Summer passion grabs hold as anticipated board game surges past other pursuits
Finspan, the latest board game from Stonemaier Games, is making waves in the gaming community as a more accessible and enjoyable version of its predecessor, Wingspan.
Finspan retains the core principles of Wingspan, with each player having their own board and placing animal cards onto different environments. However, the resource payment mechanism in Finspan offers a significant improvement, allowing players to pay for fish cards using more controlled methods such as discarding cards from their hand, using egg or baby fish tokens, or covering (consuming) other cards. This reduces randomness and gives players greater strategic control over their plays.
One of the key differences between Finspan and Wingspan is the introduction of baby fish that can move across the board and merge into larger, high-scoring schools. This adds a fresh layer of tactical planning and interaction, encouraging players to think ahead and optimize movement for maximum scoring opportunities.
The tableau layout in Finspan is also different, with a vertical (top to bottom) design that mimics a dive from the ocean surface to the ocean floor. This layout change integrates default fish printed on player boards that do not score but enable triggering rewards and jump-starting engine-building early on, making early gameplay feel more engaging and less punishing.
Finspan also provides starter fish cards in each player's initial hand, adding to early options and reducing the likelihood of slow starts. Combined with the default fish on boards, players enjoy a smoother, more rewarding opening phase.
In Finspan, players compete for the most points each round, with each round consisting of 4 rounds, with only 6 turns per round. The limited turns and rounds necessitate careful planning to merge groups of baby fish into high-scoring schools in the fewest amount of moves.
Each round also features a special objective, such as earning bonus points for every egg on the board, adding an extra layer of strategy and competition.
Finspan is currently available at various retailers, including Zatu for £31.49 in the UK, and its US price can be checked at Amazon and Walmart. A new board game named Finspan has been released for £29.50 at Magic Madhouse, offering a significant discount of £12.50.
Finspan's strategic depth, reduced randomness, and engaging gameplay have earned it a reputation as one of the best board games, based on its predecessor Wingspan's popularity. If you're a fan of engine-building and set collection games, or simply looking for a more accessible and enjoyable gaming experience, Finspan is definitely worth a dive.
