The 2019 boardgame Wingspan was a mega-hit in the tabletop world: it's been played by millions, breaking into the mainstream in a way that few hobbyist boardgames manage. The game of creating and growing bird habitats for a myriad of species has received a digital adaptation available on Steam, and in 2024 we saw a fantasy sequel, Wyrmspan, all about dragons.
The next title in the series was just announced, taking a relatively predictable leap into oceanic environs: Finspan is due out as soon as late January/early February this year, and from the punny title you can guess what's replacing birds this time around. Here's the announcement video from Stonemaier Games:
Finspan tasks players with playing cards featuring lovingly illustrated fish species into various lanes and depths of the ocean board, eventually spawning young and even grouping them into schools. It plays from 1-5 people in around an hour. As was the case with Wyrmspan, the original Wingspan designer Elizabeth Hargrave is not credited on the box as a designer but rather assisted with developing the new game.
The game's description suggests this will be the lightest entry in the series yet in terms of complexity, possibly making it a better choice for family play. Wingspan, in my experience, sits just above that range, featuring quite a few moving parts and complex card interactions.
In addition to sequel games, the original has sold well enough to support 3 expansions to date: one based on European avian species, one set in Oceania, and the most recent focused on Asia, featuring a new stand-alone mode for 1-2 players.
Finspan is expected to be available worldwide in the next few months, and if you'd like a cheaper way to see what all the fuss is about, the digital version of Wingspan is 50% off for the next week or so, and you can play with friends online. (But, if you ask me, I'm not sure it quite compares to seeing all those wonderful card illustrations in person, or the feel of those delightful little plastic eggs...)
Disclaimer: Thinky Games is part of the Carina Initiatives and may have professional relationships with individuals and businesses related to the subject of this article. Please see our Editorial Policy for details.
