Wingspan Board Game Review: Still Worth It in 2026?

In this Wingspan board game review, I’ll share why this nature-inspired engine builder continues to earn a spot on our table — years after its release.

With its stunning artwork, layered strategy, and ever-growing expansion packs, Wingspan has become a modern classic. Whether you’re a longtime player like me or just discovering this birdwatching beauty for the first time, I’ll cover everything from gameplay to components to whether it’s still worth picking up in 2026.

Let’s feather the nest and take flight!

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Should You Buy Wingspan?

Buy If:

• You enjoy medium-weight strategy games with engine-building mechanics

• You're looking for a game that balances beauty with brainpower

• You appreciate high production value and art that sparks conversation

• You play with 2–5 players and want something everyone can learn but still grow with

Don’t Buy If:

• You prefer fast-paced or luck-heavy games

• You’re only interested in games under 30 minutes

• You don’t enjoy reading or managing individual card effects

Wingspan Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Gorgeous, high-quality components and art

• Deep strategy with simple core mechanics

• Tons of replay value, especially with expansions

• Family-friendly without being “kiddie”

• Educational and engaging

Cons:

• Can run a bit long with 4–5 players

• Some birds/cards are noticeably stronger than others

• Setup and teardown time isn’t minimal

• Needs decent table space

Wingspan Price

At the time of writing, Wingspan retails for around $80–$100 CAD, depending on the edition and availability.  The linked copy was on sale when this post was created.

Expansions such as European, Oceania, and Asia range from $35–$55 CAD each and are worth considering if you're playing often and want more variety.

You can often find bundle deals, especially around the holidays — and trust me, this one makes a stellar gift.

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The base game above is all you need to get started but I'll link a few upgrades that I like as well below, if I were to choose only one the hard plastic resources would be it - they're a huge upgrade over the cardboard pieces that come in the base set.

Speckled EggsHard Plastic Food Resources

Wood bird Feeder
(Disclosure: As an affiliate, I may earn a small commission if you buy through these links — at no extra cost to you.)

How to Play Wingspan (Quick Summary)

In Wingspan, you’re building a network of birds across three habitats: forest, grassland, and wetland. Each turn, you can take one of four actions:

1. Play a bird (by paying the appropriate food and placing it in a habitat)

2. Gain food (from the birdfeeder based on forest birds)

3. Lay eggs (used as currency to play birds or score points)

4. Draw bird cards (to expand your options)

As the game progresses, each habitat becomes more powerful thanks to activated bird abilities. Strategy comes from choosing which birds to play, when to activate them, and how to chain their effects.

You play over four rounds, each with a decreasing number of turns — so every move counts.

Victory points come from bird cards, bonus objectives, eggs, cached food, tucked cards, and round-end goals.

Components, Art, and Quality: 5 / 5

Wingspan is often called the most beautiful modern board game — and that’s no exaggeration. From the pastel egg tokens to the dice tower birdfeeder to the stunning hand-drawn birds on every card, it’s a tactile and visual treat.

Our household loves the game so much we upgraded our components: we use a solid wooden birdfeeder, plastic food tokens, and leave expansion packs mixed in to keep things fresh. Even the original version is impressively high quality, but if you’re playing often, those little extras go a long way.

It also includes a thoughtful scorepad, reference guides, and well-organized trays that help during setup and teardown.

Wingspan Gameplay and Strategy: 4.6 / 5

At its core, Wingspan is a game about synergy — building an engine where one action triggers multiple rewarding effects. And it does that so well. It's also one of the few games where players tend to develop favorite cards and strategies, making each playthrough feel personal.

Some birds are more powerful in early-game (and yes, it can sting when they don’t show up!), but clever strategy and adaptation are what make Wingspan so satisfying. There are so many ways to win, whether you’re laying eggs like a pro, tucking cards like a mad scientist, or building your food cache empire.

With 2 players, it flows quickly and feels tight. With more players, turns stay snappy thanks to simultaneous planning if everyone is focused, though the game length does increase a bit and can become excessive if players are multi-tasking between turns.

Why We Keep Playing

Wingspan has been a favourite in our home for years — and somehow, it still feels fresh. We’ve played it with new gamers, seasoned board game fans, and even nature lovers who’d never heard of engine-building before. Everyone ends up drawn in by the art and stays for the satisfying gameplay.

We’ve found strategies we love (I’ll admit, I still get excited when I see certain green-backed birds early on), and we’ve happily mixed in expansions to keep variety high. It’s also one of the few games that everyone in our group has their own “thing” they look forward to — favourite birds, round objectives, or simply chasing big egg counts.

Wingspan isn’t just a board game. It’s a ritual.

Value: 4.7 / 5

Wingspan comes in at a higher price point than some casual games, but the quality and replay value more than make up for it. Between the base game and the expansions, this is the kind of investment that pays off again and again — especially if it becomes part of your regular rotation.

Scoring Breakdown

Art & Components: 5.0 / 5
Gameplay: 4.6 / 5
Replay Value: 4.7 / 5
Value: 4.7 / 5
Total: 19.0 / 20

Our Rating: 9.5 / 10

Whether you’re already a Wingspan fan or on the fence, this bird-based beauty continues to earn its place as one of the most beloved modern board games out there. For families, friends, and anyone who enjoys strategy wrapped in serene aesthetics, Wingspan is a must-own.

Purchase Wingspan!

(Disclosure: As a member of the Amazon Associates program I earn from qualifying sales.  There is not extra cost to you & it helps support this website.)

FAQ

Is Wingspan good for beginners?

Yes! While it has strategic depth, the basic mechanics are easy to learn and it comes with great player aids. Most new players pick it up within a round or two.

How many players can play Wingspan?

The base game supports 1–5 players. There’s also a solo mode and an expansion (Asia) that includes 2-player duel rules.

What’s the difference between Wingspan and its expansions?

Each expansion adds new bird cards and mechanics themed to a continent (Europe, Oceania, Asia). They increase variety and replayability without changing the core rules.