Throw Throw Burrito Board Game Review

Throw Throw Burrito, designed by Matthew Inman, Elan Lee, and Brian S. Spence, was released by Exploding Kittens in 2019. The game mixes card collection with dodgeball, asking players to gather matching sets while flinging squishy foam burritos at opponents. It plays 2 to 6 players, ages 7 and up, in around 15 minutes. This review walks through gameplay, components, mechanics, and whether the game earns a spot on your shelf.

Throw Throw Burrito Overview

Players draw cards from a central deck and try to collect sets of three matching cards. Each completed set adds points. Certain cards trigger Burrito Battles, Wars, or Duels, where players grab the foam burritos and throw them at named opponents. Getting hit costs you a scored card.

The game sits in the party and action/dexterity category, with a BoardGameGeek complexity rating of 1.10 out of 5. It works as a filler game between heavier titles or as a standalone activity for casual gatherings.

What’s in the Throw Throw Burrito Box

The box contains everything you need to play. Components are simple but built well enough for repeated rough handling.

The foam burritos are the headline component. They are light enough to avoid breaking things and dense enough to feel like a real throw. The cards hold up well after repeated shuffling.

Throw Throw Burrito Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Setup takes less than two minutes
• Rules fit on one sheet and teach in under five minutes
• Foam burritos are durable and won’t damage furniture
• Works well across age groups, including kids and adults together
• The 15-minute runtime suits short sessions or as a warm-up
• Real-time play keeps everyone active throughout

Cons:

• Repeat plays lose surprise quickly
• Strategy is shallow with little room for skilled play
• Two-player games feel flat compared to 4 to 6 players
• Needs open space around the table for safe throwing
• Score pad runs out and requires replacement paper

How to Play Throw Throw Burrito

Setup

Place the two foam burritos in the center of the table. Shuffle the deck and put it within reach of all players. Deal seven cards to each player. Keep your cards hidden from opponents.

Turn Structure

Throw Throw Burrito uses real-time play instead of taking turns. Everyone draws from the deck and discards simultaneously, hunting for sets of three matching number cards. When you complete a set, place those three cards face down in front of you as your scoring pile.

When a Burrito Brawl, Burrito War, or Burrito Duel card appears in your hand and gets played, action stops. The players named on the card grab a burrito and try to hit the other. A hit means the target loses a previously scored set.

Brawls are one-on-one between two players. Wars involve everyone at the table. Duels send two players back-to-back to walk three paces before turning and throwing on a count.

Win Condition

Play continues until the deck runs out. Players count their face-down sets, subtract any sets lost to burrito hits, and compare totals. Highest score wins. Most games end naturally in 12 to 15 minutes.

Where to Buy Throw Throw Burrito

Prices in India vary widely between retailers. Compare options before buying since the gap between the cheapest and most expensive listing can be over ₹1,800.

Throw Throw Burrito Game Mechanics

The card side runs on set collection. Match three of the same number, score them, repeat. There are no resource curves or complex card interactions to track.

Real-time play is the second core mechanic. With no turn order, players race to flip cards and form sets before opponents catch up. This creates a noisy, hand-on-the-deck scramble that feels closer to a party game than a traditional card game.

The Take That mechanic comes through the burrito cards. These force physical confrontation between players and act as the catch-up tool. A player far behind in points can still win by landing throws during Battles and Wars.

The combination of card matching, real-time pressure, and physical throwing is unusual. Few card games ask you to leave your chair.

Who Should Play Throw Throw Burrito

This game suits families with kids around age seven and older, casual party groups, and people who want a short, active game between heavier ones. Game nights with mixed experience levels work well because the rules are simple enough for anyone.

If you enjoy family board games or liked Exploding Kittens for its silly tone, this follows a similar style with added physical action. Players who enjoy Spoons or Dutch Blitz will find the real-time element familiar.

Skip it if you want strategic depth, prefer quiet card play, or have limited space. The throwing needs at least a small open area around the table. Serious gamers looking for decision-heavy designs should choose something else.

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