One of the most telling things about wargaming is the fact that the hobby has a term for the old, hardcore fans - the stereotypical grognard - but none for the fresh recruit or the new convert. The hobby is graying, and fast. Where are all the doughboys, you might ask? Playing eurogames, probably.
Wargaming has, for a variety of reasons, failed to rise alongside the tide of board gaming's new golden age. While the rest of the industry has been buoyed by the mainstreaming of geek and hobbyist culture, wargaming has languished, a rump state in the ruins of a once glorious empire. What wargaming desperately needs is an ambassador to board gaming proper, something that can act as a Trojan Horse for the shy but curious potential wargamer. Root could very well be that game.
Originally released in tabletop form in 2018 to both widespread popular and critical acclaim, Root is a game of woodland warfare and strategy in which four asymmetrical factions battle for control of the forest. With its brisk playtime, straightforward design, and flat-out gorgeous fairytale-esque art, Root has earned the immense praise that has been heaped upon it since its release.
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