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Finspan is a fish-themed game in Stonemaier Games’ Wingspan family. Players take the role of marine researchers, discover fish across three ocean zones, and build up eggs, young, schools and achievements over four weeks. The publisher lists the English base game for 1–5 players and 45–60 minutes; it also includes components for solo play.
What do players do in Finspan?
Players explore the Sunlight, Twilight and Midnight Zones, discovering aquatic life and using fish abilities to produce benefits during the game. Stonemaier Games describes the central arc this way: “In Finspan, the fish you discover over 4 weeks will generate a series of benefits as you dive deeper into the ocean.”
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Scoring encompasses fish, eggs, young, schools and achievements. That progression gives the game its fish-centered identity: the goal is not simply to collect fish cards, but to develop and score several connected parts of an ocean habitat.
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Is Finspan a Wingspan sequel?
“Sequel” is a convenient shorthand, but Stonemaier Games presents Finspan as a Wingspan game, not as a narrative continuation. The publisher’s description establishes the shared family connection and Finspan’s marine-research theme; it does not establish a story linking the two games. Nor does that label mean the games are mechanically identical.
#1 Best Overall
- Fish Collecting: You are a marine researcher seeking to find and observe an array of aquatic life in the colorful Sunlight Zone, ghostly Twilight Zone, and pitch-black Midnight Zone of the world's seas and oceans.
- Plays in 4 Rounds: Dive into the watery depths to find and observe a vast array of aquatic life over a 4 week (round) period. Each round plays quickly, and the whole game takes around an hour, depending on familiarity with the game and number of players.
- Build Your Engine: Grow your collection of fish, discover freshly laid eggs, hatch eggs into young, and consolidate young to form schools. Earn points, play new fish, help others, and many other abilities! The winner is the player with the most points gained from fish, eggs, young, schools, and achievements.
- Inspired by Wingspan: While some of the gameplay may feel familiar from Wingspan, there are many new elements that make Finspan a fun, new experience! Finspan is a part of the World of Wingspan, along with Wyrmspan, and explores aquatic life with lighter, more entry-level gameplay mechanisms.
- High Replayability: Finspan includes 135 unique fish cards and 9 different achievement tiles, which means that this game provides endless opportunities for fish combinations and discovery.
If you are deciding between them, Finspan’s defining subject is fish and the related eggs, young, schools and ocean zones. The available product specifications do not provide a basis for claiming it is easier, faster or better than Wingspan, or for making a detailed mechanical comparison.
How many people can play, and how long does it take?
Stonemaier Games lists the English base game for 1–5 players and gives a play time of 45–60 minutes. Those are publisher specifications, not independently tested results; the product page does not state a publication year for them.
Rank #2
- Bird Collecting: You are bird enthusiasts - researchers, bird watchers, ornithologists, and collectors - seeking to discover and attract a beautiful and diverse network of birds to your wildlife preserve.
- Build Your Engine: Gain food tokens via custom dice in a birdfeeder dice tower, lay eggs using egg miniatures in a variety of colors, draw from over 170 unique bird cards and play them. Each bird extends a chain of powerful combinations in one of your habitats. Earn points, play new birds, help others, and many other abilities!
- Award Winning: WIngspan is the 2019 winner of the prestigious Kennerspiel des Jahres award, along with many others!
- High Replayability: WIth 170 unique bird cards, 26 bonus goal cards, and 8 goal tiles, Wingspan provides endless opportunities for bird combinations and goal achievements, making this a great gift for families, teenagers, students, couples, and anyone who loves birds and nature.
- For families, solo gamers, and game groups alike: This medium weight, set collection and hand management strategy game for 1-5 players has a 60-90 minute playing time with only a 6 minute setup time. Great game for couples, solo gamers, 2 players, family, and friends. Includes swift-start pack for first time player guidance.
The box listing includes Nautoma decision cards and scoring and achievement cards among its solo components, supporting play by one person. The listed range therefore covers both solo play and groups of up to five.
What comes in the Finspan box?
Stonemaier Games’ product listing includes these components in the English base game:
Rank #3
- Dragon Collecting: You are an amateur dracologist in the world of Wyrmspan, a place where dragons of all shapes, sizes, and colors roam the skies. Excavate a hidden labyrinth you recently unearthed on your land and entice these beautiful creatures to roost in the sanctuary of your caves. High quality components include shiny cardboard coins, wooden tokens, high quality printed cards, and beautiful wooden speckled eggs.
- Inspired by Wingspan: While some of the gameplay may feel familiar from Wingspan, there are many new elements that make Wyrmspan a fun, new experience! Designed by Connie Vogelmann (Apiary) and developed by Elizabeth Hargrave (Wingspan). Like Wingspan, Wyrmspan also has gorgeous art and design with unique caves, dragons, and hatchlings. Illustrated in a soothing watercolor by Clémentine Campardou (Floriferous and Delicious).
- Entice and Hatch Dragons: Wyrmspan includes 183 dragon cards (148 full-grown dragons and 35 hatchlings) inspired by animals and fantastical creatures from cultures around the world. Build the most prolific dragon sanctuary in this competitive, engine-building strategy board game.
- Excavate and Explore Caves: Create new space in your sanctuary by excavating caves which gain you helpful bonuses and entice dragons to live there, chaining together powerful abilities and earning the favor of the Dragon Guild.
- Endless Replayability: With so many dragon and cave card combos, this game will return to the table over and over again. Wyrmspan has wonderfully smooth and fast gameplay that will keep it exciting for many game nights to come.
| Component | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Ocean mats | 5 |
| Achievement board and tiles | 1 board and tiles; tile count not stated by Stonemaier Games |
| Fish cards | 125 |
| Starter fish cards | 10 |
| Divers | 30 |
| Egg/young tokens | 90 |
| School tokens | 40 |
| Player aids, scorepad and week tracker | Included; quantities not stated by Stonemaier Games |
| Nautoma decision cards and solo scoring/achievement cards | Included for solo play; quantities not stated by Stonemaier Games |
These are the quantities and component descriptions on the publisher’s Finspan product page; the page does not state a year for the listing.
What is Finspan: Sharks & Reefs?
Stonemaier Games Europe lists Finspan: Sharks & Reefs as an expansion that adds variety, with a focus on sharks and fish that live among coral reefs. Its availability may differ by country and retailer, so check the local listing before planning a purchase.
Rank #4
- EXPLORE THE ISLAND OF CATAN: Settle the uninhabited island of Catan by gathering resources, building infrastructure, and nurturing trade relationships.
- STRATEGY AND COMPETITION: Compete with 2-3 opponents to expand your settlements and cities while managing resources and avoiding the robber.
- TRADE, BUILD, AND SETTLE: Use brick, wood, wheat, ore, and sheep to construct roads, settlements, and cities in your race to 10 victory points.
- REPLAYABLE AND ENGAGING: With a modular hexagonal board, no two games are the same, offering endless strategic opportunities and replayability.
- FOR FAMILIES AND STRATEGY ENTHUSIASTS: Designed for 3-4 players, ages 10 and up, CATAN 6th Edition is perfect for family game nights and friendly competition. Add the CATAN 5-6 Player Extension (sold separately) to expand your game to 5-6 players.
What should you check before buying?
- Confirm the player count and language edition on the listing for the copy you plan to buy; the cited 1–5 range is for the publisher-listed English base game.
- If you want upgraded components, treat the publisher’s Finspan Upgrade Bundle as optional and check its current contents and availability on the product page.
- If you are considering Sharks & Reefs, verify that the expansion is available in your region and that the listing is for the expansion rather than the base game.
- For card sleeves, Black Diamond Games lists a 57 × 87 mm card size and suggests Standard American sleeves. That is secondary retailer information; compare sleeve dimensions and check fit before buying.
A retailer listing also names David Gordon and Michael O’Connell as designers and says Elizabeth Hargrave helped develop the game. That credit is attributed to the retailer rather than presented here as independently confirmed publisher information.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- INTENSE TWO-PLAYER GAMEPLAY: Enter the world of Splendor in an exciting battle designed exclusively for two players. Outwit and outmaneuver your opponent as you race to gain the most prestige points and become the master gemstone merchant.
- STRATEGIC GEMSTONE ACQUISITION: Plan your moves carefully to collect gemstones and construct powerful combinations. Use your resources wisely to purchase development cards and gain an edge over your adversary.
- IMMERSIVE AND COMPACT DESIGN: Splendor Duel features high-quality components, including gemstone tokens, development cards, and noble tiles. The game's compact size makes it perfect for travel or playing on-the-go without sacrificing the immersive gaming experience.
- QUICK AND ENGAGING GAMEPLAY: Enjoy fast-paced gameplay with average playtimes of just 30 minutes. Splendor Duel offers a perfect balance of simplicity and strategic depth, making it accessible for both casual gamers and experienced board game enthusiasts.
- ENDLESS REPLAYABILITY: With a vast array of development cards and different starting setups, no two games of Splendor Duel are alike. Explore various strategies and adapt your tactics to emerge victorious in this exciting gemstone battle.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
