Wingspan

Wingspan broke new ground in the board game world when it launched in 2019. Designed by Elizabeth Hargrave and published by Stonemaier Games, it became one of the few hobby games designed by a woman to win the Kennerspiel des Jahres (Connoisseur Game of the Year). It sold out immediately on release and has since become one of the best-selling modern board games, proving that a game about birdwatching can be every bit as compelling as one about conquering territory.

Why This One

Wingspan is an engine-building game, which means the decisions you make early on create cascading effects later. You attract birds to three different habitats on your player board, and each bird you place gives you a new ability that triggers when you use that habitat. As the game progresses, your turns become more powerful and satisfying, like watching a machine you built start humming.

The theme is not pasted on. Every bird card features accurate scientific illustrations, real wingspan measurements, habitat preferences, and nest types. If you care about nature, the game doubles as a beautiful field guide to over 170 North American bird species. But even if birds are not your thing, the engine-building puzzle is deeply satisfying on its own.

The game plays 1 to 5 players and takes 40 to 70 minutes. It includes a solo mode with an “automa” opponent, making it one of the best solo board games available.

What to Expect

Gorgeous components: a dice tower shaped like a birdhouse, pastel-colored eggs, and over 170 unique bird cards with stunning artwork. The game has a peaceful, almost meditative quality that sets it apart from more confrontational games. You are mostly building your own engine, with limited ways to interfere with opponents. Turns involve choosing one of four actions, and the rules are moderate in complexity. The first game may take a bit longer as players absorb the card interactions, but by the second play, the flow becomes natural.