Comparison

Root Board Game vs Plants vs Goblins 3

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Root Board Game

Experience a digital adaptation of a popular tabletop board game. Engage in strategic woodland warfare as 2 to 4 players vie for control of a vast wilderness, leading diverse factions to victory.

Highlights
  • Digital board game adaptation
  • Adventure and war gameplay
  • 2-4 player battles
  • Faction control mechanics
  • Wilderness exploration
Features
Read full description

Play the digital adaptation of the beloved tabletop board game. Root is a game of adventure and war where 2 to 4 players battle for control of a vast wilderness. The nefarious Marquise de Cat has seized the great woodland, intent on harvesting its riches. Under her rule, the many creatures of the forest have banded together. This Alliance will seek to strengthen its resources and subvert the rule of Cats. In this effort, the Alliance may enlist the help of the wandering Vagabonds who are able to move through the more dangerous woodland paths. Though some may sympathize with the Alliance’s hopes and dreams, these wanderers are old enough to remember the great birds of prey who once controlled the woods. Meanwhile, at the edge of the region, the proud, squabbling Eyrie have found a new commander who they hope will lead their faction to resume their ancient birthright. The stage is set for a contest that will decide the fate of the great woodland. It is up to the players to decide which group will ultimately take root.

About

Plants vs Goblins 3

Defend the Garden Kingdom from a new goblin invasion in this action-packed strategy game. Recruit new plant warriors, upgrade powerful skills, and uncover secrets to drive back the enemy.

Highlights
  • New plant warrior types
  • Vicious new goblin enemies
  • Upgradeable special skills
  • Mysterious benefactor character
  • Diverse quest system
  • Daily free rewards
  • Goblin information library
Features
Read full description

Peace has reigned over the verdant fields of the Garden Kingdom for several years following the Second Great Goblin War. While the greenhouses have been rebuilt and the nurseries flourish with budding new citizens, the remnants of war remain in the tales of grizzled veterans telling stories over a glass of fertilizer and dust covered outposts that remain ever vigilant for the threat of goblins from sky and land. The illusion of peace that the plants had hoped would last forever was burst one sunny afternoon day when the guards at a border outpost found themselves frozen in place by a strange looking goblin crackling with an arcane blue glow. Seconds later a goblin moving faster than any they had seen before came in and destroyed the outpost, laying it to waste and clearing the way for the marching hordes that followed over the horizon. War has come again to the Garden Kingdom, with greater threats and more powerful goblins than they’ve ever faced before. But all is not lost, in the time of peace new friends have joined the Garden Kingdom, prickly cacti, fiery Chili Peppers, deadly Dahlias and more all stand with our old heroes to drive the vile threat back to where it came from. In this newest edition of Plants and Goblins You’ll find: - New Cactus, Chili, Dahlia, Pear, Pumpkin, Sunflower, Tomato, and Tulip Garden Warriors - Vicious new mad goblin and freeze goblin enemies. - Upgradeable special Skills including Heavy Rockets, Freezing, Bombs, and more! - A mysterious benefactor known as the Botanist who can’t fight or defend… but has secrets to share. - An endless array of diverse quests that will have you swimming in gold and gems! - Multiple Free Rewards A day - A comprehensive library containing information about all your goblin foes!

Screenshots

Root Board Game4 screens
Plants vs Goblins 33 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Plants vs Goblins 3 at Free against Root Board Game's $9.99. Plants vs Goblins 3 also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 6). Root Board Game's advantage is rating (4.9 vs 3.7) and ads (none vs shown). On device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Plants vs Goblins 3 is free to download; Root Board Game costs $9.99 up front. Root Board Game sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Plants vs Goblins 3 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Root Board Game holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Root Board Game has 5.4K ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of Root Board Game's written reviews are positive against 44% of Plants vs Goblins 3's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Root Board Game ships an update every 4 days, Plants vs Goblins 3 every 43 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and August 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Root Board Game versus Plants vs Goblins 3: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRoot Board GamePlants vs Goblins 3
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating4.9 (5.4K ratings) — better3.7 (15 ratings)
Positive reviews77.1% of reviews — better44.4% of reviews
Number of ratings5.4K — better15
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 43 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
Best chart rank#14 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size505 MB232 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperDire Wolf DigitalAleksey Tselinko

Customer experience

Root Board Game

All ratings5,424 ratings
Positive97.5%
Neutral1.1%
Negative1.3%
Written reviews393 reviews
Positive77.1%
Neutral8.4%
Negative14.5%

Plants vs Goblins 3

All ratings15 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral6.7%
Negative26.7%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive44.4%
Neutral11.1%
Negative44.4%

Bugs and requests

Root Board Game

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes and freezes during gameplay
  • Issues with async game notifications and state
  • Bugs with specific faction mechanics (e.g. Vagabond)

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add undo button
  • Implement option to skip/speed up opponent moves
  • Include expansion factions and maps
  • Add match history and player stats tracking
  • Improve async game notifications and stability
Show 1 more
  • Add more customization options for game setup

Plants vs Goblins 3

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Root Board Game

One-time6
  • The Clockwork Expansion$5.99
  • Exiles & Partisans & Vagabonds$7.99
  • The Riverfolk Expansion$9.99
Show 3 more
  • Root: The Underworld Expansion$9.99
  • Root: The Marauder Expansion$9.99
  • Hirelings & Landmarks$9.99
None

Plants vs Goblins 3

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Root Board Game free?
Root Board Game costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Plants vs Goblins 3 free?
Plants vs Goblins 3 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Root Board Game or Plants vs Goblins 3?
Root Board Game is rated higher. Root Board Game averages 4.9 out of 5 from 5.4K ratings, while Plants vs Goblins 3 averages 3.7 from 15 ratings.
Do Root Board Game or Plants vs Goblins 3 have ads?
Plants vs Goblins 3 shows ads; Root Board Game does not.
Which is updated more often, Root Board Game or Plants vs Goblins 3?
Root Board Game ships an update every 4 days, and Plants vs Goblins 3 every 43 months. Most recently, Root Board Game was updated on September 22, 2026 and Plants vs Goblins 3 on August 26, 2026.

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