Comparison

Root Board Game vs TMHelper

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

TMHelper

A companion app for Terraforming Mars and its Ares Expedition expansion. It allows players to easily track global parameters, manage player boards, and keep score for up to five players. Designed for quick, touch-friendly adjustments.

Highlights
  • Track global parameters (oxygen, temperature, oceans)
  • Manage player boards with production/resource controls
  • Keep Terraforming Rating and player scores
  • Dedicated Ares Expedition mode
  • Smart, touch-first controls
Features
Read full description

TMHelper is a fast, table‑friendly companion for Terraforming Mars and Terraforming Mars: Ares Expedition. Features: - Track global parameters (oxygen, temperature, oceans) at a glance - Manage player boards with quick production + resource controls - Keep Terraforming Rating and player scores for up to 5 players, color‑coded - Switch between Terraforming Mars and Ares Expedition with a dedicated Ares mode - Use smart, touch‑first controls designed for fast, mistake‑free adjustments

Screenshots

Root Board Game4 screens
TMHelper3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: TMHelper at Free against Root Board Game's $9.99. Root Board Game's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 10 months) and rating (4.9 vs 4.5). On ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

TMHelper is free to download; Root Board Game costs $9.99 up front. Root Board Game sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and TMHelper sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Root Board Game holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Root Board Game has 5.9K ratings behind it against 2, 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 67% of TMHelper's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Root Board Game ships an update every 4 days, TMHelper every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Root Board Game versus TMHelper: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRoot Board GameTMHelper
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating4.9 (5.9K ratings) — better4.5 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews77.1% of reviews — better66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings5.9K — better2
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterEvery 10 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#14 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size505 MB6 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperDire Wolf DigitalMike Mailyan

Customer experience

Root Board Game

All ratings5,424 ratings
Positive97.5%
Neutral1.1%
Negative1.3%
Written reviews397 reviews
Positive77.1%
Neutral8.6%
Negative14.4%

TMHelper

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%

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

TMHelper

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
6 purchases

TMHelper

One-time6
  • TMHelper 7-day Free TrialFree
  • Mars$0.99
  • Earth$1.99
Show 3 more
  • Saturn$2.99
  • Jupiter$3.99
  • TMHelper Lifetime$9.99

Questions

Is Root Board Game free?
Root Board Game costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is TMHelper free?
TMHelper is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Root Board Game or TMHelper?
Root Board Game is rated higher. Root Board Game averages 4.9 out of 5 from 5.9K ratings, while TMHelper averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.
Do Root Board Game or TMHelper have ads?
Neither Root Board Game nor TMHelper shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Root Board Game or TMHelper?
Root Board Game ships an update every 4 days, and TMHelper every 10 months. Most recently, Root Board Game was updated on October 25, 2026 and TMHelper on October 17, 2026.

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