Totally Dingbats (1990) Board Game

Totally Dingbats is a classic board game released in 1990, designed by Paul Sellers and published by Waddingtons. The game is a puzzle-based game suitable for players aged 10 and above. The game features artwork by Holdsworth Thos & Sons and offers a fun and challenging experience for 2 to 6 players.

Game Components of Totally Dingbats

Puzzle cards: Divided into three categories – Thingbats, Dingbats, and Kingbats, each with increasing difficulty and point rewards.

Thingbats: Combine pictures and words or letters (5 points).

Dingbats: Combine letters or words (10 points).

Kingbats: Can be either Thingbats or Dingbats, but are the most complex (15 points).

Game board: Where the puzzle cards are placed face down.

Player tokens: For tracking progress.

How To Setup Totally Dingbats

To set up the game, four of each type of puzzle card (Thingbats, Dingbats, Kingbats) are placed face down on the game board. This arrangement ensures that players encounter a variety of puzzles as they progress through the game.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Objective: Solve the rebus puzzles to earn points.

Turn structure: Players take turns selecting a puzzle card, attempting to solve it, and earning points if successful.

Solving puzzles: Puzzles use visual and linguistic clues. For example, “aid aid aid” with an arrow pointing to the first word means “first aid,” or a picture of a cat next to a log means “catalog.”

Point system: Points are awarded based on the difficulty of the puzzle solved.

Player Experience

Playing **Totally Dingbats** is a engaging and mentally stimulating experience. It requires a combination of visual perception, linguistic understanding, and creative thinking. The game is suitable for individuals who enjoy puzzles and brain teasers, providing a fun and challenging way to exercise one’s mind.

Pros

Intellectual challenge: Provides a stimulating mental workout.

Variety of puzzles: Different categories of puzzles ensure a diverse and engaging experience.

Simple yet engaging gameplay: Easy to understand but challenging to master.

Good for groups: Encourages competitive and cooperative play.

Cons

Limited replayability: Once puzzles are solved, the game may lose some of its appeal.

Dependent on puzzle quality: The enjoyment of the game heavily relies on the quality and complexity of the puzzles.

No official instructions online: Can be difficult to find instructions if the original manual is lost.

Personal Thoughts on Totally Dingbats

**Totally Dingbats** is ideal for those who enjoy puzzles, wordplay, and brain teasers. It is a great addition to any game collection for families, groups of friends, or individuals looking to challenge themselves intellectually. However, it may not be as appealing to those who prefer more action-oriented or physically interactive games. For those nostalgic for 1990s board games or seeking a unique mental challenge, **Totally Dingbats** is a worthwhile find.

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