Fly Higher
Board games are fun. From classics such as Monopoly and Risk to tabletop epics from the Warhammer or Dungeons and Dragons franchises, these experiences inspire countless video games today. While most digital board game counterparts offer a faithful adaptation of the tabletop game experience, few do it exceptionally well. This makes the adaptation of Wingspan by developer Monster Couch stand out among the rest. The level of polish and engagement on display in this title is second to none. It is the perfect compliment to the deep, strategic gameplay translated from the board game. This makes for a compelling strategy card game experience for 1-4 players that will surprise you with how enjoyable it is.
Natural Serenity
The charm of Wingspan shines through in the first moments. The singing of birds is accompanied by the smooth, contemplative guitar on the menu screen. This sets the mood for the rest of the game, as the serene soundtrack and subtle notes of nature set the perfect mood for playing. The tutorial is comprehensive and takes you through the numerous gameplay elements you are able to leverage to win the game. By the end of it, you are left to win on your own which gives you a nice “hit the ground running” feeling. While the game itself is complex, the aesthetic within it is enough to suck anyone in.
From the cries of the birds, to the various gameplay elements associated with them, Wingspan seeks to immerse you in its avian fascination. Each card is animated when it is in play and is accompanied by trivia from the announcer when placed onto the game board. Elements such as habitat and wingspan, funny enough, also factor into winning the game at large. This creates an engaging atmosphere that few games get right. Each subtle detail only serves to suck you deeper into the world that the game is creating to make for a fantastic aesthetic presentation that can be fully appreciated in the Bird gallery.
Predator or Prey
While the aesthetic is all relaxation and genuinely smile-inducing, the gameplay and strategy is all business. Wingspan is a deceptively deep game with many elements and mechanics that need to be juggled to achieve victory. Each bird has many values, including their own Wingspans, Egg Counts, Scores, Food Costs and Special Abilities. These birds can be played into one of 3 Habitats, each offering different valuable resources, that changes as more birds inhabit it. These tie into various Goals at the end of each Round of the game. These goals are randomized and are usually broad, such as checking how many birds do you control in a specific habitat, with 4 rounds making an entire game of Wingspan. Each Round gives players less turns to accomplish these goals, however, and Bonus cards that you are given act almost as personal goals.
The depth comes in the win condition. At the end of the fourth Round the player with the highest total Score wins the game. This Score is calculated from end of round Bonuses, Abilities on Bird cards you control and objectives completed on your Bonus cards. This leaves many paths to victory available to you, especially since you are able to play around your opponents with the robust abilities of the Bird and Bonus cards. This gives the title an old-school Mario Party style vibe, where you can pursue your own agenda and be rewarded for it. By the end of your first real game you’ll likely be on the edge of your seat, watching the game unfold with twists and turns you could have never seen coming, eagerly awaiting the tallies at the end of each round. This experience makes a great juxtaposition to the relaxing aesthetic of the game and compliments the entire package perfectly.
Glorious Ascension
There aren’t many games like Wingspan. An entrancing, contemplative aesthetic combines well with the intense strategy of a card game to create a memorable experience that stands alone in the genre. The subject matter gives the game an interesting and approachable personality that offers some fascinating trivia about our feathered friends of the wild. This gives the game an incredible personality that must be experienced to be believed. With a deep strategic edge and an approachable aesthetic, Wingspan is the perfect game for those looking for a unique spin on the common Card Game formula.
