14
votes
How a board game about birds became a surprise blockbuster
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- Title
- The Surprise Hit Board Game That's Transforming an $11 Billion Industry
- Authors
- Dan Kois
- Published
- Aug 16 2021
- Word count
- 3843 words
I've noticed that Wingspan has been quite popular in my boardgames group. And, like this article says, it's more popular with the women in the group than the men. Reading the description, it sounds like the type of game I'd enjoy: I'm more about building things than about competing. I usually don't care whether I win a game or not, only whether I enjoy the gameplay itself.
I'd already decided I need to play this game next time we meet (when we get out of lockdown!), but this article gives me more reason to try the game.
I happened to be in a game store last week and the lady who was running it suggested it as well. It seems like a delightful game and I think I'll have to check it out.
ps. it's nice to see you around again.
I played this fairly recently. It's absolutely lovely. The art is beautiful, the gameplay (mostly) calm and relaxing, and you get to learn a bit about birds along the way!
I'd definitely recommend it to board gamers both new and experienced. It's not hugely complex but not everything has to be, and there's enough depth to it to keep it interesting but not so much you have to think too hard. It's a really pleasant way to spend some time sitting around a table with friends.
Just as an aside, a friend of mine works for one of the UK's largest board game retailers and he said since March last year they've been shifting Christmas amounts of stock every month (they used to do ~80% of their annual sales in November/December). They can barely hire people and buy warehouse space fast enough. People playing more games is definitely one of the more positive sides to All This.
Recently I've enjoyed several rounds of Catan with my family. It sounds like Wingspan is a less competitive game (and it does sound fun, might check it out), but I think it really depends on how you play the game, not just the game itself. In my family we've had good-natured round-the-table discussions about the best moves for the player whose turn it is, even if the game-theoretically best move would be not to give any advice to other players. It's only when someone is close to winning the game that it gets moderately more competitive.
Oooooh that sounds like a great game! I've been on a new game kick since the pandemic started. I've played Jaipur, Wavelength (GREAT party game), and Catan, so I'll have to buy this one and try it out too!