Comparison

Through the Ages vs Root Board Game

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

Head to head
About

Through the Ages

Lead a civilization from its beginnings to the modern era. Expand your resources, develop technologies, and build armies to defend or attack. Construct wonders and choose governments to achieve victory in this deep strategy game.

Highlights
  • Civilization development
  • Resource management
  • Technology research
  • Military expansion
  • Government selection
  • Wonder construction
  • Card-driven gameplay
  • Solo and online multiplayer
Features
Read full description

Through the Ages is based on a highly acclaimed civilization board game by well-known designer Vlaada Chvátil. The original game is recognized as a modern classic board game. ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES Become a chieftain of a small civilization at the dawn of humankind's history. Expand your farms and mines to ensure you have enough resources to grow your civilization. This is our chance to make history! Develop various technologies, improve armies to defend your cities, or attack other civilizations nearby. Choose the best government that fits your goals and build magnificent wonders to achieve memorable victory at the end of the modern era. CARD-DRIVEN GAMEPLAY Through the Ages is a card-driven, turn-based board game that gives you countless options on what to do and how to play. Thanks to the pool of hundreds of cards, every game is unique, allowing you to build a mighty civilization. PLAY SOLO OR ONLINE You can play against AI-driven world leaders with various difficulties, or you can jump into online games against other players. Thanks to the ELO system, the game will find you opponents of the same level as you are. Clash with them and discover whose strategy leads to victory. You can also participate in some of the many championships, including the official World Championship in Through the Ages. PLENTY OF CHALLENGES The game offers more than 30 challenges that change the winning conditions or rules, so you must adapt your strategy to lead your civilization to victory. Prove that you understand how civilization works and become the mighty world leader.

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.

Screenshots

Through the Ages4 screens
Root Board Game4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Root Board Game at every 4 days against Through the Ages's every 10 days. Root Board Game also leads on chart position (#13 vs #52) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Through the Ages's advantage is review sentiment (88% vs 77%). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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

Through the Ages costs $9.99 and Root Board Game $9.99 up front. Through the Ages sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Root Board Game 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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Through the Ages against 4.9 for Root Board Game. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5.1K and 5.9K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 88% of Through the Ages's written reviews are positive against 77% of Root Board Game's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Through the Ages ships an update every 10 days, Root Board Game every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Through the Ages versus Root Board Game: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThrough the AgesRoot Board Game
Price$9.99$9.99
Rating4.9 (5.1K ratings) — better4.9 (5.9K ratings)
Positive reviews87.7% of reviews — better76.9% of reviews
Number of ratings5.1K5.9K — better
Update frequencyEvery 10 daysEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#52#13 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size188 MB505 MB
Age rating12+9+
DeveloperCGE Digital s.r.o.Dire Wolf Digital

Customer experience

Through the Ages

All ratings5,140 ratings
Positive97.8%
Neutral0.8%
Negative1.4%
Written reviews816 reviews
Positive87.7%
Neutral3.8%
Negative8.5%

Root Board Game

All ratings5,424 ratings
Positive97.5%
Neutral1.1%
Negative1.3%
Written reviews399 reviews
Positive76.9%
Neutral8.5%
Negative14.5%

User reviews

Through the Ages

From 5.1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent tutorial
  • 👍 Great implementation of board game
  • 🚀 Smooth gameplay
  • 👍 Challenging AI
  • 👍 Lots of replay value

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
  • 🔋 High battery consumption
  • 🐛 Connectivity issues with online play
  • 🐛 Bugs in challenge mode
  • 🐛 Compatibility issues with older devices

Root Board Game

From 5.9K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Faithful adaptation of the board game
  • 🎨 Charming visuals and animations
  • 🕹️ Smooth gameplay
  • 🧠 Helpful tutorials for learning the game
  • 🕹️ Great way to practice and learn the game

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
  • 🕹️ AI could be improved, makes questionable decisions
  • 🕹️ Lack of undo button frustrating
  • 🕹️ Replaying opponent moves can be tedious
  • 🕹️ Animations can be slow, need option to speed up

Bugs and requests

Through the Ages

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes during challenge mode
  • Connectivity issues with online play
  • Compatibility problems on older devices
  • Freezing during gameplay

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add pass-and-play mode with AI
  • Ability to mix human and AI players
  • More customization options for game settings
  • Expansion content (new leaders, wonders, etc.)
  • Ability to slow down AI turns for better observation

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

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Through the Ages

One-time1
  • New Leaders and Wonders$4.99
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

Questions

Is Through the Ages free?
Through the Ages costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Root Board Game free?
Root Board Game costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Through the Ages or Root Board Game?
Through the Ages is rated higher. Through the Ages averages 4.9 out of 5 from 5.1K ratings, while Root Board Game averages 4.9 from 5.9K ratings.
Do Through the Ages or Root Board Game have ads?
Neither Through the Ages nor Root Board Game shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Through the Ages or Root Board Game?
Through the Ages ships an update every 10 days, and Root Board Game every 4 days. Most recently, Through the Ages was updated on October 31, 2026 and Root Board Game on October 30, 2026.
Which is more popular, Through the Ages or Root Board Game?
Through the Ages currently peaks at #52 in the App Store charts, and Root Board Game at #13. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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