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Wingspan (board game)

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Wingspan
DesignersElizabeth Hargrave
IllustratorsAna Maria Martinez Jaramillo, Natalia Rojas, Beth Sobel[1]
PublishersStonemaier Games
Publication2019
Players1-5
Playing time40-70 minutes
Websitewww.stonemaiergames.com

Wingspan is a board game designed by Elizabeth Hargrave and published by Stonemaier Games in 2019. It is a card-driven, engine-building board game in which players compete to attract birds to their wildlife reserves. During the game's development process, Hargrave constructed personal charts of birds observed in Maryland, with statistics sourced from various biological databases; the special powers of birds were also selected to resemble real-life characteristics. Upon its release, Wingspan received critical and commercial acclaim for its gameplay, accurate thematic elements, and artwork. The game also won numerous awards, including the 2019 Kennerspiel des Jahres. Several expansions and a digital edition have been subsequently published.

Gameplay

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In Wingspan, players spend food resources to add birds, which are represented by 170 individually illustrated cards,[2] to the forest, prairie, and wetland habitats on their player boards. Each habitat is associated with a different player action: gaining food resources to pay for birds, laying eggs on birds, or drawing cards.[3] Over the course of four rounds, players take turns activating the habitats on their player boards or adding new birds. As birds are added to a habitat, the basic action of gaining food, laying eggs, or drawing cards associated with that habitat is improved. Additionally, some birds have special abilities that are activated when a player uses their habitat.[4][5]

Birdfeeder dice tower, a component for Wingspan.

At the end of the game, players score points for the birds on their board, objectives achieved during each round and throughout the game, eggs accumulated, food stored on cards, and cards stored under cards. The player with the most points wins.[5]

Development

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Wingspan was designed by Elizabeth Hargrave, a health consultant in Silver Spring, an amateur birder, and a former policy analyst for NORC at the University of Chicago.[6] The game was inspired by Hargrave's visits to Lake Artemesia near her home in Maryland.[7] Hargrave stated that she selected the theme because "there were too many games about castles and space, and not enough games about things I'm interested in".[8] During her visits, she would create personal charts of the birds she observed there,[7] with the size of the dataset reaching 596 rows by 100 columns.[9] The special powers afforded by the birds in the game closely resemble the unique characteristics of the actual birds documented by Hargrave's efforts, with statistics on the diet, habitat, status, and wingspan of birds sourced from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the IUCN Red List, and National Audubon Society.[10][11]

Hargrave pitched the concept for Wingspan to Stonemaier Games in 2016, a company from St. Louis which had previously published Viticulture and Scythe.[4][12] The game concept for Wingspan interested Jamey Stegmaier, president of Stonemaier Games, who stated that "[there's] something about birds that instantly captures a human desire to collect, sort, and admire".[9] Stegmaier also praised the engine building mechanism, describing that "[the] key for me wasn’t the birds, but the satisfying feeling of collecting beautiful things".[6] The game's artwork, which included 170 cards, was hand-drawn by Ana Maria Martinez Jaramillo, Natalia Rojas, and Beth Sobel.[13][14]

Awards and nominations

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Year Game Award Category Result
2019 Wingspan Diamond Climber Award Game of the Year Won [15]
2019 Wingspan The Dice Tower Award Game of the Year Won [16]
2019 Wingspan Deutscher Spiele Preis Game of the Year Won [17]
2019 Wingspan Golden Geek Award Board Game of the Year, Artwork Presentation, Card Game, Family Game, Innovative, Solo Game, Strategy Game Won [18]
2019 Wingspan European Expansion Golden Geek Award Expansion of the Year Won [18]
2019 Wingspan Spiel des Jahres Kennerspiel des Jahres (Connoisseur-gamer game of the year) Won [19]
2020 Wingspan American Tabletop Awards Strategy Games of the Year Won [20][21]
2020 Wingspan Oceania Expansion Golden Geek Award Expansion of the Year Won[22]
2019 Wingspan International Gamers Award General Strategy: Multi-player Nominated [23]
2019 Wingspan Nederlandse Spellenprijs [nl] Best Expert Game Nominated [24]

Reception

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Critical reviews

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Wingspan received widespread acclaim upon release.[25][26][27] The game's action system was praised by Matt Thrower from IGN, who described it as "an excruciating balance between adding birds, feeding them and scoring points". The review also positively commented on the game's replayability as each bird card is unique.[28] Stuart West from Nature agreed, noting the replay value of each game due to the unique powers of the bird cards and bonus cards. The strategic decisions for the game were also praised.[29] The diverse interconnections of the bird abilities were commented on by Dan Kois from Slate, which stated that the birds were "knitted together into a web of complex, mutually beneficial relationships" as the game progresses.[30] Similarly, Angela Chuang from Science described the engine building mechanisms as "compelling", and their resemblance to community ecology.[31] Writing for the New Scientist, Dino Motti listed Wingspan as one of the nine best science-themed board games and described the game as containing "hundreds of beautifully illustrated bird cards with special abilities that synergise as they inhabit a range of environments".[32]

Wingspan's accessibility was strongly praised, with Saif Al-Azzawi of the Los Angeles Times commenting on the game's accessibility, stating that it "strikes the perfect balance between strategy and ease".[33] The Guardian, in a review of STEM-based games, noted the game's accessibility, stating that "it deserves to be a hit".[34] The game's theme was positively received as increasing accessibility, with Kois noting its appeal with a wide variety of demographics.[30] Stuart West and Aaron Zimmerman from Ars Technica also praised the game's accessibility.[4][29]

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Some components of the Wingspan board game

The component quality of Wingspan and its theme were well received. Stuart West described it as "an obvious labour of love", describing the egg components as "dainty, pastel-hued" and the bird cards as "superbly drawn".[29] Vox reviewer Brian Anderson praised the quality, describing the art as "field guide-caliber illustrations" and praised the "tactile elements" of the birdhouse.[35] Similarly, Zimmerman praised the components and artwork as "lavishly produced".[4] The New York Times also complimented the game's illustrations and components, including the pastel eggs, which was described as "enticing as Jordan almonds", and the birdhouse.[36] The game's theme was described to "flow elegantly from the biology" by Nature and "committed to scientific integrity" according to Brian Anderson who also commented on the game's use of well-known bird guides and of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology database.[37] In The New York Times, Siobhan Roberts observed the "scientific integrity" of the game.[38]

However, not all aspects of Wingspan were positively received. Kois critiqued the balance, stating that towards the end of the game, laying eggs is the only preferable strategy.[30] This sentiment was shared by Zimmerman, who criticised the possibly "overpowered" action of laying eggs that resulted in the game's ending to be "one-note". Furthermore, despite praising the accessibility, Zimmerman said that he preferred "a little more crunch in the decision-making", and also described the lack of player interaction.[4]

Sales

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Wingspan was positively received commercially and sold 44,000 copies worldwide over three printings in its first two months of release,[3] with the publisher issuing a public apology for not having more copies available.[39] The game had sold around 200,000 copies worldwide by the end of 2019.[40] By March 2021, sales of Wingspan had reached 600,000 and 1.3 million by September 2021, which is the highest number of copies sold for Stonemaier Games.[41][42][43]

Expansions

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Wingspan European Expansion, the first expansion for Wingspan, was published in 2019 and added 81 new bird cards, end of round goals, and bonus cards.[44] This expansion also included new mechanisms and bird powers, such as birds which benefit from extra food and powers which trigger at the end of the round.[45] A "swift-start promo pack" was also released in 2019, which added 10 new bird cards, intended for first time players.[46]

The second expansion, Wingspan Oceania Expansion, which focuses on birds from Australia and New Zealand, was published in late 2020. The Oceania Expansion included 95 new bird cards, end of round goals, player mats, and a new food type called nectar.[44][47] The Oceania Expansion also added birds with game end powers, which trigger after the final round of play has been completed.[48]

The latest expansion, Wingspan Asia, focuses on birds from China, India, and Japan and was published in late 2022. This new expansion includes 90 new bird cards, 14 bonus cards, 18 Automa cards, and two more ways to play: Duet mode (stand-alone variant for 2 players) and Flock mode allowing up to 7 players.[49]

Adaptations

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Main article: Wingspan (video game)

The first digital versions of the game were released in 2020 on Steam and Switch, with Android and iOS versions also released in 2021.[50][51][52] According to Slate, as of August 2021, Wingspan had sold 125,000 combined copies of digital editions on the platforms combined.[53] A video game edition for Wingspan European Expansion was also later released.[54] A digital version of the Wingspan Oceania Expansion was released in December 2023.[55] The adaptation received generally favourable reviews and was praised for its visuals and soundtrack.[56][57] Wyrmspan, a dragon-themed adaptation, was released by Stonemaier Games in 2024.[58]

References

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  1. ^ Hall, Charlie (March 17, 2020). "Award-winning board game Wingspan is coming to Nintendo Switch". Polygon. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  2. ^ McLaughlin, Shaymus (November 14, 2019). "Need your outdoors fix indoors? Try these board games". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  3. ^ a b Roberts, Siobhan (March 11, 2019). "She Invented a Board Game With Scientific Integrity. It's Taking Off". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  4. ^ a b c d e Zimmerman, Aaron (March 16, 2019). "Wingspan review: A gorgeous birding board game takes flight". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
  5. ^ a b "Wingspan Is about as Perfect as Board Games Get". Paste. March 27, 2019. Archived from the original on April 29, 2021. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
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  7. ^ a b Teague Beckwith, Ryan (April 2, 2019). "New Board Game Inspired by Lake Artemesia". Hyattsville Wire. Archived from the original on April 8, 2020. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
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  9. ^ a b Solly, Meilan (March 12, 2019). "This New Scientifically Accurate Board Game Is for the Birders". Smithsonian. Archived from the original on March 25, 2021. Retrieved October 22, 2019.
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  12. ^ Mather-Glass, Jane (November 19, 2021). "How St. Louis-based Stonemaier is changing the (board) game". St. Louis Public Radio. NPR. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
  13. ^ McLaughlin, Shaymus (January 24, 2019). "Birds Star In One of This Year's Hottest Board Games". Audubon. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
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  19. ^ "Flügelschlag". Spiel des Jahres. Archived from the original on December 10, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  20. ^ Hall, Charlie (March 25, 2020). "America has its own board game awards now, here are the winners". Polygon. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021. The American Tabletop Awards are the United States board game industry's answer to the Spiel des Jahres, Germany's world-renowned tabletop awards program...a delightfully diverse committee backed by a robust code of conduct, with transparency and clear provisions against conflicts of interest.
  21. ^ "The American Tabletop Awards: Strategy Games". AmericanTableTopAwards.com. September 16, 2019. Archived from the original on August 22, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2021. Winner – Wingspan: Build up a feathery engine by getting a variety of birds to visit your wildlife preserves in this beautifully illustrated and strategic title.
  22. ^ Hall, Charlie (May 5, 2021). "Major board gaming awards are now recognizing the best 'Zoomable' games". Polygon. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  23. ^ "2019 Nominees - International Gamers Awards". www.internationalgamersawards.net. Archived from the original on December 10, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  24. ^ "Expertprijs 2019: nominaties". www.spellenprijs.nl. September 28, 2019. Archived from the original on December 10, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  25. ^ Law, Keith (December 17, 2019). "The Best Board Games of 2019". Vulture. Archived from the original on September 30, 2020. Retrieved December 26, 2019.
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  28. ^ a b c West, Stuart (May 14, 2019). "A bird-based game takes wing". Nature. 569 (7756): 334–335. Bibcode:2019Natur.569..334W. doi:10.1038/d41586-019-01503-0. S2CID 153314882.
  29. ^ a b c Kois, Dan (August 16, 2021). "The Surprise Hit Board Game That's Transforming an $11 Billion Industry". Slate Magazine. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  30. ^ Chuang, Angela (April 4, 2019). "Fowl play". Science. 364 (6435): 36. Bibcode:2019Sci...364...36C. doi:10.1126/science.aaw7753. ISSN 0036-8075.
  31. ^ Motti, Dino (December 4, 2020). "9 of the best board games to play for fans of science and tech". New Scientist. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  32. ^ Al-Azzawi, Saif (November 8, 2019). "Fun board games to give this season". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
  33. ^ Jolin, Dan (April 20, 2019). "The board games turning science into playtime". The Guardian. Archived from the original on April 27, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
  34. ^ Anderson, Brian (February 2, 2022). "One Good Thing: A soothing tabletop game about birds". Vox. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  35. ^ "The Best Board Games". The New York Times. November 19, 2021. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  36. ^ Anderson, Brian (February 2, 2022). "One Good Thing: A soothing tabletop game about birds". Vox. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  37. ^ Roberts, Siobhan (March 11, 2019). "She Invented a Board Game With Scientific Integrity. It's Taking Off". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  38. ^ Whipple, Tom (March 11, 2019). "Birdwatching game Wingspan flies off the shelves". The Times. Archived from the original on October 17, 2019. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
  39. ^ Farzan, Shalah (November 6, 2019). "Bird-Themed Game Hatched In St. Louis Soars In Popularity". St. Louis Public Radio. Archived from the original on May 3, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  40. ^ Schrappen, Colleen (March 4, 2021). "Wooden dice and gold-foiled playing cards. St. Louis is hotbed for fantastical, elaborate 'designer' games". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  41. ^ Beckwith, Alison (September 1, 2021). "A Board Game Inspired by Birding Around Route 1 Sold 1.3 Million Copies". The Hyattsville Wire. Archived from the original on September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  42. ^ Design, Dave Hewer (April 8, 2021). "2020 Behind-the-Scenes Stakeholder Report for Stonemaier Games". Stonemaier Games. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  43. ^ a b "Wingspan -lautapelin arvostelu ＞ Lautapeliopas". Lautapeliopas (in Finnish). July 2, 2019. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  44. ^ Elderkin, Beth (November 12, 2019). "Wingspan Expands, Magic: The Gathering Enters the Hall of Fame, and More in Tabletop News". Gizmondo. Archived from the original on November 30, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
  45. ^ "Rules & FAQ". Stonemaier Games. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  46. ^ "Wingspan's Oceania Expansion brings more birds, boards and bonuses to the acclaimed game". Dicebreaker. October 2, 2020. Retrieved August 16, 2022.
  47. ^ Starkey, Steven (July 21, 2022). "Wingspan Oceania Expansion review --- A sweet addition". GAMING TREND. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  48. ^ "Wingspan's two-player version intensifies the original game: Essen Spiel 2022 Preview". Dicebreaker. October 7, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  49. ^ "Digital Wingspan finally alights on Android devices today". Dicebreaker. November 9, 2021. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  50. ^ "Wingspan". Metacritic. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  51. ^ "Wingspan's digital version is landing on PC next week". Dicebreaker. September 8, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  52. ^ Kois, Dan (August 15, 2021). "How a Board Game About Birds Became a Surprise Blockbuster". Slate. Archived from the original on August 19, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021. In 2020, as the pandemic drove Americans both into their homes to stare at their families and out into the woods to stare at birds, Wingspan blew up, outselling every other game its publisher makes combined. That company, Stonemaier Games, has now sold 1.3 million copies of the game and its expansions, plus another 125,000 digital editions on Steam, Nintendo Switch, Xbox, and iOS.
  53. ^ "Bird-themed digital board game adaptation Wingspan's European Expansion out in May". Eurogamer.net. April 11, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  54. ^ "Wingspan: Oceania Expansion on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  55. ^ Jonathan Bolding (November 28, 2020). "Wingspan review". pcgamer. Retrieved February 9, 2022.
  56. ^ "Wingspan". Metacritic. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  57. ^ Carter, Chase (January 3, 2024). "New board game from Scythe and Wingspan makers trades doves for dragons". Dicebreaker. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
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