In Root, players compete for the most victory points through moving and battling using various factions with unique abilities.
In the base game, 4 factions are present: the Eyrie Dynasties, Marquise de Cat, Woodland Alliance, and the Vagabond.
Reviewing for Ars Technica, Charlie Theel praised the game's visuals and highlighted its strategic depth and asymmetrical factions.
He described the Eyrie's design of adding decrees as a "fascinating and one of the most rewarding factions" that was "beset with challenges", the Marquise de Cat as "the most straightforward" but "deceptive", and considered the Woodland Alliance to be "a true guerilla force", with its power of destroying enemies to be "explosive and extremely gratifying".
Theel concluded that the game offered "astounding depth" due to its "deep asymmetry" and "extended exploration".
[2] Jonathan Bolding from GamesRadar stated that it was "one of the best board games", praising the components, the accessible combat system, and "compelling" asymmetry, but commented negatively on the difficulty for new players.
[3][better source needed] Dicebreaker also listed Root as one of the best board games, describing the "absolutely adorable" artwork and balanced powers of the factions.
[6] In 2022, The New York Times named it one of the four best strategy board games alongside Brass: Birmingham, Ark Nova, and Lost Ruins of Arnak, praising its "unique ecosystem of conflicting and contrasting goals, powers, and win conditions" but noting that it was "an intimidating game for newbies".
The expansion lets players play against four automated factions: the Logical Lizards, Riverfolk Robots, Cogwheel Corvids and Drillbit Duchy.
Charlie Hall for Polygon recommended it for fans of "swashbuckling adventure" and "high-stakes political theater.
"[33] Root: Digital Edition was released in September 2020 by Dire Wolf on the PC, iOS and Android platforms, followed by a Nintendo Switch version in November 2021.
[36] Theel from Polygon also recommended the Nintendo Switch adaptation, praised the addition of new modes, and concluded that it "accomplishes the unenviable task of bringing its machinations to the screen", but critiqued the lack of group dynamics.