Check out all-time best board games like Wingspan
Should I Play Wingspan?
Players: 1 – 5 players | Game Duration 40 – 70 mins |
Min. Age 10+ | Game complexity: EASY Genre: Animals, Card Games, Educational
Solo game mode: Yes | Co-op: No |
Online Version: Yes
Hate Rulebooks? Check out our condensed How to Play Wingspan Rules Guide
What is Wingspan about?
A Quick Guide to Wingspan
‘Wingspan’ by Stonemaier Games is a game that caters to the strategic minds of seasoned players but also sparks the curious minds of casual gamers.
Wingspan is a card-driven, engine-building game where players assume the roles of bird enthusiasts—researchers, bird watchers, ornithologists, and collectors—seeking to attract the best birds to their aviary. The game contains beautiful, hand-drawn bird cards, and captures the essence of each species in its own unique way.
From Humble Beginnings
Each player starts the game with a small collection of birds in their aviary. and aims to increase their collection by playing bird cards from an array of habitats. Each bird has its own special power—related to its diet, nesting preferences, and abilities and players will need to strategise on the types of birds to collect to gain the most points.
Flight Formation: The Gameplay of Wingspan
Three Stages of Aviary Growth
Wingspan is played over four rounds, each representing a season of the year. During each round, players will take turns performing various actions to grow their aviary and attract the most prestigious birds. There are two significant actions that players can take on their turn: playing bird cards from their hand and gaining food tokens from bird feeder dice.
Variety of moves
On the surface, the actions in Wingspan appear simple, but it’s the strategic depth of these moves that make the game soar. Players can focus on any of the three main bird habitats—the grasslands, the forest, and the wetlands—or on attracting birds with specific abilities that can synergize with one another to create complex and powerful effects.
Wingspan’s Game Mechanics: The Nuts and Bolts of Flight
Engine-Building at Its Core
Wingspan’s gameplay is based off engine-building mechanics. As players accumulate more birds with unique abilities, they create a system, or engine, that generates various resources like eggs, food, and additional bird cards. These resources then fuel the engine, helping the player to attract even more birds and allow them to take more powerful actions.
What Makes Wingspan Fun?
Strategic Depth
One of Wingspan’s most lauded qualities is its depth of strategy. The game’s balance between tactical card play and operational efficiency rewards careful planning and can challenge even the most seasoned strategy game enthusiast. Whether it’s managing the timing of certain birds’ abilities or specializing in a particular habitat, there are numerous paths to victory.
Educational Component
Wingspan stands out as a game that not only entertains but also educates. The game features over a hundred unique birds from various continents, and each card includes scientific information about the species. You find yourself learning about the avian world, sparking an interest in nature beyond the tabletop.
Who Will Find Wingspan Fun?
Nature Lovers and Birdwatchers
If you find joy in observing and learning about birds and nature, Wingspan offers a thematic gameplay experience like no other. With its stunning illustrations and diverse avian roster, the game can be a delightful way to spend an evening, bridging the gap between the indoor and outdoor worlds of wildlife.
Strategy Gamers
The strategic elements of Wingspan, including resource management, engine-building, and player interaction, provide a challenge for those who enjoy mentally engaging games. The balance between short-term tactical decisions and long-term planning makes Wingspan a favorite among players who appreciate a game with complexity and depth.
Social and Casual Gamers
Wingspan is not overly complex, making it accessible to casual gamers. The game is well-paced, and its progression is intuitive, encouraging players to explore and experiment as they familiarize themselves with the mechanics. The casual gamer will appreciate the gradual learning curve and the satisfaction of building their very own bird sanctuary. Wingspan also encourages interaction. While games can be competitive, there is a social aspect of sharing the beauty of birds that you have collected.
Rules
Condensed How to Play Wingspan Rules Guide for rulebook haters
Where to play Wingspan online?
Wingspan Videos
Awards Won by Wingspan
2020 JUG Adult Game of the Year Winner
2020 JUG Adult Game of the Year Finalist
2020 Japan Boardgame Prize Voters’ Selection Nominee
2020 Japan Boardgame Prize Voters’ Selection Nominee
2020 Guldbrikken Best Adult Game Nominee
2020 Gra Roku Family Game of the Year Nominee
2019 Tric Trac Nominee
2019 Tric Trac d’Argent
2019 Swiss Gamers Award Winner
2019 Swiss Gamers Award Nominee
2019 Nederlandse Spellenprijs Best Expert Game Nominee
2019 Meeples’ Choice Nominee
2019 Lys Passioné Finalist
2019 Kennerspiel des Jahres Winner
2019 Kennerspiel des Jahres Nominee
2019 International Gamers Award – General Strategy: Multi-player Nominee
2019 Gouden Ludo Best Expert Game Winner
2019 Gouden Ludo Best Expert Game Nominee
2019 Golden Geek Most Innovative Board Game Winner
2019 Golden Geek Most Innovative Board Game Nominee
2019 Golden Geek Board Game of the Year Winner
2019 Golden Geek Board Game of the Year Nominee
2019 Golden Geek Best Strategy Board Game Winner
2019 Golden Geek Best Strategy Board Game Nominee
2019 Golden Geek Best Solo Board Game Winner
2019 Golden Geek Best Solo Board Game Nominee
2019 Golden Geek Best Family Board Game Winner
2019 Golden Geek Best Family Board Game Nominee
2019 Golden Geek Best Card Game Winner
2019 Golden Geek Best Card Game Nominee
2019 Golden Geek Best Board Game Artwork & Presentation Winner
2019 Golden Geek Best Board Game Artwork & Presentation Nominee
2019 Deutscher Spiele Preis Best Family/Adult Game Winner
2019 Cardboard Republic Architect Laurel Nominee
2019 Board Game Quest Awards Game of the Year Winner
2019 Board Game Quest Awards Game of the Year Nominee
2019 Board Game Quest Awards Best Production Values Winner
2019 Board Game Quest Awards Best Production Values Nominee
2019 5 Seasons Best International Strategy Winner
2019 5 Seasons Best International Strategy Nominee
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