Adpenture

Game Overview

If you love cute art, chaotic gameplay, and lighthearted backstabbing, Unstable Unicorns might just be your next game night favorite. This strategic card game revolves around one mission: build your unicorn army before anyone else does. But don’t be fooled by the adorable illustrations—this game is packed with sabotage, surprise moves, and sneaky plays that’ll test your friendships (in the best way possible). It’s easy to pick up, wildly unpredictable, and guaranteed to bring out some loud reactions.

What’s In The Box

The base game includes 135 beautifully illustrated cards, featuring everything from Baby Unicorns and Basic Unicorns to wild Magic, Upgrade, Downgrade, and Instant cards. You’ll also find a compact rulebook that explains everything clearly with examples. The cards are vibrant, playful, and full of personality—every unicorn comes with a fun name and unique ability that adds character to the game. Some editions or expansions include even more themed chaos like dragons, nightmares, or NSFW content (for adult-only game nights).

Set Up

Set-up is super simple. Each player starts with a Baby Unicorn in their stable and draws five cards. The rest of the deck goes in the center as the draw pile, with a discard pile next to it. The number of unicorns you need to win depends on how many people are playing (typically 7 for 2–5 players, 6 for 6–8). That’s it—you’re ready to start scheming.

How To Play The Game

The core goal of Unstable Unicorns is simple: be the first to collect a specific number of Unicorns in your stable. Each player starts with a Baby Unicorn and five cards. On your turn, you follow four basic steps—beginning of turn effects, draw one card, play one card, and discard down to the hand limit (if needed). You can play all kinds of cards—Unicorns, Upgrades, Downgrades, or Magic—to build your strategy and disrupt others.

Unicorn cards are the heart of your army. There are different types: Baby Unicorns (which you can’t play manually), Basic Unicorns (no special abilities), and Magical Unicorns (which do fun, often chaotic things). You’ll want to fill your stable with these quickly, but smartly—adding the right Magical Unicorns at the right time can give you a huge edge.

Then there are Magic cards, which let you do one-time actions—like destroying someone’s unicorn, stealing upgrades, or forcing someone to discard. Upgrade cards give ongoing benefits to your stable, like drawing extra cards. On the flip side, Downgrade cards are the worst—they stay in your opponents’ stables and usually cause problems, like limiting their hand or blocking plays. Use them to slow down players who are getting too close to winning.

One of the most iconic mechanics is the “Neigh” card—an instant reaction card you can play during someone else’s turn to cancel their action. It’s hilarious, brutal, and strategic. There are even Super Neighs that cancel other Neighs. Learning when to use your Neigh is half the battle—you don’t want to waste it on something minor when someone’s about to play a game-winning unicorn.

The game keeps going until someone hits the unicorn count needed to win (usually 7 or 8). But don’t expect a straight path to victory—players will constantly interfere with your plans, sabotage your stable, and throw wild curveballs. It’s a rollercoaster of revenge, betrayal, and glittery cuteness that keeps everyone laughing—even when they’re losing.

More Ways of Playing The Game

One of the best things about Unstable Unicorns is how expandable it is. The base game already has plenty of variety, but if your group plays often, you’ll want to explore the many expansion packs. These include themes like Dragons, Adventures, Unicorns of Legend, and even a NSFW version for adult players. Each expansion introduces new card types, game mechanics, and hilarious chaos to keep things unpredictable. Mixing in just one or two expansions can completely change your strategy and spice up the game.

In addition to expansions, many players enjoy adding house rules to personalize gameplay. Some groups like to speed things up by reducing the number of unicorns needed to win, especially if playing with more than six players. Others create custom rules like “double Neigh chains,” timed turns, or secret win conditions. Because the base mechanics are so flexible, it’s easy to introduce new twists without overcomplicating the game. Just make sure everyone agrees on any rule changes before the first unicorn hits the table.

Finally, if you’re playing with younger kids or new players, you can modify the game to make it more friendly and cooperative. This might include removing Downgrade cards or limiting how often Neighs can be played. On the flip side, if you’re with a competitive crowd, go all-in on chaos—mix in multiple expansions, draft your opening hand, or even play tournament-style rounds. The magic of Unstable Unicorns is that it grows with your group’s energy—whether you want it light and silly or sneaky and cutthroat.

What We Think

Unstable Unicorns is one of those games that sneaks up on you—it looks cute and harmless at first glance, but after just one round, you’ll be plotting like a supervillain. It strikes a great balance between strategy and chaos, with just enough luck and sabotage to keep everyone guessing until the final unicorn hits the table. Whether you’re playing with family, friends, or a competitive game night crew, it adapts to the vibe of your group easily.

What really makes it a standout is how replayable it is. Between the wide variety of cards, unexpected combos, and the many expansions available, no two games ever feel the same. It’s also accessible—easy to learn, quick to set up, and always full of laughs (and dramatic betrayal). If you’re looking for a game that’s colorful, quick, and full of personality, this one definitely earns a spot on the shelf.