Our Take
Wingspan is a competitive engine-building board game for one to five players, designed by Elizabeth Hargrave and published by Stonemaier Games. Players collect and play bird cards to attract wildlife to their nature reserves, triggering increasingly powerful chain reactions. It sits firmly in the mid-to-heavyweight hobby game space and has earned a strong reputation since its 2019 release.
Key Features
Plays one to five players, with a dedicated solo mode called the Automa
Games typically run 40–70 minutes depending on player count and experience
Contains 170 unique bird cards, each featuring illustrated artwork and real ecological facts
Includes custom wooden eggs, food tokens, and a birdfeeder dice tower as components
Three distinct habitat rows on each player mat create separate action tracks
Recommended age of 10 and above on the box, though the rulebook rewards patient learners
Our Verdict
Wingspan suits anyone curious about hobby games who wants something visually inviting and mechanically rewarding without extreme complexity. It's especially strong for nature enthusiasts or mixed-experience groups. Those who prefer high-conflict games or tight budgets may want to pause, but for most households it earns its reputation comfortably.