How to Play KABOO
A card game of memory, strategy, and bluffing. Get the lowest score to win.
Objective
The goal of KABOO is to have the lowest total card value in your hand when the round ends. You start the game knowing only 2 of your 4 cards — the rest are hidden. Use memory, peeking, and swapping to minimize your score.
Card Values
| Card | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| King (K) | 0 | Best card — zero points |
| Ace (A) | 1 | |
| 2 – 10 | Face value | 2 = 2 pts, 10 = 10 pts |
| Jack (J) | 11 | Also has a special effect |
| Queen (Q) | 12 | Also has a special effect |
Game Flow
1. Initial Look
At the start, you may peek at 2 of your 4 cards. Memorize them — you won't see them again unless you use an effect card.
2. Your Turn
On your turn, draw a card from the draw pile. Then choose one action:
- Swap — replace one of your hand cards with the drawn card
- Discard — throw the drawn card onto the discard pile
- Call KABOO — end the round (see below)
3. Effect Cards
When you discard certain cards, you may activate their special effect:
| Cards | Effect | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 7, 8 | Peek Own | Look at one of your own hidden cards |
| 9, 10 | Peek Opponent | Look at one of an opponent's cards |
| Jack (J) | Blind Swap | Swap one of your cards with an opponent's card without looking |
| Queen (Q) | Semi-Blind Swap | See one of your cards first, then optionally swap it with an opponent's card |
4. Tap Window
After a card is discarded, a brief TAP window opens. If you have a card with the same rank as the top discard, you can tap it to discard it for free — even on someone else's turn! If your tap is wrong, you draw a penalty card.
5. Calling KABOO
Instead of swapping or discarding, you can call KABOO. This triggers the final round — every other player gets one more turn, then all cards are revealed. If your total is the lowest, you score 0 points. If not, you get your total plus a penalty.
Keyboard Shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| D | Draw card |
| X | Discard held card |
| S | Swap held card with selected card |
| K | Call KABOO |
| E | End turn |
| 1 – 4 | Select card 1–4 in your hand |
| T | Tap (during tap window) |
| Enter | Confirm |
| Esc | Skip / Decline effect |
Keyboard shortcuts can be customized in the Settings menu ( icon during gameplay).
Sound & Settings
- Master and SFX volume sliders in the Settings menu control overall and effect volume.
- Background music can be toggled on/off and you can choose between Kaboo 1 and Kaboo 2 tracks.
- Sound types (draw, swap, effects, tap, KABOO, background) can be toggled individually.
- Theme can be switched between Dark, Light, or System from the same Settings menu.
Bot Difficulty
| Difficulty | Memory | Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Easy | Forgets cards often | Rarely uses effects, calls KABOO late |
| Medium | Decent memory | Uses effects sometimes, balanced play |
| Hard | Near-perfect memory | Optimal effect use, aggressive KABOO calls |
Scoring
- Each card's value is summed for your total
- Kings are worth 0 points
- If you call KABOO and have the lowest score: 0 points
- If you call KABOO but don't have the lowest: your total + penalty
- The player with the lowest score across rounds wins