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Since its launch, Wingspan has captured the imaginations of players around the globe. Its harmonious blend of beautifully illustrated cards, immersive gameplay, and a touch of educational brilliance has secured its status as a beloved classic. The game’s journey has taken players from the forests of North America in the base game to the vibrant landscapes of Europe and Oceania in the first and second expansions. Wingspan’s expansion story continues this time drawing us into the diverse avian world of Asia, bringing in a new chapter in this much-loved game saga.
👥 1-2 players, ages 10+
⌛ Playing time: 40-70 minutes
📝 Designer: Elizabeth Hargrave
🎨 Artwork: Ana Maria Martinez Jaramillo, Natalia Rojas
🏢 Publisher: Dutch version by 999 Games, published in English by Stonemaier Games.
This third expansion takes us on an ornithological journey through Asia, introducing fresh game elements and new species to your habitats. The game offers a one-player stand-alone mode and a two-player Duet mode, as well as the option to add the expansion to your original Wingspan game. And, for larger groups, the Flock mode enables gameplay for 6-7 players.
🐦 Just like in the original Wingspan, the gameplay is spread over four rounds, with each player taking their turn in a clockwise manner. Players have a choice of one of four actions each turn: they can introduce a new bird to their habitats, gain food and activate powers, lay eggs and activate more powers, or draw bird cards and activate wetland bird powers.
🦉 As each round concludes and all action cubes have been used, we move closer to the end game. Scores are calculated from points accumulated through various ways, like playing bird cards, achieving bonus cards, fulfilling end-of-round goals, and more. The highest score determines the winner.
🪺 Moving onto the Duet mode, every time you play a bird onto your mat, a corresponding Duet token is placed on the Duet map. The placement is strategic, needing to match the region, symbol, and wingspan space on the map in relation to the bird played. There are also bonus spaces on the Duet map, granting you an extra egg, card, or food die when used. At the end of the game, your largest contiguous group of Duet tokens on the map will fetch additional points.
🦅 In contrast, the Flock mode brings a unique dynamic to larger groups. Here, two active players play simultaneously to keep the game moving. Everyone is still competing individually, but now you are part of a group with its own bird tray and birdfeeder. Despite the group setup, end-of-round goals, certain bird powers, and pink “Once Between Turns” powers are shared across the whole table.
Elizabeth Hargrave continues to charm us with her standalone expansion to Wingspan, Wingspan Asia. This game fits neatly into a smaller, more environmentally friendly package but does not skimp on content, including a wealth of fresh features and gameplay elements.
🐦 In this expansion, players get to discover 90 new avian species, each adding a fresh layer of interaction and complexity to the game. For instance, some new birds encourage a thrilling “push-your-luck” approach, while others create a mutually beneficial situation for you and your opponent, with an additional advantage for you. The range of abilities also extends to birds that have end-of-round or end-of-game effects, and even those that can migrate to other players’ boards. The diversity in the bird deck of Wingspan Asia surpasses any other in the Wingspan series and brings an extra dimension to the gameplay.
🌍 Wingspan’s two-player experience, already solid in the base game, has been enriched further with the Duet mode. As each bird you play moves a token to a shared central mat, early bonuses from the Duet board can jumpstart your game engine. Intriguingly, the end-of-round goals revolve around this shared mat, putting a spotlight on which birds are played and which spots are seized. The Duet board’s endgame points, based on the connected tokens in your largest group, subtly augment your score. Besides, this shared board injects a welcome dose of direct interaction as players vie for spots and aim to disrupt their opponent’s plans.
🎨 Artistically, Wingspan Asia stands out with its newly designed player boards, which in my opinion, sport prettier artwork than those in the base game. The game’s components maintain the quality that fans have come to expect from the Wingspan series. One slight drawback is the limited variety in the end-of-round goal tiles for Duet mode, with only six double-sided tiles available. The lack of a birdfeeder and the inclusion of a less useful ‘birdfeeder-board’ placeholder may also be disappointing for some players.
👍 Yet, these minor aspects don’t diminish the overall appeal of Wingspan Asia. It’s a highly recommended expansion for all Wingspan lovers, especially those seeking more bird card variety. If you regularly play Wingspan with two players, the Duet mode is a significant enhancement. The inclusion of a Flock mode, facilitating games with larger groups, may not appeal to everyone – it doesn’t enhance my personal experience as I seldom play Wingspan with more than four players. Nonetheless, for those who frequently enjoy larger gatherings, I’m sure the Flock mode could be a fantastic addition to your Wingspan experience.
Disclaimer: We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to 999 Games for providing us with a review copy of the game.
