Wingspan

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 10,336 reviews
  • music
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Wingspan Game Cover
+ Calming + Smoothly designed + Unique within the genre + Perfectly suited art and sound direction - Confusing tutorial (Reviewed on PC, also available on Nintendo Switch)
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Wingspan is a strategy card game for 1-5 players, where you compete to build and manage a network of wildlife preserves for bird enthusiasts. Officially licensed and based on the 2019 Kennerspiel des Jahres board game award winner, it offers phenomenal gameplay, stunning visuals, and a stellar soundtrack. With dense atmosphere, wholesome story, and excellent replayability, it supports local multi-player, co-op, single-player, and PvP modes, offering both split-screen and online play.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 10,336 reviews
music842 positive mentions
stability155 negative mentions
  • music1,500 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its soothing and calming qualities, enhancing the overall relaxing atmosphere of the gameplay. Many players appreciate the beautiful soundtrack and the incorporation of real bird calls, which contribute to a meditative experience. However, some users note that the limited variety in the soundtrack can lead to repetitiveness over extended play sessions.

    • “The soundtrack is incredible.”
    • “Beautifully incorporates music and birdsong into a digital version of the board game.”
    • “The music is so lovely and relaxing and the animations are so cute.”
    • “First, the background music is repetitive.”
    • “However the limited amount of tracks makes the music kind of repetitive in the long run.”
    • “But I don't like that so before getting this game consider to yourself if you want to spend hours of your time on one match, with no combat or action of any kind, a mediocre soundtrack, and an immensely complicated game experience.”
  • graphics993 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful artwork, charming animations, and soothing sound design, creating a relaxing and immersive experience. Players appreciate the attention to detail in the bird illustrations and the calming ambiance provided by the music and sound effects, which enhance the overall gameplay. While some users noted minor issues with the user interface, the aesthetic quality remains a standout feature, making it visually appealing and enjoyable to play.

    • “The beautiful artwork of the birds and the lovingly designed cards transported me to a world where I could escape from the daily stresses.”
    • “The graphics have a soft tone to them like an acrylic painting.”
    • “The animations, artwork, and bird sounds are amazing.”
    • “The graphics are mostly pretty naff except for the excellent birds which are quite superior and engaging.”
    • “There are some flaws in the UI design, a few minor graphical glitches that were annoying for a second, but not game-breaking, a limited matchmaking variety and leaver karma system that can turn a relaxing game into disappointment or frustration.”
    • “Just downloaded the 1/25/2022 update and the graphics are unreadable.”
  • gameplay776 mentions

    The gameplay of "Wingspan" is characterized by its engaging mechanics and strategic depth, offering a blend of simplicity and complexity that appeals to both casual and experienced players. While the game features a steep learning curve due to its many moving parts, players find the core loop of resource management and card play rewarding once mastered. The digital adaptation enhances the experience with beautiful visuals, soothing music, and intuitive tutorials, although some users note that the interface can be finicky and the gameplay may feel less competitive in larger groups.

    • “The gameplay itself has surprising depth and the AI players work well.”
    • “The gameplay is smooth and fast, while the art and the sound design are top quality.”
    • “The gameplay is unique and brilliant.”
    • “The fact that this game does not have a tabletop view for the gameplay has made me stop playing this version of the game.”
    • “It's more of a 'let's throw all of the mechanics at the player at once and talk about moving this cube around for some reason'.”
    • “They over-complicate the gameplay and add more bad cards than good.”
  • replayability180 mentions

    The game is widely praised for its high replayability, with many players noting the variety of strategies, randomized objectives, and diverse bird cards that keep each session fresh and engaging. Its easy-to-learn mechanics combined with deep strategic elements make it appealing for both casual and competitive play, ensuring that players can enjoy it repeatedly without it feeling stale. Overall, the game's design and adaptability contribute to its immense replay value, making it a favorite among players.

    • “The gameplay itself is compelling with a lot of casual replayability, and the visuals, music, and bird songs are icing on the cake.”
    • “Wingspan is an attractive, intelligent and enjoyable experience with high replayability value.”
    • “The resource management aspects are smartly integrated into the bird theme of eggs, food, and habitat, and the various bird-related goals and powers mix things up so it's a different game each time, for excellent replay value.”
    • “While a session can be played through in anything from 30 minutes to an hour, the longevity of this game comes mainly from the endless replay value.”
    • “It's complex, shockingly competitive despite how it may look on first glance, and has near-infinite replay value.”
    • “Replayability isn't a concern with the wide variety of challenges, the various bird attributes, and changing win conditions present in each run of the game.”
  • stability169 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many users reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and various bugs, particularly in online multiplayer modes. While some players have noted improvements and quick patches from developers, the overall experience remains inconsistent, leading to frustration and a lack of confidence in the game's reliability. Despite its fun gameplay, many recommend caution due to the persistent technical issues.

    • “Runs great and looks great.”
    • “Great port of the board game and pretty bug free.”
    • “No glitches experienced so far.”
    • “Unable to play the game for about a month (freezes/hangs on main menu) and crickets from the support/dev team.”
    • “It's definitely buggy and if you leave to go to the main menu, you sometimes can't re-enter and you end up losing your turn, and when this happens you get booted off and given 'bad karma'.”
    • “Way too buggy, can't finish a single game.”
  • atmosphere94 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its serene and calming qualities, enhanced by soothing music and the natural sounds of birds. Players appreciate the beautiful artwork and the overall aesthetic, which together create a relaxing environment that complements the gameplay. Many find the atmosphere therapeutic, making it a delightful experience for both casual and strategic play.

    • “What makes Wingspan so special isn't just the serene atmosphere it exudes, but also the depth of the game itself.”
    • “The combination of the music and overall atmosphere of the game makes it a very relaxing experience.”
    • “The beautiful artwork is preserved, and the atmosphere is augmented with bird calls and an extremely gentle and calming soundtrack.”
    • “You mostly get the advertised serene atmosphere.”
    • “The overall atmosphere of the game is very relaxing, too.”
    • “The atmosphere is very peaceful; the drawings feel alive and wondrous, and the soundtrack calms me.”
  • story32 mentions

    The game "Wingspan" is noted for its lack of a traditional story mode, with players expressing a desire for a narrative progression that accompanies gameplay. While there are thematic elements related to managing a bird sanctuary and individual card lore, the overall consensus is that the game does not offer a substantial story experience, focusing instead on strategy and relaxation.

    • “Nice birds and a bit of a story with each.”
    • “Epic story.”
    • “The story: you have a bird sanctuary.”
    • “The only thing missing from the PC version is a story mode that progresses with birds until the end.”
    • “This game has no story.”
    • “You are sick of blood, gore, and sex being used as a substitute for a well-thought-out story or mechanics.”
  • emotional30 mentions

    The game is widely praised for its emotional impact, offering a wholesome and calming experience that resonates deeply with players. Its beautiful artwork and soundtrack enhance the journey of discovery and relaxation, making it a standout choice for those seeking a joyful and engaging gameplay experience. Despite some concerns about monetization and difficulty levels, the overall sentiment highlights the game's ability to evoke strong positive emotions.

    • “It's an experience that touches you on an emotional level, taking you on a journey of discovery and relaxation.”
    • “But also, the music is so beautiful it makes me want to cry.”
    • “Extremely calming and wholesome, just a happy experience all around.”
  • optimization26 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some players noting that while it is playable, there are significant performance issues and bugs, particularly on the Steam Deck. Many reviewers suggest that the game could benefit from further optimization, especially in graphics, and express frustration over its current implementation. Despite these concerns, multiplayer functionality is reported to run smoothly, indicating that certain aspects of the game are well-optimized.

    • “Fantastic game, the DLCs need some bug work on the Steam Deck but it is playable and optimized.”
    • “Ran across a couple of glitches the first time I played it since it had been released the day before, but bug fixes have already been run and so far my game runs smoothly.”
    • “They run smoothly and offer a good experience.”
    • “I'm personally not a big fan of this since this game could have been heavily optimized by using a singular board with different segments on it rather than how it's implemented now.”
    • “The game needs to be optimized before I would recommend this game.”
    • “It feels like it was optimized for developing a mobile copy at the same time as a desktop copy, and fails both.”
  • grinding22 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, particularly when it comes to obtaining karma and achievements. The online play exacerbates this issue, as the pace can slow down significantly compared to AI matches, leading to frustration. Overall, while the game offers a refreshing theme, the grinding elements detract from the overall experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “This is tedious, and especially problematic in the online environment because two players can, say, take back-to-back turns in quick succession where the first player draws a face-up bird, then the next player draws the face-up bird that replaces it.”
    • “I find playing online pretty tedious because of how much longer it takes in comparison to playing against AI.”
  • humor20 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, featuring a mix of witty achievements, amusing bird facts, and a hilariously enthusiastic narrator. Players find the sound effects and card interactions to be entertaining, contributing to an overall lighthearted and addictive experience. The clever use of puns, such as "wing humor," adds an extra layer of fun to the gameplay.

    • “The achievements are hilarious and fun to try for.”
    • “The online version is a beautiful rendition with long-listen tolerable music, fun sound effects, and an earnestly hilarious narrator... who, as it turns out, has an equally hilarious portfolio of other professional work.”
    • “The audio is alternately mellow and hilarious, the computery voice of the bird fact narrator predictably robo-enthused, and the facts about birds themselves often amusing.”
  • monetization10 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism, with players expressing frustration over mandatory advertisements even after a paid purchase. Many feel that the aggressive monetization tactics, including limited-time paid content, create a cash grab atmosphere and detract from the overall experience.

    • “Great game, but I shouldn't have to look at an advertisement for another game to play.”
    • “Get rid of the advertisements and I'll change this review to positive.”
    • “Paid purchase, but I have to click through an advertisement every single time I start the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

79% average critic score

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Play time

22hMedian play time
41hAverage play time
9-72hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 26 analyzed playthroughs

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