Wingspan Board Game

Summary: It's wonderful. I am a birder, so I'm predisposed to like it, but I'm also a game designer, so I have (very) high standards for whether it's actually fun. Wingspan is an engaging, highly replayable game that is fun for a broad audience -- birders and board gamers, sure, but it will appeal to anyone with a little bit of a nerd streak. It is beautiful and made with very high quality materials, so the basic actions like rolling dice, drawing cards and placing eggs feel satisfying. My brother and sister (non-birders) love it and we now play it whenever we're together.Two tips for players: first, there's a learning curve and the first game will feel long, particularly if you can't help studying every beautiful card. You can watch a let's-play video to get up ... MoreSummary: It's wonderful. I am a birder, so I'm predisposed to like it, but I'm also a game designer, so I have (very) high standards for whether it's actually fun. Wingspan is an engaging, highly replayable game that is fun for a broad audience -- birders and board gamers, sure, but it will appeal to anyone with a little bit of a nerd streak. It is beautiful and made with very high quality materials, so the basic actions like rolling dice, drawing cards and placing eggs feel satisfying. My brother and sister (non-birders) love it and we now play it whenever we're together.Two tips for players: first, there's a learning curve and the first game will feel long, particularly if you can't help studying every beautiful card. You can watch a let's-play video to get up to speed faster. Second, the player mat (board in front of each player) tells you pretty much everything you need to know once you know how to read it.

This is a really beautiful and fun card drafting engine-based board game where you fill your “aviary” in various ecologies with birds (wonderfully illustrated cards that have various effects on game play, by themselves or in combination with other cards). The winner is the person with the most points after four rounds. There are fun bird-related aspects, like laying eggs and gathering food, but the prospect of trying to explain the whole thing kinda makes me want to go and lie down so I’ll just say this: it IS complicated, but useful tutorials are included, and you can gradually get the hang of it via learn-by-doing. There’s also a solo mode that’s basically as entertaining as the multiplayer mode. But I’d be selling the experience short if I didn’t harp on the ... MoreThis is a really beautiful and fun card drafting engine-based board game where you fill your “aviary” in various ecologies with birds (wonderfully illustrated cards that have various effects on game play, by themselves or in combination with other cards). The winner is the person with the most points after four rounds. There are fun bird-related aspects, like laying eggs and gathering food, but the prospect of trying to explain the whole thing kinda makes me want to go and lie down so I’ll just say this: it IS complicated, but useful tutorials are included, and you can gradually get the hang of it via learn-by-doing. There’s also a solo mode that’s basically as entertaining as the multiplayer mode. But I’d be selling the experience short if I didn’t harp on the artwork. The artwork is BEAUTIFUL. Every card included (and the cards in the geographically-based expansion decks) has a carefully illustrated colored pencil drawing of a bird plus some info and interesting facts about it. (I actually own some of the original artwork and yes this is an attempted nerd flex.) It’s a fun game even if you’re not a bird/nature fan, but if you are, it’s that much more of a must-play.

Amazing game

As a family who hasn't dabbled too far into board games in the past (basically just Monopoly) - this has been a hit in our household, and we now play it multiple times a week! We play it sometimes with just myself and my wife, but our 7 year old also joins in most times with some handicaps available to him - e.g. He pays one fewer eggs, or receives one extra food/card, etc. Some of the ideas/strategy that the adults utliise can be a little complex for him, and there are some nuances about the birds/bonuses that he doesn't fully realise, but he loves the game and is gradually learning and implementing the strategies himself.A game takes 3 of us anywhere from 45-70mins. Setup is about 5mins, and then it's about the same to pack it all away. Coming from people who ... MoreAs a family who hasn't dabbled too far into board games in the past (basically just Monopoly) - this has been a hit in our household, and we now play it multiple times a week! We play it sometimes with just myself and my wife, but our 7 year old also joins in most times with some handicaps available to him - e.g. He pays one fewer eggs, or receives one extra food/card, etc. Some of the ideas/strategy that the adults utliise can be a little complex for him, and there are some nuances about the birds/bonuses that he doesn't fully realise, but he loves the game and is gradually learning and implementing the strategies himself.A game takes 3 of us anywhere from 45-70mins. Setup is about 5mins, and then it's about the same to pack it all away. Coming from people who haven't played this sort of game in the past, it did take 2-3 games before we were really comfortable with the rules and how the strategy ties together, but once you've got that down, the replayability is immense - there are many different ways to win depending on what you start out with, and each game works out differently.The base game is great by itself, but the expansions really added an extra dimension to it. The artwork and design of all of the components are amazing - although it didn't take longer for the little nubs that the birdfeeder slots in with to tear, so that's a bit fragile at the moment, but still usable (and not exactly necessary if it does end up completely failing).I highly recommend this, and the associated expansions.

Great family game

A lot of details to take in at first, so the 'quick start' cards were a good introduction. By the second game, we had the hang of it and only needed to consult rules for clarification a couple times. I feel this game would be enjoyed by any that have the patience for 2-3 hours of board game play. We liked that it was competitive and not adversarial - you are pursuing your goal and not interfering with others. There is a perfect balance between randomness and strategy so that you are never "one bad roll" away from winning or losing. As you progress through the game, you play toward multiple different goals so there is never the sense that one player can take an early lead and nobody else has a chance to catch up. All in all the game is incredibly well designed and ... MoreA lot of details to take in at first, so the 'quick start' cards were a good introduction. By the second game, we had the hang of it and only needed to consult rules for clarification a couple times. I feel this game would be enjoyed by any that have the patience for 2-3 hours of board game play. We liked that it was competitive and not adversarial - you are pursuing your goal and not interfering with others. There is a perfect balance between randomness and strategy so that you are never "one bad roll" away from winning or losing. As you progress through the game, you play toward multiple different goals so there is never the sense that one player can take an early lead and nobody else has a chance to catch up. All in all the game is incredibly well designed and each of the elements that add complexity serve a concrete function that makes the game enjoyable - i.e., it's not complex just for complexity's sake.

Pretty, challenging but not interactive

There are lots of elements to balance here, and luck plays a big part in it, a bad starting hand and you are going to struggle to shine.Essentially this is a one person challenge game that you play with other people, if that makes sense. You need to be very on to it to be playing it in conflict with others, as there is little room to disrupt them without hampering yourself.Makes for a nice time, though, if you like co-op or less bad feels conflict (so different to catan, where you are competing directly).It is well made. The cards feel good, the birdhouse dice roller is cute, the dice are hefty and pretty, the components are clean. The writing on the bird cards can be a little difficult to read if your eyes aren't perfect, and there is a lot to take on board at ... MoreThere are lots of elements to balance here, and luck plays a big part in it, a bad starting hand and you are going to struggle to shine.Essentially this is a one person challenge game that you play with other people, if that makes sense. You need to be very on to it to be playing it in conflict with others, as there is little room to disrupt them without hampering yourself.Makes for a nice time, though, if you like co-op or less bad feels conflict (so different to catan, where you are competing directly).It is well made. The cards feel good, the birdhouse dice roller is cute, the dice are hefty and pretty, the components are clean. The writing on the bird cards can be a little difficult to read if your eyes aren't perfect, and there is a lot to take on board at the start, but it only takes 2 or 3 games to get the hang of it, and expansions fit in neatly afterwards. (although the oceania expansion has terrible isntructions)

Wingspan

My partner and I absolutely adore this game and it's really charmed any friends we've played it with, although can be a bit complicated to get started with people who aren't so into board games. I would say while the pre-built rounds designed to help people learn can be useful initially learning, it is easier to teach other players by going through a few turns as the engine then becomes very self-explanatory, and the guides are wonderfully detailed for any confusion with card powers or challenge cards. All the components are really wonderful, very charming and detailed art and very colourful, and it's a lovely game to dedicate a relaxed long afternoon with, and the excitement of collecting the birds and the cute little egg tokens always gets everyone in a good mood. ... MoreMy partner and I absolutely adore this game and it's really charmed any friends we've played it with, although can be a bit complicated to get started with people who aren't so into board games. I would say while the pre-built rounds designed to help people learn can be useful initially learning, it is easier to teach other players by going through a few turns as the engine then becomes very self-explanatory, and the guides are wonderfully detailed for any confusion with card powers or challenge cards. All the components are really wonderful, very charming and detailed art and very colourful, and it's a lovely game to dedicate a relaxed long afternoon with, and the excitement of collecting the birds and the cute little egg tokens always gets everyone in a good mood. I think it manages to balance pleasant gameplay with a little competitiveness really well so it's always fun, and it's really been a gateway for me both into board games and some casual birdwatching, overall it has been really enriching and rekindled a lot of love for nature. I'm from the UK and very eagerly got the European expansion after a few months too see a few more familiar birds, but honestly I've been really delighted seeing the wonderful illustrations of birds I've also never heard of. A bonus is that it looks lovely and intriguing on your shelf, I really hope this to be a favourite with my family come the holidays.

Wingspan

This is one for the "deserves to be in every home and isn't Monopoly" pile.On presentation it may be a hard sell for your friends and family. The art direction reminds me of those Christmas presents received as a child from well meaning Aunts and Uncles with "Educational value", almost instantaneously resigned to the bookshelf in the presence of more exciting, more colourful and more weaponised toys.When cracking open this RSPB guidebook of a box, the quality of the manufacturing is evident in every detail. The rules, though requiring a good first read with a cup of tea, are actually every intuitive and explainable. The rulebook over-explains it a bit and being presented with the book, a second book to explain the first book and 4 (yes 4 for some reason) large ... MoreThis is one for the "deserves to be in every home and isn't Monopoly" pile.On presentation it may be a hard sell for your friends and family. The art direction reminds me of those Christmas presents received as a child from well meaning Aunts and Uncles with "Educational value", almost instantaneously resigned to the bookshelf in the presence of more exciting, more colourful and more weaponised toys.When cracking open this RSPB guidebook of a box, the quality of the manufacturing is evident in every detail. The rules, though requiring a good first read with a cup of tea, are actually every intuitive and explainable. The rulebook over-explains it a bit and being presented with the book, a second book to explain the first book and 4 (yes 4 for some reason) large cards with a preset first turn documented on it for all to follow is over-kill. The option of learning the rules via Youtube is also available. They really, really want you to learn this game.If the only thing I can find to nitpick about this game is the fact that it makes sure everyone understands how to play, then you should get the idea of how great it is. It is immaculately designed, polished and presented for everyone to enjoy, I cannot recommend this enough.

Wingspan

I was always on the fence about purchasing Wingspan but I am so glad I purchased this lovely bird inspired card driven, engine builder.It really deserves the reputation it gets because WOW. I have roughly just over one hundred games and this is in my top ten. The reason is because of the speed of the game, you can play this in less than an hour with 4 other players. It's really easy to teach and the components you get in the box including the bird house what you assemble and the individual cards with fantastic artwork are really well made. Even on the side of the box it shows you how to store everything from the base game it's brilliant and more company's should do this. Plenty of great reviews of this game on YouTube and rightfully so. Just buy it it's that good. ... MoreI was always on the fence about purchasing Wingspan but I am so glad I purchased this lovely bird inspired card driven, engine builder.It really deserves the reputation it gets because WOW. I have roughly just over one hundred games and this is in my top ten. The reason is because of the speed of the game, you can play this in less than an hour with 4 other players. It's really easy to teach and the components you get in the box including the bird house what you assemble and the individual cards with fantastic artwork are really well made. Even on the side of the box it shows you how to store everything from the base game it's brilliant and more company's should do this. Plenty of great reviews of this game on YouTube and rightfully so. Just buy it it's that good. It makes an excellent choice to add to your collection or as a gift for any board game enthusiastics out there.

Wingspan (with Swift-Start Pack)

I heard great things about this game, and with holidays approaching and a chance to game with the family, I thought I'd give it a try. It is a very beautiful game, and the depth is impressive. The setup was a bit daunting, although the bird feeder is cool, building it along with trying to get everything else pulled together was a bit overwhelming. When it comes to playing the first time, I found it difficult to understand some core concepts, and find their answers. The game comes with at least three different ways for new players to get going, but you end up having to cross-reference each one to try and piece it together, after trying to work through the new player cards, reading the manual, and also reading the appendix, it was still unclear from a bird's eye view ... MoreI heard great things about this game, and with holidays approaching and a chance to game with the family, I thought I'd give it a try. It is a very beautiful game, and the depth is impressive. The setup was a bit daunting, although the bird feeder is cool, building it along with trying to get everything else pulled together was a bit overwhelming. When it comes to playing the first time, I found it difficult to understand some core concepts, and find their answers. The game comes with at least three different ways for new players to get going, but you end up having to cross-reference each one to try and piece it together, after trying to work through the new player cards, reading the manual, and also reading the appendix, it was still unclear from a bird's eye view (intended) how the game is supposed to be played. I didn't understand the goal cards, and I didn't understand how the rounds worked and the placement of the cubes. Simple stuff, but in the end, I found a video online that walked me through it, which was so much more helpful. I applaud the creators for trying to find ways to explain the game, but this part was a little frustrating!Once the game was understood, it was very enjoyable! I'd simply recommend that you watch a video that helps you understand, you will save time.