"I deliberately chose a word with multiple meanings for the title. The box features the roots of a tree, and the game takes place in a forest. Beyond the literal meaning, there are figurative ones. We need to feel how difficult it is for a new policy or a new regime to take root in a given territory. This game is also about problems and their causes, about the essence of a problem, or in other words, about the root of the problem." — Game designer Cole Wehrle.

About the game

Root is an asymmetric strategy game for 2-4 players, where you take the lead of one of four unique factions and engage in a struggle for control of the forest, or set off on adventures. However, each player must find their own path to victory: some will conquer lands and fight opponents, others will raise uprisings and engage in subversive activities, while still others will complete quests and skillfully navigate between conflicting sides.

Gameplay

Each faction in the game operates under its own unique set of rules, although the victory conditions are the same for all sides. But even if you develop a successful strategy for each role, it doesn't guarantee victory, as in Root, the ability to negotiate with other players—and sometimes betray them—is crucial. This, combined with an element of randomness in the game itself, ensures that each session of Root plays out in a completely new way.

A game with 3-4 players lasts 60-90 minutes. With 2 players, the game time is reduced to 30-40 minutes, allowing you to battle for forest dominance during a lunch break or, as the author recommends, play two consecutive games, swapping roles, to show your opponent who's really in charge.

Although Root was released in August 2018 through Kickstarter, where it was backed by nearly 8.5 thousand people, within just a few months it received more than 3,000 user ratings on BoardGameGeek, and currently, the game confidently holds a place in the top 100 with an average rating of 8.1.