Buy the current Exploding Kittens edition. It’s the only version still in print, it seats 8 players right out of the box, and it’s the one we own and play. The older North Star versions are worth knowing about mostly so you don’t overpay for one on eBay.
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Happy Salmon has had three versions in ten years. The game is the same in all three: shout your card, find a match, do the move. What changed is the player count, the packaging and the names of two actions.
| Original (green) | Happy Salmon Blue | Exploding Kittens edition | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Publisher | North Star Games | North Star Games | Exploding Kittens |
| Released | 2016 | 2017 | November 2021 |
| Cards | 72 (6 decks of 12) | 6 decks of 12 | 96 (8 decks of 12) |
| Players | 3–6 | 3–6, or up to 12 combined with green | 3–8 |
| Packaging | Zippered fish pouch | Zippered fish pouch | Card box |
| Action names | High 5, Pound It, Switcheroo, Happy Salmon | Same as green | High Five, Fish Bump, Switch It Up, Happy Salmon |
| In print? | No | No | Yes |
The Exploding Kittens Edition (2021, Current)
This is the version to buy. Exploding Kittens acquired Happy Salmon from North Star Games in 2021 and re-released it that November, with co-designer Ken Gruhl joining the company as a senior game designer. The current box holds 96 cards in eight colored decks, so it plays 3–8 without buying anything else.
The art is by The Oatmeal, who also draws Exploding Kittens and Throw Throw Burrito. Two actions were renamed: Pound It became Fish Bump and Switcheroo became Switch It Up. The gestures are the same.
The current official rulebook also includes two official variants: a 3-player variant that removes the Fish Bumps, and a Silent variant with no shouting. Our copy is this edition, and it’s the one we’ve played 30-plus times as a family.
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The Original North Star Edition (2016)
The original is the green fish. North Star Games published it in 2016 with 72 cards in six decks, packed in a zippered cloth pouch shaped like a salmon. It played 3–6, and it won a Major Fun award the year it came out.
The pouch is the main reason anyone still hunts for this version. It’s great for travel and it’s genuinely charming, the same appeal as pocket games like Sea Salt & Paper. The game inside is the same as today’s, with the older action names.
Is it worth buying secondhand? Only if it’s cheap and you never play with more than six. For bigger crowds, our best games for groups list has more options. The current edition seats two more players, and you can still buy it new.
Happy Salmon Blue (2017)
“Is there a Happy Salmon expansion?” Blue is the closest thing there’s ever been. It isn’t an expansion, though. It’s a complete, standalone copy of the game with blue packaging and different card backs.
The point of Blue was combining. ICv2 reported in 2017 that the Blue version “can be combined with the original to allow games with up to 12 players.” As Board Game Review noted, the card backs are different colors, so you could shuffle both sets together and still sort them afterward.
Blue is out of print now. Noble Knight Games lists it as out of print. Unless you already own the green original and regularly host 9 to 12 people, there’s no reason to chase it.
What most buyers assume: Blue is an add-on pack, so you need it to get the “full” game.
What’s actually true: Blue is the same game in a different color. It only matters if you want to combine two sets for more than 6 players, and the current Exploding Kittens edition already handles 8 on its own.
Which Version Should You Buy?
- Buy the Exploding Kittens edition if you’re buying new. It’s in print, it’s cheap, and it plays up to 8.
- Buy the original green secondhand only if you want the fish pouch for travel and never have more than 6 players.
- Chase Blue only if you already own the green original and regularly need 9 to 12 players.
Worth knowing: we haven’t found any official rule for mixing the Exploding Kittens edition with the older North Star decks. The actions match, but two have different names and the card backs differ, so treat that as a house rule, not an official combination.
Still deciding whether the game itself is for you? Start with our full Happy Salmon review, or see how it compares with its stablemate in Happy Salmon vs Exploding Kittens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there an expansion for Happy Salmon?
Not a true expansion. The closest thing is Happy Salmon Blue, a standalone 2017 version from North Star Games that could be combined with the original green set for up to 12 players. It’s now out of print.
What is the difference between Happy Salmon and Happy Salmon Blue?
Essentially just the color. Both are complete six-deck games for 3–6 players with the same four actions. Blue has different card backs, so the two sets could be shuffled together for games of up to 12 players and sorted apart afterward.
Which version of Happy Salmon is the newest?
The Exploding Kittens edition, released in November 2021 after Exploding Kittens acquired the game from North Star Games. It has 96 cards in eight decks, supports 3–8 players, and features art by The Oatmeal.
Why did Happy Salmon change from Pound It to Fish Bump?
The Exploding Kittens edition renamed two actions: Pound It became Fish Bump and Switcheroo became Switch It Up. The gestures are unchanged, so players of the original will pick up the new version instantly.
How many players can play the new Happy Salmon?
The Exploding Kittens edition supports 3 to 8 players out of the box, up from 3 to 6 in the original North Star version. The rulebook also includes an official 3-player variant.
Is the original Happy Salmon worth buying used?
Only if it’s cheap and you want the zippered fish pouch for travel. The current Exploding Kittens edition plays the same game, seats two more players, and is still in print.