Wingspan: European Expansion arrives on May 5

We liked Wingspan a lot when we reviewed it in late 2020, calling its digital recreation of the bird-based board game "a must play" in our 90% review, and users on Steam seem to share that feeling: It's rated as "overwhelmingly positive" across more than 4,100 user reviews. And soon there will be more, as developer Monster Couch announced today that the long-awaited European Expansion will arrive on May 5.

If you're unfamiliar with Wingspan, it's a game about running a wildlife preserve for birds. Unlike most management sims, though, it's card-based and heavily strategic, with just enough randomization to keep things interesting. The digital translation enhances the tabletop version in multiple ways, including through high-resolution animated scientific illustrations, individual bird calls, narrated trivia, and "a lovely ambient soundscape of birdsong, nature sounds, and classical guitar." (The soundtrack is on Spotify, by the way, and makes an excellent accompaniment to the physical board game).

The European Expansion will include new birds, each with a recording of its bird call and a selection of new and more diverse abilities, and new goals for players to achieve. Naturally, there will be a variety of lovely new landscapes to feast your eyes on, and an all-new soundtrack from original Wingspan composer Pawel Gorniak. All the features from the base game, including full cross-platform multiplayer, will continue to be supported in the expansion.

Wingspan: European Expansion is available for wishlisting now on Steam. You can find out more at monstercouch.com or on the official Wingspan Discord.

Andy Chalk

Andy has been gaming on PCs from the very beginning, starting as a youngster with text adventures and primitive action games on a cassette-based TRS80. From there he graduated to the glory days of Sierra Online adventures and Microprose sims, ran a local BBS, learned how to build PCs, and developed a longstanding love of RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters. He began writing videogame news in 2007 for The Escapist and somehow managed to avoid getting fired until 2014, when he joined the storied ranks of PC Gamer. He covers all aspects of the industry, from new game announcements and patch notes to legal disputes, Twitch beefs, esports, and Henry Cavill. Lots of Henry Cavill.