St. Louis-based game publisher Stonemaier Games is releasing the newest addition to the internationally renowned Wingspan series of games: Wingspan Pocket.
Intended as a more accessible version of Wingspan and designed by the original’s creator, Elizabeth Hargrave, Wingspan Pocket is a simplified version of the original that distills down the core components that gained the game its popularity and acclaim, while reducing the box size, overall complexity, and time to play.
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“It’s a shorter game, a more streamlined game, and a game that is more accessible and could introduce more people to the world of Wingspan,” says Jamey Stegmaier, game designer and president of Stonemaier Games.
Creating a smaller, more compact game based on a beloved original is a difficult task, Stegmaier says. A balance must be struck between feeling similar to the original, with enough differences to warrant a new release. While Stegmaier especially emphasizes the reduction of game time (an average Wingspan game can run from 60–90 minutes, while Wingspan Pocket runs from 20–30), the mechanics of the game have also been simplified to accommodate more casual players.
Front and center is the removal of player mats, which originally held four rows of cards that players would choose to activate from in each turn. Instead, players will only have one row of cards, helping to ensure game pace remains quick.
Like the original, the game’s cards feature gorgeous, hand-drawn bird artwork by Natalia Rojas and Ana Maria Martinez Jamarillo, including new pieces showcasing birds from Africa and the Arctic, as well as returning artwork from Wingspan and its continent-themed expansions.
“It’s a ‘best of birds from around the world’ in Wingspan Pocket,” Stegmaier says.
Though casual players were front of mind throughout the production process, experienced players have not been ignored. Wingspan Pocket includes what Stegmaier calls an “advanced mode” that adds another level of complexity to the game via additional goals, ensuring that play remains enjoyable no matter the players’ skill level. For those who already own or are intrigued by Wingspan but have never tackled the game because of its complexities, Stegmaier says that Wingspan Pocket is the perfect bridge.
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“I think there are a lot of birders who got into the idea of Wingspan, they have it on their shelf and look through the bird cards,” Stegmaier says. “But they’ve been daunted to play it. I think there are a lot of people who want to know how to play Wingspan, but haven’t. For those people, [Wingspan Pocket] is a perfect stepping stone to a game they already own.”
Wingspan Pocket releases on July 15 on the Stonemaier Games webstore, with retail release to follow soon after. For regular updates, sign up for “World of Wingspan.”
