# Exploding Kittens® 2 vs Gambonanza

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Gambonanza at none against Exploding Kittens® 2's 20. Gambonanza also leads on review sentiment (77% vs 60%). Exploding Kittens® 2's advantage is price ($4.99 vs $5.99). On rating, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Exploding Kittens® 2 costs $4.99 and Gambonanza $5.99 up front. Exploding Kittens® 2 sells 20 one-off in-app purchases. Gambonanza asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Exploding Kittens® 2 against 4.9 for Gambonanza. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3.7K and 2.8K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 60% of Exploding Kittens® 2's written reviews are positive against 77% of Gambonanza's.

Exploding Kittens® 2 ships an update every 2 weeks, Gambonanza every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Exploding Kittens® 2 | Gambonanza |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$4.99** | $5.99 |
| Rating | [4.8 (3.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/exploding-kittens-2/id6478287619/reviews) | **[4.9 (2.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gambonanza/id6747752407/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3.7K** | 2.8K |
| Positive reviews | 59.6% of reviews | **76.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #12 | **#5** |
| Size | 443 MB | 169 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Marmalade Game Studio Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/988365603) | [Stray Fawn Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1539018462) |

## What reviewers say

### Exploding Kittens® 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/exploding-kittens-2/id6478287619)

**Currently charting:** #12 Top Paid · Card, #19 Top Paid · Board, #176 Top Paid · Games (US App Store)

Experience the chaotic fun of a popular card game with friends. This digital version features customizable avatars, animated cards, and new ways to play, including the highly requested "Nope" card. Engage in quick rounds of strategy and luck to be the last player standing.

**Highlights:** Customizable avatars, Emoji reactions, Multiple game modes, Animated cards, Online multiplayer, AI opponent

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (20)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Santa Claws Card Back | $0.99 | one-time |
| Mystic Mayhem Card Back | $0.99 | one-time |
| Beach Day Emoji Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Beach Day Card back | $0.99 | one-time |
| Kitchen Chaos Emoji Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Kitchen Chaos Card Back | $0.99 | one-time |
| Mystic Mayhem Emoji Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| MysticMayhem Cauldron Creature | $1.99 | one-time |
| Glenn Coco | $1.99 | one-time |
| Sea Rat Outfit | $1.99 | one-time |
| Beach Day Location | $1.99 | one-time |
| Slice of Heaven Outfit | $1.99 | one-time |
| Yucky Buddy Outfit | $1.99 | one-time |
| Kitchen Chaos Location | $1.99 | one-time |
| Santa Claws Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Mystic Mayhem Pack | $5.99 | one-time |
| Beach Day Pack | $5.99 | one-time |
| Kitchen Chaos Pack | $5.99 | one-time |
| Sun and Spice Bundle | $7.99 | one-time |
| Explosive Expansions Pass | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast-paced gameplay
- 👍 Charming animations and visuals
- 🤩 Engaging and fun experience
- 🎨 Customizable skins and backgrounds

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- ⏱️ Slow animations and gameplay
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🤖 Unresponsive AI opponents

**Reported bugs**

- Nope card not functioning properly
- Leaderboard not updating correctly
- Inability to leave a game after losing
- Forced account creation for online play

**Requested features**

- Add a turn timer to prevent stalling
- Allow custom deck creation and configuration
- Improve online multiplayer stability and matchmaking
- Bring back the original game's sound effects and personality


### Gambonanza

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/gambonanza/id6747752407)

**Currently charting:** #5 Top Paid · Board, #29 Top Paid · Strategy, #70 Top Paid · Games, #121 Top Paid (US App Store)

Experience a unique turn-based chess roguelike with a twist. Master tactical combos, invest winnings, and discover rule-bending abilities on a dynamic board. Face challenging bosses and explore endless strategic possibilities.

**Highlights:** Snackable, high-impact runs, 150+ rule-bending Gambits, Dynamic reserve system, Strategic board upgrades, Epic boss battles, Retro aesthetic and quirky ambiance, Mini-games for power boosts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Game Controller support, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Exploding Kittens® 2 free?

Exploding Kittens® 2 costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Gambonanza free?

Gambonanza costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Exploding Kittens® 2 or Gambonanza?

Gambonanza is rated higher. Exploding Kittens® 2 averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.7K ratings, while Gambonanza averages 4.9 from 2.8K ratings.

### Do Exploding Kittens® 2 or Gambonanza have ads?

Neither Exploding Kittens® 2 nor Gambonanza shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Exploding Kittens® 2 or Gambonanza?

Exploding Kittens® 2 ships an update every 2 weeks, and Gambonanza every 3 weeks. Most recently, Exploding Kittens® 2 was updated on October 1, 2026 and Gambonanza on September 30, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Exploding Kittens® 2 or Gambonanza?

Exploding Kittens® 2 currently peaks at #12 in the App Store charts, and Gambonanza at #5. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*