Wingspan - A Five Second Board Game Review

I really like their presentation, too. The inclusion of science facts on each card was a great touch; as well as tying in each card's effect with what the species' natural behavior patterns are. It's a smart game. I'm not entirely sure that I need another engine builder, but I'd certainly like to try it a couple times.

A mechanically pretty stripped-down game, but a great implementation of a subject the designer is clearly passionate about. I think more than anything else that passion comes across in the design, where every simple action is grounded in some factual grounding of the species. The art and the presentation are top notch and really cement the whole package. For the gamer who has played or seen everything with little interest in birds, there probably is much here to care for. If you love birds (as many of my friends and I do) and enjoy a light engine-builder this is well worth it.

I saw an eastern screech owl and some cedar waxwings on a walk the other day. It was pretty cool.

I appreciate Wingspan more than I like it. As a game I think it's just OK. It really needs more card variety to stand toe to toe with games in its genre and the card effects aren't all that interesting.

What it's immensely successful at is being a game for the current market, who are looking for a game that reveals itself in roughly one play, looks nice, and has a pleasant theme presented well. Replayability and variability don't even enter the equation most of the time. It's an amazing production and that goes a really long way as long as the game isn't bad, and it's not. It just only has about as much meat on its bones as a sparrow.

Vysetron wrote: I appreciate Wingspan more than I like it. As a game I think it's just OK. It really needs more card variety to stand toe to toe with games in its genre and the card effects aren't all that interesting.

What it's immensely successful at is being a game for the current market, who are looking for a game that reveals itself in roughly one play, looks nice, and has a pleasant theme presented well. Replayability and variability don't even enter the equation most of the time. It's an amazing production and that goes a really long way as long as the game isn't bad, and it's not. It just only has about as much meat on its bones as a sparrow.

Definitely agree, have a feeling this one will get regular expansions though and the puzzle might be smooth and interesting enough that I’ll be enraptured trying to perfect my play much like stone age has

im guessing that wont end up being the case and I’ll end up craving expansions but there are “low replayability” games like stone age that i could play forever

After only a couple plays, Wingspan is sitting atop the Stonemaier pile for me. Unlike Scythe and Viticulture which are ponderous "race" games, this game can be played relatively quickly and it's lightness and simplicity is very... pleasant. It's lovely, a game perfectly suited to springtime. It's not flawless (bad card draws in the early games can hamper your progress) but the flaws are shaded be the beautiful production and it's plesant demeanor.

It's like an old friend has dropped by for a visit, unexpectedly, with a bottle of whiskey. Maybe it's not your favorite whiskey but that's not the most important part.

I'm interested, but not $100 worth of interested. I'm waiting for the second printing I guess.

Heh. Third printing. The second one apparently sold out in a few minutes.

Third printing is due to hit stores in May. SM said they plan to have orders open from Their store in late July.
"Overall, the 3rd printing of Wingspan is relatively large. So if you don't need a copy soon, we encourage you to wait until May to buy a copy from your preferred retailer. The next time the game will be available to buy directly from Stonemaier Games is late July."