Root Down vs Merge
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Root Down
An original abstract strategy game for two players with unique movement rules. Figure out how to move your pieces to capture your opponent's and win. Offers AI play and pass-and-play modes with variable setups.
- Abstract strategy gameplay
- Unique piece movement rules
- AI opponent
- Pass-and-play mode
- Variable game setups
Read full descriptionHide full description
Root Down is an original abstract strategy game designed by Martin Grider for 2-players. It's rules about which pieces you can move are a little quirky, but once you figure it out, it's very quick to play, and has some interesting gameplay mechanics. In Root Down, you have two types of pieces. There are "kicker" pieces that must be next to a "root" piece to move. (Root pieces cannot move.) Kickers can only move exactly as far as the number of kickers next to the root. After a kicker moves, it "kicks" all of the neighboring pieces, then settles down into a new "root" piece. If you kick one of your own root pieces, it becomes another "kicker"! Kicking an opponent's root does the same, and if you kick it again before it has a chance to move, you'll to capture it! The game features an AI player, as well as pass-and-play options. There are several variable setups to chose from. Each one plays slightly different. Please use the "send feedback" button to send me your input, or email me: rootdown@abstractpuzzle.com
Merge
This game combines classic chess strategy with simple puzzle mechanics. Swipe to merge same-colored pieces, aiming to leave only a King on the board. Be mindful of board space to avoid filling it up.
- Chess strategy
- Puzzle mechanics
- Swipe to merge pieces
- Merge same-colored pieces
- Goal: leave only a King
- Avoid filling the board
Read full descriptionHide full description
Merge-Chess is a brand new approach to Chess! Blending the strategy of the ancient game of Chess with simple puzzle game mechanics. Simply swipe to shift the board pieces in any direction. Same pieces of opposite colours that touch will be merged. Keep merging to take more and more pieces until you are finally left with a King to win the game. But be careful not to fill your board up!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Merge at 5.0 against Root Down's 4.0. Merge also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 27 months) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.4). Root Down's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume 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
Both are free to download. Merge sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Root Down asks for nothing beyond the download.
Merge holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 2 respectively.
Root Down ships an update every 27 months, Merge every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Root Down | Merge |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (3 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 3 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 27 months | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.4 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 117 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Martin Grider | Ammonite Design Studios Ltd |
Customer experience
Root Down
Merge
In-app purchases
Root Down
No in-app purchases
Merge
- No Ads$1.99
