NOTE: This review will focus specifically on the digital adaptation of Wingspan rather than the physical game, though there is obviously quite a bit of overlap.
Wingspan has been around for 5 years now, released in 2019 by Stonemaier Games to great critical acclaim. It gained a significant following due to the beauty of the art, the ease of gameplay mixed with strategic complexity, and the quality of the game components. I was introduced to Wingspan by very good friends who know exactly what kinds of games I enjoy, and this is a game that is accessible for my wife as well.
In 2020, Stonemaier Games released a digital version of Wingspan, which is what I will be focusing on today.
We only bought digital Wingspan this year, and have been playing it since purchase (including all available expansions). It is now one of the topmost played games on my Switch, due to many hours of relaxing and playing the game.
This is an excellent adaptation of a tabletop game. Many tabletop adaptations fall short, or skimp on aesthetic for practicality (like the Unmatched adaptation). This one is incredibly successful in both places.
One of the most striking things about this adaptation is its beauty. The art from the game is all here, with animations on a beautiful background. Charm is too light a word for how well-done the aesthetics of this game are. The music is also incredibly beautiful.
The controls and gameplay can make or break a board game adaption. For this one, the controls are easy to master once you get the hang of them, and the gameplay is smooth. There is enough variety with expansions that you can play over and over again and feel like the birds are fresh.
The hot-seat mode (playing with a single controller) is also enjoyable – my wife and I have spent hours and hours passing the controller back and forth while doing other tasks (like folding laundry or feeding the baby!).
As for the game itself – mechanically, it is very simple. You can do one of four actions each turn – gain food, get eggs, draw cards, or play a bird. Food, eggs, and drawing cards all have four spaces next to the action for birds to be played in. Every bird you play improves how many cards, food, or eggs you can get. When you use one of these three actions, you can activate some of your birds to get more resources or victory points. The winner is the one with the most points at the end!
The strategy comes from when to take resources and when to use them, and what to focus in order to secure victory. The digital version has not replaced the physical game of Wingspan for my wife and I, at least not when we play with others. But with the two of us, being able to play sitting next to one another with no setup or tear down is an incredible benefit, and I expect to get plenty more hours out of our digital copy of Wingspan.
The game is playable in single player with solid AI, and supports up to 4 human/AI participants. It also supports multiple active games, and is very easy to pause and put down, making it perfect for a long gaming session or a brief session. It shines brightly on the Switch, where I purchased it along with its expansions – being able to switch between the television and handheld has been great for my wife and I while taking care of our baby! The performance is incredibly smooth on Switch – we have never experienced even minor lag.
This game also contains DLC that has plenty of value, including two cosmetic packs (which, with art like this, are totally worth it for the additional profile pictures and animated backgrounds) and two of the three current physical expansions for Wingspan – The Oceanic Expansion and The European Expansion. It is currently missing Wingspan Asia, but this will hopefully be added as DLC in later versions!
What are some of your favorite board game digital adaptations? I’m always on the look out for good ones! Maybe someday I’ll post a list of some favorites. Let me know your favorites in the comments below!
Recommended for Younger Players?
Wingspan is a complex game, but this version streamlines it in an accessible way. It is likely too challenging for most elementary schoolers. The content is completely clean, however, so if your child is used to complex board game mechanics, it would be a great one to try!
Verdict: No (Conditionally)
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