Wingspan – Pocket Edition

I’ve never played the original Wingspan, but I was looking for a game I could easily throw in my bag and take away on holiday to Bali – and Wingspan Pocket has been perfect.

I love birds, so I was probably an easy sell! The cards feature beautiful birds from around the world, including New Zealand, and I love that you can spend the half hour play time appreciating and learning about some amazing birds while also playing a fun and challenging game.

The basic mechanics are pretty easy to learn. Each card can represent either a bird or food, and on each turn you choose whether to add a bird to your flock, collect more cards or lay eggs. As your flock grows, you activate your birds’ different abilities, so the challenge is working out which birds work well together and building combinations that score you the most points. It’s simple enough to pick up after a couple of games, but there’s plenty of strategy as the game unfolds.

The whole game also feels incredibly premium. The box, cards, cute little eggs(!) and playing pieces are all beautifully made, yet everything packs neatly into a small box that fits easily into your bag.

Games take around 30 minutes, which I think is just about perfect when you’re travelling. It’s been a great way to spend some time with friends while we’re away – pull it out over a drink or after a meal, play a couple of games, then pack it away again. The official playing time is around 25–35 minutes.

I’d recommend Wingspan Pocket if you’re looking for a travel game that’s short and easy to learn, but still gives you enough strategy to make every game interesting. And if like me you love birds – or just like the idea of discovering some amazing ones while you play – even better!