Comparison

Root Board Game vs Forward Element

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

Forward Element

Features
Read full description

Little troops. Big plans. Your turn. Lead the Green Guys against the Tan Dudes in Forward Element, a playful turn-based tactics game for iPhone and iPad. Bring infantry, tanks, aircraft, and boats together, use the terrain, and turn a clever move into a satisfying victory. LEARN YOUR SQUAD Start with 24 short tutorial missions: one for each of 22 units, plus two lessons in commanding your whole force. Then take on the 10-mission Ringfall Chain campaign and chase better medals as your tactics improve. MAKE EVERY UNIT COUNT Send Field Engineers to capture structures, buy reinforcements with Cash at production sites, and keep your force supplied. Carry troops into position, line up a Sniper shot, or soften a crowded defense with rockets and artillery. The Dossier explains each unit's role and special abilities. A NEW BATTLEFIELD, YOUR WAY Choose one of 8 curated skirmish maps, revisit any of the 34 campaign battlefields, or generate a fresh map. Set its size, biome, water, elevation, and seed, then decide how you want to win. TAKE ON THE AI OR A FRIEND - Play solo against four AI difficulty levels. - Share one device in Pass & Play, with a private screen between turns. - Host or join a nearby LAN match on compatible devices. - Use curated, campaign, or generated maps in every skirmish mode. SET YOUR OWN PACE Adjust starting Cash, income, unit limits, victory conditions, and the optional turn timer. Tap a unit to move or attack. Confirm Actions is off by default and can be enabled in Settings. PLAY A LITTLE, COME BACK LATER Save and resume your campaigns and skirmishes. Campaign, AI skirmish, and Pass & Play work offline. Nearby multiplayer uses a local connection, not internet matchmaking. Color-vision palettes, high contrast, reduced motion, subtitles, and adjustable audio help you make the battlefield your own. No ads. No in-app purchases. No account required. The troops are ready. What's your next move?

Screenshots

Root Board Game4 screens
Forward Element4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Forward Element at Free against Root Board Game's $9.99. Forward Element also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 6). Root Board Game's advantage is chart position (#15 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On ads 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

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

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Root Board Game versus Forward Element: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRoot Board GameForward Element
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating4.9 (5.4K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews77.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings5.4K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 days—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#15 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size505 MB189 MB
Age rating9+12+
DeveloperDire Wolf DigitalRichard Lavey

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

Forward Element

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

Forward Element

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Root Board Game free?
Root Board Game costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Forward Element free?
Forward Element is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Root Board Game or Forward Element have ads?
Neither Root Board Game nor Forward Element shows ads.

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