Tic Tac Total is a game played on a 5x5 grid of squares where players alternate playing X and O chips onto the board in an effort to get as many of your chips in a row as possible while blocking your opponent from creating rows. You score three points for each row of 3, five for each row of 4, and eight for each row of 5. The middle spot is wild and counts as either an X or an O.

The game has an electronic sensor which keeps track of where the chips are placed and provides sound effects and scoring as the game is played. There is also a 1 player mode where the computer shows you where to place its chips.