Wyrmspan

Each player starts with three open caves and expands them throughout the game by excavating corridors. Dragons are placed in these caves and trigger actions when you use certain cave types, triggering resources, cards, and bonuses. Clever order and timing are crucial: the better your engine, the more powerful your turns. After a fixed number of rounds, you score points via dragons, guild trails, and constructed structures.

Wyrmspan will feel distinctly familiar to anyone familiar with Wingspan, but it's not a simple rework. The focus on engine building is sharper here: choices have a faster impact, and inefficient play is less forgiving. The variety of dragons and their effects ensures significant replayability, though it also requires a bit more explanation and attention at the table. For players who enjoy engine optimization and appreciate a strong fantasy theme, Wyrmspan is a logical and successful next step.