How it plays
Everyone has a face-down pile; the 42 cards are Taco, Kitten, Pizza and Candy cards. On their turn, players guess what the top card of their own pile shows by calling out “Taco”, “Kitten” or “Pizza”. They then place it in the middle so that the others see it first. If the guess is right, the same player goes again; otherwise, it is the next person’s turn. When a Candy card appears, everyone slaps the middle; whoever has their hand at the very bottom takes the next turn. Whoever gets rid of all their cards first wins.
What it can help develop
Whether the guess is right is a matter of luck. What the game demands lies elsewhere: any card could be a Candy card, so everyone stays alert during other players’ turns and watches for the one picture that counts. When it appears, reaction speed decides; with a taco, kitten or pizza, on the other hand, the hand has to stay still: a go/no-go situation for impulse control. The rules impose no penalty for slapping too early, so children have to hold themselves back.
Especially suitable for
- Children from age 4, as a first card game
- Family groups in which adults join in too
- Short games on the go, thanks to the small box
Less suitable for
- School-age children looking for tactics rather than guessing
- Players who miss the word chain of the original
Our verdict
Taco Kitten Pizza, nominated for the Kinderspiel des Jahres in 2024, is a worthwhile choice as a first card game for children from age 4 and for family groups in which adults enjoy joining in. Even young children understand the rules, and the jury praises the unusually calm concentration at the table. Its limitations are the pure guesswork when calling out words and the lack of depth for school-age children looking for tactics.
Getting started
- In the first round, make sure that each card is turned over so that the others can see it first, not the player turning it.
- For experienced players, add a house rule: anyone who wrongly slaps the middle puts the top card from the middle at the bottom of their own pile.
- Deal the cards as follows: with two to four players, each person gets 10 cards; with five or six, each gets 7.
In detail
Variants and player count
Taco Kitten Pizza was published by Blue Orange Games in 2023 and is based on Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza. The French publisher page calls the children’s version a gentle introduction to shedding games. According to the rules, the 42 cards consist of 11 Taco, 11 Kitten and 11 Pizza cards and 9 Candy cards. The words change depending on the language: in French, the game is called “Taco Chaton Pizza”, and in Italian, from Ghenos Games, “Taco Micio Pizza”. In the Italian edition, the special card is a gelato instead of Candy.
What reviewers say
Spielkult calls the game fast and funny and writes that even three-year-olds can follow it. According to Spielkult, a game takes five minutes at most, but it is not suitable for older children. Reich der Spiele reports that 3- and 5-year-olds quickly understood the principle and that older children also enjoyed it. The short rules and the space-saving format for taking on the go are also praised there. The French website Ludovox praises the very good, durable cards. Because children think about each word for around ten seconds, however, the game seems slow, according to Ludovox. The jury of the Spiel des Jahres (German game of the year award) notes that everyone has to pay attention all the time and that adults enjoy joining in.
How it compares
Fruit Punch (from age 6, 2 to 6 people, about 15 minutes) shares the skill areas of impulse control as well as perception and speed with Taco Kitten Pizza and also covers numbers and arithmetic. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza (from age 8, 2 to 8 people, about 10 minutes) brings back the word chain of the original and also calls on working memory. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza suits children who love speed and silliness, and is less suited to calm groups. As a first card game from age 4 for groups of up to six, Taco Kitten Pizza remains the obvious choice.
Sources
- Wikipedia (German): Taco Katze Pizza Junior
- Blue Orange: Taco Chaton Pizza (publisher’s page, in French)
- Blue Orange: Taco Katze Pizza Junior rules (PDF, in German)
- Blue Orange: Taco Chaton Pizza rules (PDF, in French)
- Ghenos Games: Taco Micio Pizza (publisher’s page, in Italian)
- Spielkult: review (in German)
- Reich der Spiele: review (in German)
- Ludovox: review (in French)
- Spiel des Jahres: Taco Katze Pizza Junior (jury, in German)
Frequently asked questions
What age is Taco Kitten Pizza suitable for?
Taco Kitten Pizza is recommended from age 4. It suits children who like guessing freely and react quickly to the Candy card. Adults are better off holding back when slapping so that four-year-olds get their chance; school-age children who want tactics tend to get bored.
How long does a game take and how many people can play?
A game takes about 5 minutes. The game is for 2 to 6 people, who play against each other, and whoever gets rid of all their cards first wins.
What skills can Taco Kitten Pizza help develop?
Taco Kitten Pizza can help develop impulse control as well as perception and speed. Because any card could be a Candy card, everyone stays alert; when it appears, quick slapping counts, and when one of the three words comes up, the hand stays down.
Is Taco Kitten Pizza the same as the original?
It is the children’s version: the word sequence of the original does not have to be memorised, and there are fewer words and special cards. Players only slap when a Candy card appears. Anyone who misses the word chain is better off sticking with the original.
