Continue if you are looking for games like Root and are curious about what similar games to play next. Root is all about taking on one of the four character races and doing what you need to do to win the forest. The Cats play a game of engine building and logistics, the Eyrie musters their hawks to take back the Woods, The Alliance hides in the shadows recruiting forces and hatching conspiracies, and the raccoon Vagabond plays all sides of the conflict for their own gain.
To determine this list we broke down Root to what it is. This game is a very unique game in that there are completely different races that each have their own thing and goals they need to achieve. Even though there is a drastic divergence in who each person is, the game is designed to balance each other. It is like a game of rock paper scissors that evolved over thousands of years. The future of asymmetric design they call it.
This is a wargame on a big scale. If you are looking for something similar, you have come to the right place. We took all this into consideration and came up with this list of the 5 board games like Root.
FOR MORE: Root Page | Buy Root on Amazon
#05 | Settlers of Catan
Now stay with us on this one. Settlers of Catan makes the list of board games like Root because you have a center board and it player, 3 or 4, will each unofficially take their own section of the board to grow within and they want to keep others out and that balance is everything. How things go down comes down to the roll of dice and as you grow you get bigger and better.
You are charged with forging a new civilization on the island of Catan and you need to masterfully setup around the five different resources in order to properly thrive. The modular board, which changes every games, is hexagonal so each of the 21 tiles intersect in 3s. You place settlements on these intersections. Each turn dice are rolled and if you are touching a tile that matches a number that came up on the dice, you get that tile’s resource. You then use these to grow and expand. For 3 – 4, games run about 1 – 2 hours.
FOR MORE: Settlers of Catan Page | How To Play Settlers of Catan | Settlers of Catan Review | Games Like Settlers of Catan | Buy Settlers of Catan on Amazon
#04 | Spirit Island
This is another title on the list of games like Root that is by no means a direct copy but has many things that make it a great choice. Spirit Island is a cooperative game but instead of what everyone is doing to each other in Root, here it is the game doing it to all the players. You are defending your island home from colonizing Invaders.
You are a spirit of the land with your own unique elemental powers. Every turn, players simultaneously choose which of their power cards to play, paying energy to do so. Combos and weighing fast versus slow initiative are big here. In the Spirit phase, spirits gain energy, and choose how / whether to Grow: to reclaim used power cards, to seek for new power, or to spread presence into new areas of the island. For 1 – 4 players, games last 90 – 120 minutes.
FOR MORE: Spirit Island Page | Games Like Spirit Island | Buy Spirit Island on Amazon
#03 | Star Wars: Rebellion
Star Wars: Rebellion makes the list of games like Root because this is an epic and intense wargame of varying races that have their very own special powers that are going to help them control territory. Probably the most opposite you could have in theme, but the balance of moving forward while having to watch sides in all directions is there.
You control the entire Galactic Empire or the fledgling Rebel Alliance. You must command starships, account for troop movements, and rally systems to your cause. Given the differences between the Empire and Rebel Alliance, each side has different win conditions, and you’ll need to adjust your play style depending on who you represent. Dice rolling through area control is how you win this one and oh boy is it fun. For 2 – 4 players, games last about 3 – 4 hours.
FOR MORE: Games Like Star Wars Rebellion | Buy Star Wars Rebellion on Amazon
#02 | Tiny Epic Galaxies
Tiny Epic Galaxies makes the list of board games like Root because this is all about using your powers to control your area of the board. You need to roll dice and make strategic decisions for several turns into the foreseeable future all while keeping the balance amongst the other players in the game.
Each player controls a galactic empire, aiming to expand their influence by acquiring highly contested planets and increasing their cosmic armada. The game revolves around an innovative dice-rolling combo mechanic. The number of dice you roll is determined by the strength of your galaxy. Each die is engraved with symbols representing the various actions you can take, such as moving a spaceship, increasing your culture or energy resources, or advancing your political or economic influence over newly discovered planets. For 1 – 5 players, games run roughly 30 – 45 minutes.
FOR MORE: Games Like Tiny Epic Galaxies | Buy Tiny Epic Galaxies on Amazon
#01 | Scythe
Scythe makes the list of games like Root because you have deep individual powers that matter but you also have the broader scope how you protect the area in front of you and how you reach the goals you need to win. Both games are very intense, we will not sugar coat it, these take some time to get into but are very worth the journey.
Scythe is set in an alternate-history 1920s period. You are a character from one of five factions of Eastern Europe, attempting to earn your fortune and claim your faction’s stake in the land around the mysterious Factory. You must conquer territory, enlist new recruits, reap resources, gain villagers, build structures, and activate monstrous mechs. For 1 – 5 players, games last approximately 90 – 115 minutes.
