- BGG rank
- BGG #12,268
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Scandaroon
- 3–4 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 2.1/5
- 2007
- BGG rank
- BGG #10,232
- BGG rating
- 6.6
Totemo
2010
Rules assistance for Totemo
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 2–4 players
- 30 min
- 6+
- Complexity 1.6/5
For 2 players
Rules assistant for Totemo
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Totemo is a board game released in 2010 for 2–4 players, 30 minutes per game, and ages 6 and up. It was designed by Tony Boydell and its main mechanics are Pattern Building.
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About the game
TOTEMO - A colourful, 3D building game for Braves, Squaws and Papooses from Surprised Stare Games (Summer, 2010) Players place custom-designed blocks into a restricted playing area to construct Totem Poles, for which they score victory points. Blocks must be placed according to their colour, and the colours of the blocks they may touch in three dimensions - for example, a purple block may be placed on its own OR adjacent to purple, red or blue blocks. The more blocks it touches, the higher your score for placing. Bonus placements (and scoring) are possible if you land exactly on special spaces on the score track (these spaces are randomly determined at the start of the game). Totemo is bright, colourful, tactile and heap big fun! (Source: Surprised Stare Games Ltd)
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Surprised Stare Games Ltd
Questions and answers
Totemo supports 2–4 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 Totemo is 30 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.
The catalogue lists Totemo for ages 6 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Totemo has a complexity rating of 1.6 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.
Totemo belongs to these categories: Children's Game, Abstract Strategy, and Educational. Its main mechanics are Pattern Building. 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 Totemo are: Tony Boydell. 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 Totemo 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.