Binding spirits to totems isn't the sort of activity you find on your daily to-do list. With the logic puzzle game Totemo, however, you'll do it dozens upon dozens of times, all with just a few taps on your screen! It's a rare puzzle game that isn't directly inspired by the match-3 genre, and it's from the team that brought us Evac and Everlands, so you know it's got more than a few things going for it.
Spirits come in several shapes and colors and occupy a grid space on one side of the screen. To eliminate them, tap a spirit, then tap another one in the same row or column. Distance doesn't matter, just as long as there's nothing between the spirits (they can "see" each other). The number or method for matching will vary depending on the type and the totems, but the central focus of the game is figuring out how to remove straggling spirits without leaving orphans behind.
Order becomes supremely important, and each of the stages has a solution you'll have to puzzle out with logic and a bit of trial and error. It's as much about finding a strategy as it is solving a puzzle. Once you work your way through the main story, survival mode unlocks to challenge you to solve puzzles with a strict time limit. It's got atmosphere, it's got charm, and it's got a great presentation, especially for a simple puzzle game. Totemo has "win" written all over it!
NOTE: This game was played and reviewed on an iPad. Game was available in the North American market at the time of publication, but may not be available in other territories. Please see individual app market pages for purchasing info.
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