Arcs vs Root
A side-by-side comparison of two of the most-asked-about board games — using only verified specs from our catalogue. No invented rules, no fluff.
Specs and BoardGameGeek rankings current as of June 2026. Gaps in our data show as a dash (—).
| Arcs | Root | |
|---|---|---|
| Year | 2024 | 2018 |
| Players | 2–4 | 2–4 |
| Playtime | ~60 min | ~60 min |
| Recommended age | 14+ | 14+ |
| Complexity (BGG weight) | 3.5 / 5 | 3.8 / 5 |
| BGG rank | #100 | #34 |
| Designers | Cole Wehrle | Cole Wehrle |
| Key mechanics | Area Majority / Influence, Area Movement, Campaign / Battle Card Driven, Dice Rolling | Action Points, Action Queue, Action Retrieval, Area Majority / Influence |
Both games share these mechanics: Area Majority / Influence, Area Movement, Dice Rolling, Hand Management, Negotiation, Take That, Variable Player Powers.
Which should you get?
Based only on the specs above — not on opinion:
- Arcs is the lighter, easier-to-teach game (3.5 vs 3.8 of 5), while Root offers more decision depth for experienced players.
- On raw BoardGameGeek ranking, Root currently sits higher (#34 vs #100).
Both are well-loved games; the "right" one depends on your group. Read the full entries for Arcs and Root.
Where to buy
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Common questions
Is Arcs or Root harder to learn?
Arcs is the easier of the two to learn — 3.5 of 5 on BoardGameGeek versus 3.8 of 5 for Root.
Which is faster to play, Arcs or Root?
Both take about 60 minutes.
How many players do Arcs and Root support?
Arcs plays with 2–4 players; Root plays with 2–4 players.