Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Where to Play

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Screenwise Verdict

Root is that rare board game that lives up to its hype. It won Game of the Year for good reason: the asymmetric design is genuinely innovative, forcing players to think in completely different ways depending on their faction. This isn't a game where everyone does the same thing with minor variations—the Marquise builds, the Eyrie programs, the Alliance recruits, the Vagabond quests. It's four different games happening simultaneously on one board.

The catch? This is a war game. A cute, woodland-creature war game, but a war game nonetheless. Players will attack each other, block each other's plans, and form temporary alliances only to betray them later. If your family enjoys competitive games and can handle direct conflict without hurt feelings, Root is exceptional. If someone at your table takes attacks personally or struggles with losing, this will create tension.

The learning curve is real—3.84 complexity means this isn't Catan. Expect the first game to be rough as everyone figures out their faction. But once it clicks, Root offers incredible strategic depth and replayability. It's the kind of game that rewards multiple plays and gets better as everyone learns the systems.

For families with strategically-minded teens who enjoy chess-like thinking and don't mind cutthroat competition, Root is an absolute gem. Just make sure everyone knows what they're signing up for before the cute woodland creatures start waging war.

Age Fit

Root is best for strategic thinkers ages 12+ who enjoy complex, competitive games. The 14+ age rating is appropriate—younger players can technically play with coaching, but the cognitive load and social dynamics work best for middle schoolers and up. This is a game that adults genuinely enjoy, making it excellent for families with teens.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

72

Root presents a woodland war game wrapped in adorable animal art, creating a fascinating tension between cute aesthetics and cutthroat gameplay. The game models negotiation, strategic thinking, and reading social dynamics—valuable skills—but it's explicitly confrontational and competitive. Players will backstab, block, and battle each other for control. The charming forest creatures soften what is fundamentally a territorial war game, making it palatable without sanitizing the conflict. It's wholesome in the sense that it's honest about competition and teaches kids to handle losing and strategic setbacks, not in the sense that everyone holds hands at the end.

Imaginative

94

Root is wildly imaginative and won multiple innovation awards for good reason. The asymmetric design means each faction plays completely differently—the Marquise de Cat builds an industrial engine, the Eyrie Dynasty programs actions with escalating risk, the Woodland Alliance runs an insurgency, and the Vagabond is a solo adventurer. Players must learn not just their own strategy but understand three other entirely different gameplay systems to compete effectively. This forces creative thinking, perspective-taking, and adaptive strategy. Designer Cole Wehrle created something genuinely original that invites exploration of different playstyles and tactical approaches every single game.

Safe

88

Root is exceptionally safe for a board game. The conflict is abstract (removing wooden meeples from a map), the art is charming and non-violent, and there's no mature content. The main safety consideration is social: this is a highly competitive, confrontational game where players will directly attack each other and form/break alliances. Some kids (and adults) find this stressful or take it personally. Web search results confirm it's 'confrontational' and 'many kids don't enjoy that.' However, learning to handle competitive conflict in a structured game environment is developmentally valuable. The game doesn't create toxic dynamics—it just doesn't shy away from direct competition. For families comfortable with competitive games, it's perfectly safe.

Enriching

89

Root is a masterclass in strategic thinking, asymmetric problem-solving, and social dynamics. The 3.84 complexity rating means players will genuinely stretch their cognitive abilities learning multiple interconnected systems. It teaches: reading the board state, anticipating opponent moves, negotiating temporary alliances, managing risk vs. reward, and adapting strategy on the fly. The asymmetry forces perspective-taking—you must understand how your opponents think and win to counter them. It's also genuinely entertaining with high replayability (96,000 community owned, 8.1 BGG rating). The learning curve is steep but rewarding. This is the kind of game that builds real strategic thinking skills while being engaging enough that players want to keep coming back.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Genuinely innovative asymmetric design—each faction plays like a completely different game, forcing creative thinking and perspective-taking
Award-winning gameplay (2018 Golden Geek Game of the Year, multiple international awards) with exceptional strategic depth and replayability
Teaches negotiation, adaptive strategy, risk management, and reading social dynamics in a structured environment
Gorgeous art and tactile components make a complex war game approachable and visually engaging
Strong community (96,000 owners, 8.1 BGG rating) means plenty of online resources, strategy guides, and active player base

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What to Watch For

This is a competitive, confrontational game where players directly attack each other—not suitable for kids who take conflict personally or struggle with losing
Steep learning curve (3.84/5 complexity) means the first few games will be rough; expect frustration before the 'aha' moment clicks
Teaching this game is challenging—each faction has different rules, so one player needs to understand all four systems to teach effectively
Games can swing dramatically based on other players ganging up on the leader, which some kids find unfair (even though it's smart strategy)

Conversation Starters

"Which faction's playstyle fits your personality—building an engine, programming actions, running a rebellion, or going solo?"
"When someone attacked you, was it personal or just good strategy? How do you separate the two?"
"What did you learn about your opponents' strategies? How did understanding their win conditions change your approach?"
"Did you form any alliances? When did you decide to break them, and how did that feel?"
"What would you do differently next game now that you understand the systems better?"

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