Nature

Two nature-themed engine builders. Both gorgeous. Both in the BGG Top 50. Both sitting on wishlists worldwide, often right next to each other. Everdell and Wingspan get compared constantly - and it makes sense. On the surface they look almost interchangeable: cards, animals, icons, engines, pretty art. But spend a couple of hours with each and you’ll realise they’re solving very different design problems. The mistake is treating this as a “buy one or the other” decision without knowing what each actually does. ...

Wingspan is the game that seemingly everyone owns. It’s sitting at #38 all time on BGG with over 115,000 ratings and an average score of 8.0. Designer Elizabeth Hargrave built something genuinely special: an engine-builder themed around bird habitats that’s pretty enough to stop strangers at a coffee shop. But here’s the question that actually matters for solo players: does the Automa system turn this into a satisfying solo experience, or is it just a way to fill the player count minimum? ...

Wingspan does something rare. It makes a genuinely meaty board game feel effortless. The card artwork is gorgeous. The egg tokens are satisfying to hold. You’re building a bird sanctuary, drafting cards, and triggering cascading engine chains - and the whole thing flows in under 90 minutes with people who’ve never played a Euro game in their life. Then the game ends. You want more. But more what, exactly? That’s the question worth answering carefully. Because Wingspan fans aren’t all looking for the same thing. Some want that exact same loop with fresh content. Others want a bigger challenge. Some fell in love with the nature theme. Some just want something they can teach in five minutes. ...