Just as the buzz builds for the grand finale of Survivor’s 47th season, there’s some exciting news for fans to savor. Exploding Kittens, a well-known name in the gaming industry, has teamed up with Survivor’s legendary host and producer, Jeff Probst, to create a new card-based party game called Survivor The Tribe Has Spoken. This game promises to capture the essence of the iconic social strategy gameplay that’s made Survivor a household name over the years. It’s crafted to be enjoyed by die-hard fans and newcomers alike.
While this isn’t the first time Exploding Kittens has ventured into licensed games—they previously released Exploding Minions in 2021—this collaboration feels particularly special for co-founder and CEO Elan Lee. His enthusiasm for this venture stems from more than just business acumen. “I’ve been glued to every single episode of Survivor since it first aired, 24 years ago. The show’s influenced my game design immensely, helping me craft unforgettable experiences for players,” Lee shared through a press release. He added, “The dream of bringing the Survivor experience to people’s living rooms has always been on my mind. Condensing such an elaborate game into something under 30 minutes was no easy feat. But after two years of close collaboration with Jeff Probst, we’ve accomplished just that, packed with all the fun, strategy, alliances, and drama.”
The game cleverly uses nearly 25 years of Survivor history as a backdrop for its card-based mechanics. Fan-favorite—and less adored—contestants from the show make appearances as player cards. As the game unfolds, players will form alliances and blindside their way to the top, aiming to be among the last two standing. At this stage, they must argue why their gameplay was superior and deserves the bragging rights akin to becoming the Sole Survivor.
Jeff Probst, the face of Survivor, shared his excitement about the project: “Our goal was to craft a card game version of Survivor that’s enjoyable for seasoned fans and game enthusiasts alike. I knew teaming up with the Exploding Kittens crew was the right move to bring this vision to life, and we’re thrilled with the result. We hope players have as much fun playing it as we did creating it.”
Incorporating familiar Survivor elements, the game includes mechanics like advantages, hidden immunity idols, and the thrilling tribal council votes, with the game box doubling as the show’s iconic urn for vote tallying. Players will navigate through Reward Challenges, plotting and strategizing—or use “The Spy Shack” card to sneak a peek at a rival’s hand and grab a card. On the defensive front, cards like “Sorry for You” help block such maneuvers. Plus, bonus cards allow for the stealing and manipulation of votes or even claiming the role of Tribal Council Leader.
Survivor The Tribe Has Spoken is designed for ages eight and up and comfortably accommodates three to six players in sessions lasting 30-60 minutes. For those eager to dive into this adventure, the game is available for preorder at $19.99 on platforms like Amazon, Target, and Walmart.
