Staff Pick ✦ Board Games
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Some games are fun. A rare few change who plays games at all. Wingspan, designed by Elizabeth Hargrave and published by Stonemaier Games, is firmly in the second camp. Since 2019 it has won the prestigious Kennerspiel des Jahres, sold millions of copies, and pulled countless "I'm not really a board game person" people happily into the hobby.
The pitch is simple: you're a bird enthusiast building the best wildlife preserve. Every bird card you play makes your preserve a little more powerful, so each turn feels better than the last—that's the magic of engine building, and Wingspan is the friendliest introduction to it ever made. It plays 1–5 players in 40–70 minutes, works beautifully solo, and the production—painted eggs, a birdhouse dice tower, and gorgeous art on every card—makes people stop at the table and ask what you're playing.
And when the birds hook you, the series keeps going: the brand-new Wingspan Pocket shrinks it all down for travel, Wyrmspan swaps the aviary for a dragon sanctuary, and Finspan takes the whole idea underwater. Here's how the family fits together.
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Get alerts for Wingspan Pocket, Finspan & the Span expansions Wingspan Pocket is arriving at retail now, and Finspan and several expansions sell out fast. Join the list and we'll tell you the moment they hit our shelves. |
Wingspan vs. Wyrmspan vs. Finspan: Which One Is for You?
All three are standalone games — you never need one to play another. They share the same DNA (play creatures, build an engine, and score the most points), but each has its own personality.
| Wingspan | Wyrmspan | Finspan | |
| Theme | Birds & nature preserves | Dragons & excavated caves | Fish & ocean depths |
| Players | 1–5 | 1–5 | 1–5 |
| Playtime | 40–70 min | ~90 min | 45–60 min |
| Complexity | Medium — the classic gateway | Highest of the three (ages 14+) | Lightest—fastest to teach |
| Pick it if… | You want the modern classic everyone can play | You want more decisions, more depth—and dragons | You're introducing new or younger players |
Our honest take: start with Wingspan if you're new, and grab Wyrmspan if your group already loves engine builders and wants the meatier version. Wyrmspan's designer, Connie Vogelmann, kept everything people love about Wingspan and added an excavation system that gives every turn a satisfying crunch.
The Expansions: Where the Series Really Spreads Its Wings
One of the best reasons to buy into the Span series is that it grows with you. Each expansion slots into its base game without breaking what already works:
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Wingspan: European Expansion — adds new birds with end-of-round powers and more bonus cards. The most popular first add-on. Wingspan: Oceania Expansion — introduces nectar, a flexible new resource, plus new player mats that freshen up every strategy. Wingspan: Asia—a standalone-or-expansion hybrid with a dedicated two-player Duet mode and Flock mode that stretches the game up to 7 players. Wingspan: Fan Art Cards — alternate-art bird cards illustrated by the community. In stock now (see below). Wyrmspan: Dragon Academy — new dragons, caves, and guilds for your sanctuary. Finspan: Sharks & Reefs — the first Finspan expansion, adding sharks and reef life to your ocean. |
Most of the expansions above (and Finspan itself) are between shipments at the moment—join the restock alert list above, and we'll ping you the moment they land back in the store.
In Stock at Saga Concepts Right Now
Everything below is on our shelves today — ready for pickup in Northvale or shipping to your door.
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Try before you buy—at our tables Not sure which Span game fits your group? Come play at Saga Concepts—our board game nights are the perfect place to test-fly Wingspan or take Wyrmspan's dragons for a spin before you commit. Someone at the table will happily teach you; that's kind of our whole thing. |
Wingspan Series FAQ
Quick answers to the questions we hear most at the counter.
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What is Wingspan and who designed it? Wingspan is a competitive, card-driven engine-building board game about attracting birds to your wildlife preserve. It was designed by Elizabeth Hargrave, is published by Stonemaier Games, and won the Kennerspiel des Jahres award in 2019. |
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How many players does Wingspan support, and how long does a game take? Wingspan plays 1 to 5 players, with an average playtime of 40 to 70 minutes. It includes a full solo mode, so it's worth owning even if your game group is just you. |
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Is Wingspan good for beginners and families? Yes—Wingspan is widely considered one of the best gateway strategy games ever made. The rules are simple to teach, turns are quick, and the bird theme welcomes players who would never touch a "typical" strategy game. |
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What is the difference between Wingspan, Wyrmspan, and Finspan? All three are standalone engine-building games from Stonemaier Games. Wingspan (birds) is the medium-weight original at 40–70 minutes. Wyrmspan (dragons, designed by Connie Vogelmann) is the most complex, runs about 90 minutes, and is rated for ages 14+. Finspan (ocean life) is the lightest and fastest to teach, at 45–60 minutes. |
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Do I need Wingspan to play Wyrmspan or Finspan? No. Wyrmspan and Finspan are fully standalone games — each includes everything needed to play. You can start with any of the three. |
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What expansions exist for Wingspan? Wingspan has three major expansions—European (new birds and bonus cards), Oceania (adds the nectar resource and new player mats), and Asia (playable standalone, with a two-player Duet mode and Flock mode for up to 7 players)—plus the Fan Art Cards alternate-art pack. Wyrmspan has the Dragon Academy expansion, and Finspan has Sharks & Reefs. |
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Which expansion should I buy first? For most Wingspan owners we recommend the European Expansion first—it adds variety without new rules overhead. Choose Oceania when you want a fresh strategic twist, or Asia if you mostly play with exactly two players or want to go beyond five. |
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Can Wingspan be played with two players? Yes—Wingspan plays very well at two players, and the Asia expansion adds a dedicated two-player Duet mode designed specifically for head-to-head play. |
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How much does Wingspan cost at Saga Concepts? The Wingspan revised base game is $55.00 at Saga Concepts, and Wyrmspan is also $55.00. Both are in stock as of this writing, available for in-store pickup in Northvale, NJ, or shipping. |
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What is Wingspan Pocket? Wingspan Pocket is a new 2026 small-box, standalone card game version of Wingspan, designed by Elizabeth Hargrave and published by Stonemaier Games. It plays 1 to 5 players in about 25–35 minutes with a 2-minute setup, uses 106 double-sided bird/food cards, and includes a solo Automa mode. It launched from Stonemaier in July 2026 and reaches local game stores in late August 2026. |
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Is Wingspan Pocket an expansion, and is it compatible with Wingspan? No — Wingspan Pocket is a fully standalone game, not an expansion. Its cards are not compatible with the original Wingspan. Choose Pocket for travel and shorter sessions, and the original Wingspan for the full board game experience with expansions. |
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Is Finspan in stock at Saga Concepts? Finspan sells through quickly and is currently between shipments at our store. Join our restock alert list on this page and we'll email you the moment Finspan and the Span expansions are back on the shelf. |
Product images via Saga Concepts. Wingspan Pocket box image © Stonemaier Games. Wingspan, Wingspan Pocket, Wyrmspan, and Finspan are trademarks of Stonemaier Games.
