How to play Happy Salmon: each player takes a 12-card deck in one color. Everyone flips their deck at the same time and shouts the action on their top card. When two players show the same action, they perform it together and discard. The first player to discard all 12 cards wins.
That’s the whole game. The rest of this page covers the details people get wrong, based on the official Exploding Kittens rulebook for the current 3–8 player edition. If you’d rather watch than read, Exploding Kittens has an official how-to-play video page.
Setup
- Stand around a small table. The rulebook recommends standing and a table small enough that everyone can reach everyone else for a high five.
- Sort the cards by color into 8 decks of 12. The current box comes with eight colors.
- Each player takes one whole color. Put the unused colors back in the box.
- Shuffle your own deck and hold it face down.
- Count down from three together.
What some online rule summaries say: shuffle the cards and deal 12 to each player.
What the rules actually say: each player takes one full color deck. Every deck holds exactly 3 of each action, so everyone starts with an identical mix. A random deal can hand one player six Switch It Ups and wreck the balance.
The Four Actions
Every deck has three copies of each action. Each one also has an official way to get attention, which matters a lot once the table gets loud.
| Action | What you do together | How to signal it |
|---|---|---|
| High Five | Slap palms | Hold a hand above your head |
| Fish Bump | Bump knuckles | Hold out your fist |
| Happy Salmon | Slap each other’s forearms at least twice | Wiggle your hand like a fish |
| Switch It Up | Trade places around the table, taking your deck with you | Spin one finger in the air |
If you own the original 2016 North Star version, the names are slightly different: Fish Bump was “Pound It” and Switch It Up was “Switcheroo.” Our Happy Salmon versions guide covers the differences.
Playing a Round
There are no turns. On “three,” everybody flips their deck so only the top card is visible, and everyone starts shouting at once.
When you hear someone shouting your action, lock eyes, perform it together, and both discard your card anywhere out of the way. Then keep going with your next card. You don’t need to wait for anyone.
“What if nobody has my card?” The rulebook gives you an out. You can move that card to the bottom of your deck and work on the next one. You still have to match it eventually, because the round only ends when someone has discarded all 12 cards. So burying the same card over and over just means you finish holding a pile of it.
The rule: a match is always exactly two players doing the same action. If three people shout “High Five!” at once, two of them pair up and the third keeps looking.
The Official 3-Player Variant
Three players is the hardest count for Happy Salmon. With only two possible partners, you often can’t find a match. The rulebook fixes this with an official variant:
- Each player removes all 3 Fish Bump cards from their deck.
- Take one High Five, one Switch It Up and one Happy Salmon from an unused color and give them to each player.
- Everyone now has 12 cards: four High Fives, four Switch It Ups and four Happy Salmons. The mixed colors don’t matter.
- Play as normal.
The variant works because dropping to three actions raises your odds. With four actions and two other players, the chance that at least one of them is showing your card is about 44%. With three actions, it’s about 56%. Our full Happy Salmon review shows the odds at every player count.
Can You Play Happy Salmon With 2 Players?
No. There’s no 2-player mode in the official rules, and the game doesn’t work at two. Every card is either an instant match with the one other player or an impossible one, so there’s nothing to search for and nobody to race.
If you’re usually a pair, look at our best 2-player games instead. Save Happy Salmon for when a third person shows up. And if you’re shopping for kids specifically, our best board games for families has more picks for younger kids.
The Silent Variant
The rulebook also includes a Silent variant for “crowded bars, libraries, and other gatherings.” Nobody is allowed to speak, so players have to find partners using only the gestures. It’s a fun novelty round and a good way to calm a room down, but the shouting version is the real game. If you need a party game that works at a normal speaking volume, try Codenames.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cards does each player get in Happy Salmon?
Twelve. Each player takes one complete color deck, which contains exactly three of each of the four actions: High Five, Fish Bump, Happy Salmon and Switch It Up.
What happens if no one matches your card in Happy Salmon?
You can move the card to the bottom of your deck and try your next card. You still have to match it eventually, since you can only win by discarding all 12 cards.
Do you take turns in Happy Salmon?
No. Happy Salmon has no turns. Everyone flips their deck at the same time and plays simultaneously until someone runs out of cards.
How do you win Happy Salmon?
Be the first player to discard all 12 of your cards. You discard a card only by matching it with another player and performing the action together.
What is the Happy Salmon action?
You and your partner slap each other’s forearms at least twice, flapping like a fish. To signal it, wiggle your hand while shouting “Happy Salmon!”
How many players do you need for Happy Salmon?
At least three. The current Exploding Kittens edition supports 3 to 8 players and includes an official variant for three players. There is no 2-player mode.