Wingspan

Wingspan's digital adaptation preserves everything that made Elizabeth Hargrave's tabletop hit a phenomenon while smoothing over the parts that dragged in physical play. Automated setup and scoring remove the bookkeeping tedium of the board game, letting the engine-building satisfaction of chaining bird powers across habitats take center stage. The illustrated, scientifically annotated cards and real bird calls give it an educational charm that's rare in strategy games, and the watercolor presentation is genuinely gorgeous on screen. Solo play against AI is a pleasant, relaxing experience, though the AI itself isn't particularly challenging for experienced players, and multiplayer pacing can slow considerably with slower opponents. As with the physical game, full enjoyment eventually requires buying the European, Oceania, or Asian expansions, which adds up for a complete collection. Still, this is a faithful, well-produced adaptation of one of modern tabletop gaming's genuine breakout successes, and it remains just as pleasant digitally as at the table.