This is great if you have older kids or want to add something new to your game night with friends.
The board game we are currently obsessed with is called Wingspan.
It’s a game the eldest played on Steam and loved, and asked for the board game itself for Christmas. He had shown us the game play and admittedly I knew little beyond the fact that I enjoyed seeing the bird art work.
Since our family loves birds (and we became even more so into bird watching last year), this seemed like a great fit. Little did we know it would become a family favourite.
Wingspan is beautifully designed and looks amazing, but there is a learning curve when you start to play it. The game comes with a tutorial to start with and I recommend you begin there before diving in.
Once you play through a bit, it doesn’t take long to get a feel for it. And every game seems to change depending on your strategy.
All four of us have been enjoying it – and we have to since each game averages about two hours to play fully (you can play shorter versions but we’ve been committing to a fully Sunday-night event lately).
How to play Wingspan
To play, you are basically filling your habitats (wetlands, forests and grasslands) with different species of birds, each with certain ‘powers’ and feather points that get added up at the end. You’ll lay eggs, you’ll feed your birds, and more.
Each bird card has an artistically designed bird photo and some bird facts.
While you need to pay attention to your opponent’s habitats and the types of birds they are playing, your turn only focuses on your board and what you are doing so the competition is sort of with yourself as much as with others; make the wrong strategic move and you may find yourself lacking in points at the end.
While each turn is rather speedy and the rounds get shorter each time, this is a game where you want to make a cup of tea and prepare to enjoy together for a bit. It’s more like Ticket to Ride that way than Exploding Kittens.
If you haven’t heard of Wingspan, we really recommend it. You can find it online at Tag Along Toys (where we bought it) or at other board game locations. Up to five players can play.
There are expansion packs too so you can keep the bird supply growing.
Have fun!
