Do you like green eggs and ... pink eggs and ...blue eggs and....
Wingspan is a fairly straightforward engine building game, in which you play cards which help you get better resources, which let you play more cards all while scoring points along the way. If that sounds boring, that’s because this isn’t a game that will sell itself on innovation. Wingspan intends to sell itself on production and execution. I am happy to report that both are incredibly well done. There is a common sentiment that bad production can ruin a game, but good production won’t elevate a game. Wingspan would kindly like to disagree. I normally wouldn’t spend much time on a game's look but Wingspan begs to be talked about in this regard. Virtually every element of the game is just gorgeous, including a linen-finished rule book which, while it certainly seems excessive, sure feels nice.
The gameplay is also fantastic, satisfying on every level, with that terrific element of needing to properly manage your card flow whilst giving you enough cards to feel like you can properly maneuver through any situation. I also would be remiss if I didn’t call out the nice thematic touches on just about everything. With just a card flip or dice roll, Wingspan makes the predators *feel* like predators. The random resource gathering mechanism feels like you are a bird foraging for your next meal.
While a few plays have left me wondering if this game has the staying power to remain interesting through the 30th play, as eventually you will run through enough of the cards to see most of the strategies, I realize I don’t care because Wingspan is charming enough to have me excited for my next ten plays,