Discover the Beauty and Strategy of Wingspan: A Modern Board Game Classic

If you love nature, strategy, and gorgeous artwork, Wingspan might just be your next board game obsession. Designed by Elizabeth Hargrave and published by Stonemaier Games, Wingspan has become one of the most beloved and award-winning tabletop games of the last decade—and for good reason.

What Is Wingspan?

Wingspan is a competitive, engine-building board game for 1–5 players, where you take on the role of a bird enthusiast—be it a researcher, bird watcher, or ornithologist. Your goal is to attract birds to your nature preserve, each one bringing unique abilities and benefits that help you develop a thriving ecosystem.

With gameplay lasting between 40 and 70 minutes, it’s perfect for both casual game nights and serious strategy sessions.

How It Works

Each player manages their own wildlife preserve, represented by a player board divided into three habitats: forest, grassland, and wetland. These habitats correspond to the game’s three core actions:

• Gain food (to attract birds)

• Lay eggs (needed to play more birds)

• Draw bird cards (your future feathered friends)

The game revolves around playing beautifully illustrated bird cards—each based on real bird species, complete with fun facts and scientific data. There are over 170 unique birds in the base game, all masterfully illustrated by Natalia Rojas, Ana Maria Martinez Jaramillo, and Beth Sobel.

Want even more variety? Check out the expansions:

• European Expansion

• Oceania Expansion

• Asia Expansion

Each turn, you’ll choose one of four actions: play a bird, gain food, lay eggs, or draw cards. As you play more birds into a habitat, that habitat’s action becomes stronger—unlocking rewarding combos and a satisfying engine-building experience.

Scoring and Strategy

Victory in Wingspan isn’t just about playing the flashiest birds. Points come from several sources:

• The birds you play (each has a point value)

• Eggs laid

• Food cached

• Cards tucked under other birds

• And end-of-round goals (like “most eggs in wetlands”)

Multiple strategies can lead to victory, whether you focus on egg-laying, food efficiency, or card draw synergies.

A Beautiful, Thoughtful Production

The components are top-tier. From the pastel-colored egg tokens and custom wooden dice to the iconic birdhouse dice tower, every element is designed with care and attention. It’s not just a game—it’s a visual and tactile experience.

Plus, it’s packed with educational value. Each bird card teaches you something real, making Wingspan a great gateway into both gaming and ornithology.

Solo Play and Digital Versions

Flying solo? No problem. Wingspan features a solo mode powered by an automa deck, offering a smart and challenging opponent.

Prefer digital gaming? The digital version of Wingspan is available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, iOS, and Android. It beautifully recreates the tabletop experience with soothing music, animated birds, and online multiplayer.

Awards and Recognition

Wingspan has won numerous accolades, including the prestigious Kennerspiel des Jahres (Connoisseur Game of the Year) in 2019. It has inspired a new wave of nature-themed board games and continues to draw both casual players and hobbyists alike.