Puerto Rico vs Root

Side by side comparison of two top board games

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico

⭐ 8# 8💰 $40👤 2-5

Puerto Rico is a classic strategy game where players take on the roles of plantation owners in colonial Puerto Rico. Players grow crops, construct buildings, and ship goods back to Europe. The game features a unique role-selection mechanic where each turn, players choose roles that benefit both themselves and others, creating deep strategic decisions.

EconomicFarmingTerritory Building
Root

Root

⭐ 8.1# 19💰 $55👤 2-4

Root is an asymmetrical game where players take on different woodland factions with completely different play styles. The Marquise de Cat rules the forest, the Eyrie Dynasties seeks to reclaim their throne, the Woodland Alliance plots revolution, and the Vagabond plays both sides. Each faction has its own victory condition and unique mechanics.

AnimalsFantasyWargame

Specification Comparison

SpecPuerto RicoRoot
BGG Rank8 ✓19
Rating88.1 ✓
Year Published2002 ✓2018
Price40 ✓55
Min Players22
Max Players5 ✓4
Play Time (min)12060 ✓
Min Age1210 ✓
Complexity (1-5)3.273.68 ✓

Puerto Rico wins in 4 categories, Root wins in 4 categories.

Puerto Rico — Time Estimates

2-Player Game90 min
Quick session with a smaller group
5-Player Game150 min
Full table experience
Learning Session150 min
First time playing (includes setup & rule explanation)

Root — Time Estimates

2-Player Game60 min
Quick session with a smaller group
4-Player Game90 min
Full table experience
Learning Session105 min
First time playing (includes setup & rule explanation)

Category & Mechanic Comparison

Puerto Rico

Categories
EconomicFarmingTerritory Building
Mechanics
Action DraftingArea Majority / InfluenceIncomeOpen DraftingTile PlacementTurn Order: Role OrderVariable Phase Order

Root

Categories
AnimalsFantasyWargame
Mechanics
Action PointsArea Majority / InfluenceAsymmetric Starting PositionsCard DraftingDice RollingHand ManagementModular BoardPoint-to-Point MovementVariable Player PowersVariable Set-up

Rating Comparison

Puerto Rico8
Root8.1

Frequently Asked Questions

Which game has a higher rating, Puerto Rico or Root?
Puerto Rico has a rating of 8, while Root has 8.1. Root is rated higher.
Which game is more affordable, Puerto Rico or Root?
Puerto Rico costs approximately $40 and Root costs approximately $55. Puerto Rico is the more affordable option.
Which game supports more players, Puerto Rico or Root?
Puerto Rico supports 2-5 players and Root supports 2-4 players. Puerto Rico supports more players.
Is Puerto Rico or Root more complex?
On a scale of 1-5, Puerto Rico has a complexity weight of 3.27 and Root has 3.68. Root is the more complex game.
Which game has a shorter play time, Puerto Rico or Root?
Puerto Rico takes about 120 minutes to play, while Root takes about 60 minutes. Root is the quicker game.

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