Choose Small World
Choose Small World if you want a Casual game with LAN PvP. On Steam, it's currently about 33% cheaper on the Steam Store. Small World launched in 2013.
Small World vs Root
Small World and Root both land in Strategy, Indie on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Strategy, Indie on Steam. Small World (2013) is 7 years older than Root (2020). Root scores higher on Steam reviews (92.7% positive) than Small World (68.9% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose Root
Choose Root if you want a Simulation experience. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 92.7% positive across 3,117 reviews.
Both Small World and Root sit in Strategy and Indie on Steam and both list Multi-player, Shared/Split Screen, and Steam Turn Notifications, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Small World |  Root | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2013 | 2020 |
| Genres | Strategy, Indie, Casual | Strategy, Indie, Simulation |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows, macOS |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Verified |
| Price | 9.99 USD | 14.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 68.9% positive (628 reviews) | 92.7% positive (3,117 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer |
| Developers | Days of Wonder | Dire Wolf |
Side by side
- Both share Strategy, Indie on Steam.
- Small World (2013) is 7 years older than Root (2020).
- Root scores higher on Steam reviews (92.7% positive) than Small World (68.9% positive).
- Small World is currently ~33% cheaper on Steam than Root (9.99 USD vs. 14.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: Small World is Deck Playable, Root is Deck Verified.
Small World vs Root — FAQ
- Which is better, Small World or Root?
- On Steam reviews Root scores higher (92.7% positive) than Small World (68.9% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, Root is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play Small World or Root first?
- If you want chronology, Small World (2013) came out before Root (2020). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Small World and Root similar?
- They overlap on Strategy, Indie on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.