College can be a time of immense pressure and stress, with students facing the challenges of academic rigor, social life, and personal growth. Let’s face it, being a student can be incredibly rough, especially when you have no outlet for releasing stress. Many students struggle to find ways to unwind and relax, which can lead to burnout and other negative consequences. Personally, I have tried various recommended methods to relieve stress, like going for walks or meditating, but I have found that my favorite way to unwind is by playing a game about birds.
Created by first-time game designer and bird enthusiast, Elizabeth Hargrave, Wingspan (2019) is a tabletop card game in which players compete to build the best wildlife reserve for birds. Up to five people can play and each person must populate the three habitats (forest, grasslands, and wetlands) with as many birds as they can. Having taken the world by storm, the game’s combination of stunning artwork and engaging gameplay creates an immersive experience for players of all ages. It is not just a game, though — rather, it is a celebration of conservation and the natural world.
The gameplay itself is relatively straightforward, acting as a biodiversity “engine building” game, meaning that each part allows you to build upon the next. This then encourages players to learn which birds function well together in order to build a more efficient reserve. To add birds to your sanctuary, you must play a bird card. You can only put down bird cards if you have the necessary food and eggs, though. Your access to those resources increases with the more birds you have in the designated habitat. The forest gives you access to food, the grasslands provide you with eggs, and the wetlands allow you to add new bird cards to your hand.
Activating a habitat in that manor also activates the special powers of the birds within it. It sounds complicated, but honestly, once I got the hang of it, I looked forward to placing my little birds into their homes. Wingspan also moves at a leisurely pace, allowing players to take their time and adding to the relaxing factor. There is no time limit for turns which I think is a nice change of pace for college students who always have deadlines to meet. Additionally, there is no direct player interaction or aggressive gameplay, making it a peaceful and low-stress activity.
In today’s world, where stress and anxiety are rampant, finding ways to unwind and relax have become a necessity. For college students, this can be especially challenging, given the constant pressure to perform academically and socially. Wingspan is a game that offers more than just entertainment. It provides a respite from the demands of college life, allowing players to connect with nature and unwind in a peaceful, low-stress setting. Whether you’re a bird-lover or just looking for a way to relax and unwind, Wingspan is a game that is sure to delight and soothe.