
- BGG rank
- BGG #12,988
- BGG rating
- 5.8
Buzzword
- 4–12 players
- 45 min
- Complexity 1.2/5
- 2003

1989
Rules assistance for Commotion
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 2 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Commotion is a board game released in 1989 for 2–6 players and 45 minutes per game. It was designed by Garrett J. Donner, Michael S. Steer, and Nancy Hammond and its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move.
Commotion is a fast-paced category word game in the spirit of Scattergories, but with a unique twist: players build on each other’s answers. Each player receives a clipboard and draws a category card—such as “Things That Are Round” or “Movie Titles.” With the timer set, players race to list as many unique answers as they can. When time is up, clipboards are passed to the left, and the process repeats. The challenge increases with each round, as players must come up with new answers that haven’t already been written by others. After all clipboards return to their original owners, scores are tallied based on valid, non-duplicate answers. Creativity, speed, and lateral thinking are key to claiming victory in this word-filled whirlwind. Perfect for parties or family game nights, Commotion rewards clever thinking and quick recall under pressure.
Commotion supports 2–6 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Commotion is 45 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
Commotion has a complexity rating of 1.5 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Commotion belongs to these categories: Word Game and Party Game. Its main mechanics are Roll / Spin and Move. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Commotion are: Garrett J. Donner, Michael S. Steer, and Nancy Hammond. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Commotion as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.