GameGrin Ultimate Buyer's Guide 2018
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The temperature is falling, the wind is howling and the shops are getting increasingly (and intolerably) crowded, which means one thing: the festive season is well and truly underway. If you’re anything like myself, the aforementioned conditions are giving you all the more reason to shun the outside world and settle in with a good videogame. Or perhaps you’re on the lookout for last-minute Christmas presents and are stuck for ideas?
Whether you’re purchasing a gift for a friend or loved one for Christmas or holding out until the January sales to treat yourself to a little something, the games below represent the pinnacle of gaming in 2018; the titles that, over the past 12 months, GameGrin has recommended that you absolutely must check out.
Owlboy
Check out Owlboy
Cars 3: Driven to Win
Check out Cars 3: Driven to Win
FAR: Lone Sails
Check out FAR: Lone Sails
Death Road to Canada
Check out Death Road to Canada
BattleTech
Check out BATTLETECH
Pizza Titan Ultra
Check out Pizza Titan Ultra
Moss
Check out Moss
Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
Check out Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
Warhammer: Vermintide 2
Check out Warhammer: Vermintide 2
A Way Out
Check out A Way Out
Kerbal Space Program: Enhanced Edition
Check out Kerbal Space Program
GRIP: Combat Racing
Check out GRIP
CrossCode
Check out CrossCode
The Corridor: On Behalf of the Dead
Check out The Corridor: On Behalf Of The Dead
Two Point Hospital
Check out Two Point Hospital
Freedom Planet
Check out Freedom Planet
Strange Brigade
Check out Strange Brigade
The Lion's Song
Check out The Lion's Song
Slime-san: Superslime Edition
Check out Slime-san
Yakuza Kiwami 2
Check out Yakuza Kiwami 2
Tanglewood
Check out TANGLEWOOD
Dead Cells
Check out Dead Cells
Framed Collection
Check out FRAMED Collection
20XX
Check out 20XX
The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit
Check out The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit
Who Am I: The Tale of Dorothy
Check out Who Am I: The Tale of Dorothy
Monster Hunter: World
Check out Monster Hunter World
House Flipper
Check out House Flipper
Octahedron
Check out OCTAHEDRON
Subnautica
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Check out Subnautica
Q.U.B.E. 2
Check out Q.U.B.E. 2
Final Fantasy XV: Windows Edition
Check out Final Fantasy XV
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age
Check out FINAL FANTASY XII THE ZODIAC AGE
Into the Breach
Check out Into the Breach
Bridge Constructor Portal
Check out Bridge Constructor Portal
Sky Force Reloaded
Check out Sky Force Reloaded
So there you have it. We reviewed a lot of games this year, but rest assured that if you were on the fence about a certain title or were wondering what last-minute stocking fillers to purchase, GameGrin wholeheartedly recommends any title that appears above.
From all of us here at GameGrin, have yourself a fantastic holiday season.
On its surface, there is no denying the visual appeal of Root by Leder games - with its adorable woodland critters adorning the box and storybook-esque art style. But, it may surprise you that under its innocent facade is, in fact, a deep and occasionally cutthroat strategy board game game with complex factions to choose from, with each one playing drastically different from the others. Root is a challenging game to learn, with each faction playing differently from one another and there being a lot to keep track of (especially in larger groups). But with its complexity comes depth and avenues for strategy.
If you just snag the base game of Root, you will know pretty quickly—within a few playthroughs—whether it is a game for you or not. (You can also check out our Root board game review to see if it sounds like your kind of hting). This buyer's guide highlights and goes into detail about all the various ways you can expand and further enrich your Root experience with new factions, mechanics, and ways to play!
Root: A Game of Woodland Might and
Right
25% off
$59.99
$44.99
MSRP: $60.00 USD
Root was first released back in 2018 and impressed players with its aesthetic that masks its intricate asymmetric gameplay. This base set of Root includes four factions that players can choose from - the Marquise de Cat, the Eyrie Dynasty, the Woodland Alliance, and the lone traveling Vagabond - with varying player counts preferring specific pairings for the best experience. You will need this box in order to take advantage of any of the following additional content, so consider this your starting point.
Root: The Clockwork
Expansion
6% off
$69.99
$65.98
Contents (Clockwork 1 - REQUIRES BASE GAME)
MSRP: $40.00 USD
Root: The Clockwork Expansion
2
$40.00
Contents (Clockwork 2 - REQUIRES BASE GAME AND ONE OR BOTH OF RIVERFOLK OR UNDERWORLD EXPANSIONS)
MSRP: $40.00 USD
If there are any “must have '' expansions for Root, I would argue that it would be the Clockwork Expansions - at least the first one. These special expansions allow you to play Root as either a solo experience or a cooperative one, with the addition of “AI ''-controlled factions. The original Clockwork expansion includes robot versions of the base game’s factions - the Mechanical Marquise 2.0, Electrical Eyrie, Automated Alliance, and the Vagabot - while the second box includes factions from other expansions - the Logical Lizards, Riverfolk Robots, Cogwheel Corvids, Drillbit Duchy, and additional Vagabot options.
Root: The Riverfolk
Expansion
9% off
$40.00
$36.54
MSRP: $40.00 USD
Contents:
Lizard cultists and merchant otters have entered the woodlands of Root with the Riverfolk expansion. In addition to the new ways to play Root that both of these groups provide (nothing like some ritual sacrifice and capitalism), this expansion - along with the others that add new factions - increases the possible player count from four to six. The Riverfolk expansion also includes the original version of the Mechanical Marquise, allowing for solo play, but this “AI” faction was revamped and retooled to be better in the Clockwork Expansion.
Root: The Underworld
Expansion
$47.70
MSRP: $50.00 USD
Contents:
If you thought that things above ground in Root were hectic, just imagine how things are going underground! The Underworld expansion adds in two new factions to the Root mix - the moles of the Underground Duchy and the secretive crows of the Corvid Conspiracy. The Duchy can amass forces like the Marquise while mixing some of the political balancing shtick of the Eyrie, while the crows tend to work from the shadows - much like the Woodland Alliance agents - but with a bit more of a violent twist. Even if you and your players don’t feel like using the new factions, this expansion includes two new maps for you to wage your critter wars in.
Root: The Marauder
Expansion
$63.95
MSRP: $50.00 USD
Contents:
Badger Knight Templars seeking relics and angry rat hordes are what you have to look forward to in the Marauder Expansion with the Keepers in Iron and the Lord of the Hundreds. Whether it is attempting to bring your latest relic back to your keep safely or managing the mood of the Lord of the Rats, both of these factions feel especially unique. Marauders adds two new systems that you can apply to your normal Root games, too - the Advanced Setup rules and Hirelings. For experienced Root players, the “Advanced Setup” cards will make the game even more of a wild challenge to contend with new options and restrictions. Hirelings provide players with recruitable units - from a faction not present in the game - that have specific actions that can be used. Representative hirelings from the original four base factions (Cats, Birds, Alliance, Vagabond) are included in this box.
Root: Marauder Hirelings Pack and Hireling
Box
$38.04
MSRP: $30.00
Contents:
Root: Riverfolk Hirelings
Pack
MSRP: $20.00
Contents:
Root: Underworld Hirelings
Pack
$19.00
MSRP: $20.00
Contents:
If you fell in love with the hirelings in the Marauder expansion, then good news - you can get even more of them with these boxes! These various boxes will not only give you representatives from the other factions but brand new ones as well like the Stag and the bandits! If you love the hirelings mechanic, then these are worth adding to your Root collection.
MSRP: $10.00
Contents:
Root: Exiles and Partisans
Deck
$12.85
MSRP: $10.00
Contents:
Root: The Vagabond
Pack
$17.32
MSRP: $10.00
Contents:
These three smaller add-on packs won’t drastically change your Root experience, but if you aren’t in the market to drop much money and still want to change things up with the game, these can add a little spice into the mix for a relatively low cost. The Landmarks pack lets you stop at various places to take advantage of different benefits, such as bartering items or making special items. The Exiles and Partisans deck replaces the default deck that comes with Root and includes some new cards that focus more on persistent effects and more - this pack is a quick and easy way to change things up without having to learn a brand new faction or system. Lastly, for those Vagabond fans out there, the Vagabond pack adds three brand new choices to pick from, in addition to providing you with unique wooden tokens representing each possible option.
Root: The Tabletop Role-Playing
Game
$32.99
MSRP: $39.99 (Core Rule Book)
If you find yourself in love with the world and factions of Root, you can keep your adventures going with Root: The RPG from Magpie Games. This tabletop RPG will allow you and your friends to create your own furry vagabonds and experience the Woodland in a whole new way! Roll some dice and start exploring.
MSRP: $14.99
Platforms: Steam, Nintendo Switch, App Store, Google Play Store
Having a hard time nailing down your game group to get some in-person Root going? Or do you just feel like testing your skills with players far and wide? Either way, studio Dire Wolf has created a wonderful digital version of Root that lets you play many of your favorite factions locally, online, or against the computer. This digital option is a great way not only to teach the game but also to play with those friends who can’t get away from their house for a game night.
Currently, all expansions, with the exception of Clockwork 2 and Marauders, are available.
While Root may not be everyone's cup of Root Tea, there’s a reason that it currently stands at the 30 spot on Board Game Geek’s board game list. It can be time-consuming - and at times confusing - figuring out what the different factions can do, how to counter them, and keeping track of what the other players are doing - but it still has a charm that few other games can match. With a plethora of expansions and additional content available, fans of Root have no shortage of woodland goodness to dive into if you and your game group fall in love with the game.
Also check out our Betrayal at House on the Hill Buyer's Guide, as well as our picks for the best 2-player board games, as well as our updated list of the best board games of all time.
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