Bird-themed, engine-building board game Wingspan is now available for pre-order from publisher Stonemaier Games and local games stores. The game, which sees 1-5 players competing to attract the best birds to their wildlife sanctuaries, is already generating major buzz, garnering comparisons with hit 2016 hit Terraforming Mars and currently perching at the top of Board Game Geek’s influential ‘hotness’ rankings.

From what we’ve seen, the hype is well deserved. From Wingspan’s 170 beautifully-illustrated bird cards to its natty birdhouse dice tower, the game’s production quality is all we’ve come to expect from the publisher of Scythe and Viticulture. First time designer Elizabeth Hargrave’s simple but deep rules set seems just as impressive, with players constantly faced with tricky decisions as they use their thematic bird cards to create chains of powerful combos – all within a tight 40-70 minute playtime.

Wingspan can be ordered direct from Stonemaier Games until Tuesday 8 January, with the game slated to ship by mid-January. It can also be pre-ordered from a range of game stores, with the official retail release scheduled for 8 March.