Wingspan
Wingspan from Stonemaier Games, designed by Elizabeth Hargrave, launched in 2019 as a refreshing departure from typical fantasy board game themes. This engine-building card game centers on bird watching and habitat conservation. Players compete to attract birds to their wildlife preserves through strategic card placement and resource management. The game accommodates 1-5 players, ages 10 and up, with sessions lasting 40-70 minutes. This review examines gameplay mechanics, component quality, and overall player experience.
Wingspan Overview
Wingspan tasks players with building the most impressive aviary across three habitat types: forests, grasslands, and wetlands. Each bird card represents a real North American species with accurate illustrations and educational facts.
Players spend actions to play bird cards, gather food resources, lay eggs, and draw new cards. The game uses an engine-building mechanism where each bird placed activates increasingly powerful actions. Victory points come from multiple sources including bird point values, completed objectives, collected eggs, and cached resources.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Designer | Elizabeth Hargrave |
| Publisher | Stonemaier Games |
| Year Released | 2019 |
| Players | 1-5 |
| Age Range | 10+ |
| Playing Time | 40-70 minutes |
| Game Type | Engine-Building, Card Drafting |
| Complexity Rating | Medium (2.5/5) |
What’s in the Wingspan Box
Stonemaier Games delivers exceptional component quality throughout Wingspan. The production values match the premium price point with thoughtful touches that enhance gameplay.
Core Components
| Component | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bird Cards | 170 | Linen-finished with beautiful illustrations |
| Bonus Cards | 26 | End-game scoring objectives |
| Goal Tiles | 8 | Double-sided round objectives |
| Food Tokens | 103 | Wooden pieces in five types |
| Egg Miniatures | 75 | Marbled plastic eggs |
| Player Mats | 5 | Double-layered thick cardboard |
| Action Cubes | 40 | Eight per player in five colors |
| Dice | 5 | Custom food dice |
| Birdfeeder Dice Tower | 1 | Cardboard tower for rolling dice |
| Scorepad | 1 | For tracking final scores |
| Automa Cards | 16 | Solo play variant |
The player mats feature recessed spaces that prevent component sliding during play. The dual-layer design adds durability and premium feel. Bird cards showcase stunning artwork by Natalia Rojas, Ana Maria Martinez Jaramillo, and Beth Sobel.
The wooden food tokens represent five resource types: invertebrates, seeds, fish, rodents, and fruit. Each type uses distinct shapes for easy identification. The marbled eggs stand out as a memorable component that players consistently praise.
Pros and Cons
Strengths
- Exceptional component quality with dual-layered player mats and premium card stock creates a lasting product
- Educational value teaches players about real bird species, habitats, and behaviors without feeling like homework
- Scales well from 1-5 players using the innovative Automa system for solo games that feels competitive
- Engine-building creates satisfying progression as your habitat becomes more efficient each round
- Multiple paths to victory prevent repetitive strategies and encourage experimentation
- Quick setup after the first game takes only 5-10 minutes with organized storage
Weaknesses
- Limited player interaction means you mostly focus on your own tableau rather than blocking opponents
- Luck-dependent card draws can swing games when specific birds never appear in your hand or the tray
- Analysis paralysis strikes players who overthink every card selection and action sequence
- Food scarcity in early rounds forces tough decisions that slow down your engine development
- Component storage requires additional organizers since the original insert lacks efficiency
How to Play Wingspan
Wingspan unfolds across four rounds with decreasing actions each round. Players alternate taking single actions until everyone exhausts their action cubes. The game rewards efficient engine-building and strategic planning.
Setup Process
Place the bird tray in the center and fill it with three face-up bird cards from the shuffled deck. Assemble the birdfeeder dice tower and roll all five food dice into it. Set up the goal board with four randomly drawn goal tiles.
Each player receives a player mat, eight action cubes in their color, two bonus cards (keep one), and five random bird cards. Players also receive five food tokens, one of each type. The first player receives the first-player token.
Players may discard bird cards before the game starts but must discard one food token for each card kept beyond their starting hand size.
Round Structure
Round one grants eight actions per player. Round two provides seven actions. Round three allows six actions. Round four permits five actions. This declining action economy creates mounting pressure as the game progresses.
Available Actions
Players choose from four action types each turn. The forest action provides food by selecting dice from the birdfeeder. The grassland action places eggs on your birds. The wetlands action lets you draw new bird cards. The play bird action adds cards from your hand to your habitat.
Playing birds requires paying their food cost and placing them in the matching habitat row. Some birds also require egg payments. Birds must be played from left to right in each habitat, with later spots demanding higher costs.
Activating Bird Powers
When you use a habitat action, you activate all bird powers in that row from right to left. Forest birds often convert resources or gain food. Grassland birds manipulate eggs and tucked cards. Wetland birds draw additional cards or provide card filtering.
Bird powers use three trigger types: brown powers activate when you use that habitat action, pink powers trigger when any player takes that action, and white powers are one-time bonuses when played.
End of Round Scoring
After all players finish their actions, score the current round’s goal tile. Players place one of their action cubes on the goal board to mark their score. Common goals include “most eggs in one habitat” or “birds with specific nest types.”
Refresh the bird tray with three new face-up cards. Pass the first-player token clockwise. Begin the next round with fewer actions available.
Final Scoring
After four rounds, tally points from multiple sources. Bird cards show point values in the top-right corner. Each egg on your birds scores one point. Cached food tokens on birds score one point each. Tucked cards score one point per card.
Bonus cards provide points for meeting specific conditions like “birds with no eggs” or “sets of eggs in different nest types.” Goal tiles contribute points based on your cube placement during each round. The highest score wins. Ties go to the player with the most unused food tokens.
Where to Buy Wingspan
| Retailer | Notes |
|---|---|
| Amazon | Often available with Prime shipping and competitive pricing |
| Local Game Stores | Support local businesses and get personalized recommendations |
| Stonemaier Games Website | Direct from publisher with occasional exclusive items |
| Target | Sometimes stocks at retail locations and online |
| CoolStuffInc | Specialty online retailer with loyalty programs |
| Miniature Market | Discounts for larger orders and frequent sales |
The base game retails around $60-65. Expansion sets add new birds and mechanics at $25-30 each. European Expansion and Oceania Expansion both integrate seamlessly with the base game.
Wingspan Game Mechanics Explained
Wingspan combines engine-building with hand management and set collection. Understanding how these systems interact helps players develop winning strategies.
Engine-Building Core
Each bird you play strengthens your actions for that habitat. A forest with four birds provides four food dice selections instead of one. This compound growth creates satisfying momentum as your wildlife preserve develops.
Strong engines require planning which birds to play and in what order. Pink “when activated” powers trigger during other players’ turns, providing passive benefits. Brown “once between turns” powers activate during your turn and form the backbone of efficient engines.
Resource Management
Food tokens function as the primary currency for playing birds. The five food types have different distribution frequencies on the dice. Seeds appear most commonly while rodents show up rarely.
The birdfeeder mechanism creates tension when dice run low. If only one die remains in the feeder, the active player must reroll all external dice back through the tower. This reset can disrupt other players’ plans.
Eggs serve dual purposes as both currency and points. Some powerful birds require egg payments to play. However, eggs on your birds score points at game end, creating interesting trade-offs.
Card Economy
Players must balance hand size with available cards. The bird tray offers three visible options while the deck provides mystery draws. Wetland actions let you draw from either source based on your bird count in that habitat.
Some birds cache food or tuck cards beneath themselves during play. These cached resources score bonus points. Tucking cards reduces your hand size but converts worthless cards into points.
Objective Optimization
Round goals and bonus cards guide strategic decisions. Goals change each game, preventing repetitive strategies. Players who recognize valuable goal combinations early gain significant advantages.
Bonus cards present diverse scoring conditions like “birds that eat fish” or “birds in specific habitats.” Keeping the right bonus card during setup can focus your entire strategy.
Who Should Play Wingspan
Wingspan appeals to specific player types while disappointing others. The game works best for groups that enjoy building their own strategies without heavy interaction.
Ideal Players
Nature enthusiasts appreciate the educational content and beautiful artwork. Each bird includes its wingspan measurement, scientific classification, and habitat information. Players often discuss bird facts during games.
Engine-building fans enjoy the satisfying progression from weak early turns to powerful late-game combinations. The game rewards planning and efficient resource conversion similar to Splendor or Gizmos.
Casual strategy gamers find Wingspan approachable despite its depth. The rules make sense thematically, helping players remember mechanics. A bird that eats fish requires fish tokens to play.
Less Suitable Players
Competitive players seeking heavy interaction should look elsewhere. Wingspan focuses on building your own tableau with minimal opponent interference. You cannot destroy other players’ birds or steal their resources.
Players who dislike luck-dependent elements may find card draws frustrating. Sometimes your bonus card requires specific birds that never appear. The luck factor bothers some players more than others.
Group Dynamics
Wingspan shines with 2-3 players when turns move quickly and downtime stays minimal. Four players works fine but extends playtime to the upper limit. Five players creates long waits between turns as each player optimizes their action.
The solo mode using Automa rules provides a legitimate single-player experience. The automated opponent follows simple rules that simulate competitive play. Many players prefer Wingspan solo over playing with others for focused strategic puzzle-solving.
Comparison to Similar Games
Wingspan resembles Splendor’s engine-building but with more complexity and theme integration. It shares Terraforming Mars’s engine-building satisfaction without the heavy rulebook and lengthy playtime.
Players who enjoy Azul might appreciate Wingspan’s similar weight category and approachable depth. Both games offer strategic decisions without overwhelming rules overhead.
FAQ
Is Wingspan good for beginners?
Wingspan works well for beginners interested in strategy games. The rules make intuitive sense with birds eating food and laying eggs. The included quick-start guide walks new players through their first turns. However, complete novices to board gaming might feel overwhelmed by the multiple scoring paths and card effects.
How long does Wingspan take to play?
Wingspan takes 40-70 minutes depending on player count and experience level. Two experienced players finish in 40-45 minutes. Three players need 50-60 minutes. Four or five players push toward the full 70 minutes as each person considers their options. The first game always runs longer due to rule explanations.
What’s the best player count for Wingspan?
Wingspan plays best with 2-3 players for optimal pacing and engagement. Two players creates a tight race with minimal downtime. Three players maintains good pace while adding competitive tension. Four players works but extends play time noticeably. Five players creates too much downtime between turns for most groups.
What games are similar to Wingspan?
Wingspan compares closely to Splendor for engine-building mechanics and approachable rules. It shares similarities with Terraforming Mars in tableau-building and multiple scoring paths but with simpler rules. Players who enjoy Everdell often appreciate Wingspan’s card-driven gameplay and charming theme. Century Spice Road offers similar resource conversion with faster gameplay.
Is Wingspan worth buying in 2025?
Wingspan remains worth buying in 2025 despite competition from newer releases. The component quality justifies the price point with dual-layered mats and premium cards. Three expansions add variety without requiring purchase immediately. The game maintains strong replay value through randomized goals and diverse bird combinations creating fresh experiences.
