated game of "hit the guy with the glasses."
Tactical Survival: More Than Just Throwing Straight
If you want to actually win at Throw Throw Burrito, you can't just be fast. You have to be smart. Or at least, less frantic than the person next to you.
One thing people often miss is the "Burrito Bruise." These are the tokens you get when you're hit. Each one is negative one point. In a game where most sets are only worth two points, getting hit twice effectively wipes out a successful match. Defensive play is actually more important than offensive play.
- The Hover Technique: Don't keep your hands flat on the table. Keep them slightly elevated so you can pivot toward the burritos or dive for cover instantly.
- The Discard Strategy: If you see an opponent getting close to a set—maybe they’re slowing down or looking intense—start dumping cards faster. Mess with the rhythm of the table.
- Physicality Matters: Honestly, if you’re playing on a slippery hardwood floor in socks, you’re going to lose. You need traction.
The Different Versions: Original vs. Extreme
The standard Throw Throw Burrito is great for a living room. But then there’s the Extreme Outdoor Edition.
The outdoor version features burritos that are three feet tall. They are inflatable. They are absurd. If the original game is a skirmish, the Extreme Edition is a full-blown war. You’re no longer flicking foam; you’re lugging giant inflatable tubes across a backyard. It changes the physics entirely. Wind becomes a factor. Gravity becomes an enemy.
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The creators, Elan Lee and Matthew Inman (The Oatmeal), clearly understood that people wanted to scale the chaos. The core mechanics remain identical, but the sheer scale of the "burritos" turns it into a spectator sport. If you have neighbors you don't like, playing the Extreme version in your front yard is a great way to confuse them.
Why It Works When Other "Active" Games Fail
We've all tried those "get up and move" games that feel forced or cheesy. Throw Throw Burrito succeeds because the movement is the consequence of the cards. It’s not "simulated" action. It’s actual action.
The game leans heavily into the art style of The Oatmeal. The characters are weird—Barky Sharky, Goth Penguin, Floaty Goat. This "weirdness" lowers the barrier to entry. It’s hard to take yourself seriously when you’re arguing over whether a burrito hit your shoulder or your hair while holding a card with a cat on it.
Common Misconceptions and Rule Disputes
People get the rules wrong constantly, mostly because they’re screaming.
- The "Catch" Rule: If someone throws a burrito at you and you catch it, they take a bruise. This is a high-risk, high-reward move. Most people just try to swat it away. Swatting doesn't count. You have to catch it cleanly.
- The "Burrito Block": You can use a burrito to block an incoming burrito. If you're holding one because of a Brawl, you can use it as a shield.
- The Tie-Breaker: If two people hit each other simultaneously, or if it’s unclear, you Duel. Always Duel. It’s more fun that way.
There’s also the issue of "False Starts." If you grab a burrito when there isn't a battle happening, you take a penalty. This happens more than you’d think. The twitchiness of the players becomes a weapon in itself.
The Social Impact: From Kids to "Not-So-Mature" Adults
While marketed as a family game (ages 7+), the dynamics change wildly depending on the demographic.
When kids play, it’s pure, unadulterated carnage. They don't care about the points. They just want to pelt their siblings. It’s a great way to burn off energy before bed, provided no one cries.
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When adults play, especially after a few drinks, it becomes a high-stakes tactical simulation. I’ve seen people slide across tables like they’re in an action movie. I’ve seen people use couch cushions as ballistic shields. It taps into a competitive vein that board games like Catan or Ticket to Ride just can't reach. It’s less about strategy and more about reflexes.
Is it actually a "Good" Game?
If you’re a board game purist who loves 4-hour Euro-style strategy sessions, you might find the randomness of Throw Throw Burrito annoying. There’s a lot of luck involved. The deck is thick, and sometimes you just don't get the cards you need.
But if you judge a game by "laughs per minute," it’s hard to beat. It’s an icebreaker. It’s a party starter. It’s the game you bring out when people are starting to look at their phones. You can't look at your phone when a foam burrito is flying toward your head at 20 miles per hour.
Practical Setup for a Successful Game
You can't just play this anywhere. Setup is key.
- Clear the "Blast Zone": Move the drinks. Seriously. Put the wine on a different table. One "Brawl" and your Cabernet is all over the rug.
- Lighting: Make sure everyone can see. Shadows are the enemy of quick card recognition.
- The Table: A round table is actually better than a rectangular one. It keeps everyone at an equal distance from the burritos in the center.
If you’re worried about the burritos getting dirty (they are foam, after all, and they will spend a lot of time on the floor), a quick wipe with a damp cloth works. Don't use harsh chemicals, or you might ruin the "slow-rise" texture that makes them so satisfying to squeeze.
Actionable Next Steps for New Players
If you’ve just picked up a copy or you’re thinking about it, don't just dive in.
- Do a "Dry Run": Go through one deck cycle without throwing anything. Get the "pass-to-the-left" rhythm down. If the card passing breaks, the game breaks.
- Assign a "Referee" for the first 5 minutes: Usually, the person who owns the game. They should watch for False Starts and clarify the difference between a Brawl, a War, and a Duel.
- Trim the Nails: This sounds weird, but in the heat of grabbing a burrito, people get scratched. It’s a contact sport. Be prepared.
- Check the Surroundings: If there’s a TV behind a player, move the game. The burritos are soft, but a direct hit to a flat-screen can still end in tears.
Ultimately, Throw Throw Burrito isn't about the cards or the points. It’s about the stories you tell afterward. Like the time Grandma nailed your cousin from across the kitchen, or the time the dog caught the burrito mid-air and refused to give it back. It’s chaotic, messy, and perfectly designed for people who think traditional board games are just a little too quiet.
Grab the burritos. Pass the cards. Try not to break the lamp.