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Description
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. In Finspan, the fish you discover over four weeks will generate a series of benefits as you dive deeper into the ocean.
Each dive site specializes in a key aspect of expanding your research:
Grow your collection of fish.
Discover freshly laid eggs.
Hatch eggs into young and consolidate young to form schools.
The winner is the player with the most points gained from fish, eggs, young, schools, and achievements.
—description from the publisher
Year Published
2025
Featured Videos
Review
Finspan in about 3 minutes
Transcript Analysis
Browse transcript mentions, sentiments, pros/cons, mechanics, topics, quotes, and references.
Total mentions: 12
This page: 12
Sentiment:
pos 7 ·
mix 2 ·
neu 1 ·
neg 0
Showing 1–12 of 12
Video Mn5HYn7355I
general_discussion at 4:01
video_pk 62833 · mention_pk 155560
Click to watch at 4:01 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
none
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Their goal is joy is always their goal.
- In 2025, my goals are to welcome both new and experienced gamers into the gaming community and bring joy to their tabletops, to support my amazing co-workers, and to lead with kindness, compassion, and empathy.
- What's the balance of randomness and luck versus control and agency advantage?
- The core hook advantage is that you are far away from your crew mates, yet you're still connected to each other through the skills, impact dice, slots, information about the world, the shared challenge dice, a variety of actions geared towards assisting other players, puzzles, and accomplishing your mission and destiny.
- It's supposed to be more intuitive, not straight up guessing.
- There really isn't much worry about spoiling something from going and looking at like a like going through the story books because there's so much in there.
- I would put it at like 90% control agency and 10% luck.
- you have to choose from the six different location choices what you are going to do.
- the heart of Vantage is exploration, discovery, and that freedom.
- there isn't an app for Vantage because it's meant to be an escape.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video pV87z_S1iGM
Allies or Enemies game_review at 0:11
video_pk 61041 · mention_pk 153450
Click to watch at 0:11 · YouTube ↗
Pros
none
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Array
- Array
- Resource management, card-driven actions, and set-collection within a sea-life ecosystem
- Array
- Underwater / ocean depths with divers and fish
- Array
- Array
- Array
- positive
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the simplest most streamlined version of the game
- I like that it's streamlined as well to try and encourage you to put fish in all of the columns
- this is the quickest turn turns out of the whole series
- I would pick this 100% of the time
- I think this is the fastest to play at two players I think we can play it in like 40 minutes it's quick
- it's still interesting decisions of managing those limited number of resources that you're dealing with
- the easiest to teach
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video YJ13H0Swnn4
Unknown Channel game_review at 3:24 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 59616 · mention_pk 152147
Click to watch at 3:24 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- Engaging engine-building through diving mechanics and board interactions
- High variety with an expansive set of fish cards (125 unique cards)
- Strong thematic resonance with marine biology and educational potential
- Accessible for gateway players and family gameplay; broad appeal
Cons
- Predator mechanics can feel unbalanced or overly positive for all players, reducing tension
- Lack of negative actions or penalties can lead to a more repetitive, flat feel over long play sessions
- Egg tokens and some tactile elements could be more satisfying; eggs are not physically represented in the componentry
Thematic elements
- Marine life management, resource collection (fish, eggs, young), and predator dynamics
- Underwater/oceanic exploration and marine biology research
- Educational and procedural with engine-building flavor
Comparison games
- Wingspan
- Katon
- Everdell
- Dog Park
- Flamecraft
- Harvest
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Blue-cost discards — Some fish cards show a blue cost in the card, indicating you must discard two fish to play them.
- Diver placement — On your turn, you move a diver meeple to a strategic position on your ocean board to initiate actions.
- Diver-column triggering — Assign divers to specific columns to trigger different effects, such as drawing new cards, laying eggs, or hatching Young.
- Eating and length-based predator interactions — Some fish can eat others based on length values, introducing predator dynamics and strategic sacrifices.
- Egg and young tokens — Eggs are used to produce Young; eggs and Young sit on fish cards and contribute to endgame scoring and future actions.
- Egg-hatching sequence — Eggs can be activated to hatch into Young, enabling subsequent actions or scoring opportunities.
- end game bonuses — Predators like the Great White Shark trigger effects that affect all players, adding a dynamic tension.
- end-of-round and end-of-game scoring — Score based on eggs, Young, and other endgame conditions, with a recurring weekly/phase structure.
- Engine Building: Triggered/Cascading — Assign divers to specific columns to trigger different effects, such as drawing new cards, laying eggs, or hatching Young.
- Playing fish cards from hand — You reveal and play fish cards from your hand by paying the required costs, which usually involve discarding fish cards or other resources.
- Predator effects (global bonuses/penalties) — Predators like the Great White Shark trigger effects that affect all players, adding a dynamic tension.
- Zones and placement requirements — Each fish has a designated zone (sunlight, midnight, twilight) where it must live, influencing placement choices.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- In finpan you are a marine researcher
- score the most points by having the most amounts of fish and young and eggs to collect by the end
- the engine-building I love the diving mechanic it's so satisfying to just take a diver and then trigger all these actions that you build out on your ocean board
- I do like the creativity in having you dive between the different boards
- I love the mobility and the versatility
- predators have they don't necessar have to be bad but they could be like something that just turns the table
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video TE0xKYB6luQ
Board Gaming Doctor game_review at 0:48 sentiment: mixed
video_pk 43012 · mention_pk 130842
Click to watch at 0:48 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
mixed
Pros
- straightforward to teach relative to Wingspan and Worms Span
- distinctive public-card discard/recall mechanic adds decision points
- family-friendly feel with approachable iconography
Cons
- higher time-to-value ratio; 45–60 minutes for a game with moderate depth
- fewer unique powers per card than Wingspan or Worms Span
- some may prefer tighter pacing or shorter play windows
Thematic elements
- fish gathering, feeding, breeding, and schooling
- aquatic fish ecosystem with a vertical tableau
- engine-building through card placement and column bonuses
Comparison games
- Wingspan
- Worms Span
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- card placement with size/power interactions — Larger fin-span cards can be placed atop smaller ones, reflecting predation dynamics.
- egg production and breeding loop — Eggs hatch into young and contribute to scoring; breeding adds additional strategic choices.
- public hand management with discards — A shared pool of cards can be discarded to retrieve others, enabling fodder for tableau formation.
- tableau building — Players arrange fish cards in columns to activate powers and generate points and eggs.
- vertical tableau (engine-building) — Players arrange fish cards in columns to activate powers and generate points and eggs.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the biggest downside for me for Finsspan was the ratio between the complexity of this game versus the time length
- I would rather play Wingspan in a relatively quickly pace with gamers who knew Wingspan as well rather than play this game for 45 to 60 minutes
- This game is somewhat simple to teach but it does offer a little bit of complexity
- Visually, I think this game plays a lot like Bonsai
- Hey, that's My Fish—catchy title for my daughter as well
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video x2nXnc-fVPc
Board Game Animal interview at 0:29 sentiment: positive
video_pk 41498 · mention_pk 125825
Click to watch at 0:29 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Living aquatic board representation that matches the theme
- Egg hatch mechanics allow growth and mobility
- Personal discard piles add a personal strategic layer
- Not a reskin: substantial design work beyond Wingspan/Wormspan
Cons
- High complexity for new players
- Not a campaign game for long-form narrative
- Potential mixed reception due to brand expectations
Thematic elements
- Ocean ecology, exploration, and dynamic ecosystems
- Aquatic world with evolving tokens and an ocean-like, living board
- Living, fluctuating ecosystem with hatchable units
Comparison games
- Wingspan
- Wormspan
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Dynamic, living board — Board state fluctuates like an ocean, creating evolving strategic possibilities.
- Egg hatch, token progression — Eggs hatch into Young tokens that can move and consolidate into schools.
- Moving schools of tokens — Young tokens can move around the board and consolidate into schools that also move.
- Personal discard piles — Each player maintains a personal discard pile that interacts with gameplay.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the personal discard piles that you mentioned
- between this and its predecessors Wingspan and Wormspan are the way the tokens work unlike those other games you can hatch eggs into something
- we're not just reskinning the game we're not just taking the same exact mechanisms from wingspan and putting uh different art and different names on the cards
- it's a living board that's kind of fluctuating kind of like the ocean where things drift around and move around a lot
- Rolling Realms has been one of my most played games over the last few years because I do live plays of it
- kindness costs nothing like a copper in Dominion
- Vantage is my the game that I've worked on for the last eight years
- 800 different first-person locations all with unique art and 900 different other cards
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video DBveL_yUoQM
War Game Garden top_10_list at 18:32 sentiment: positive
video_pk 40027 · mention_pk 120991
Click to watch at 18:32 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- quick to teach
- fun dice-chucking feel
Cons
- theme may be a turn-off for some players
- lighter on strategic depth
Thematic elements
- cartoonish ocean life
- fishing competition with thematic animals
- light and humorous
Comparison games
- Wingspan
- Worms Pan
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- dice drafting / simultaneous reveal — players secretly choose dice behind screens and reveal simultaneously
- resource denial / hand management — dice used impact future turns (D12/D20 trade-offs)
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Creature Caravan is absolutely wonderful
- these expansions add a little bit more player interaction which I think is absolutely amazing
- I think this is one of the most aesthetically pleasing games I've played
- Beyond the Sun is space-themed
- Fromage is truly just a really great game
- MOS: Dawn of the Bronze Age is absolutely wonderful
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video _4-oBCGfk8A
The Dice Tower top_10_list at 0:33 sentiment: positive
video_pk 28151 · mention_pk 82362
Click to watch at 0:33 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Gorgeous fish artwork
- cohesive aquatic visuals
- favorite of the three Wingspan-inspired titles
Cons
- Cover not loved by the speaker
Thematic elements
- marine life and fish-focused visuals
- Aquatic/underwater world with fish imagery
- art-driven, naturalistic depiction
Comparison games
- Wingspan
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- art is incredibly subjective.
- I love aquariums.
- This is absolutely gorgeous artwork.
- The art just screams anime in every way.
- It's the best art I think of 2025.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video SM25kp56eS4
The Broken Meeple discussion at 0:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 11754 · mention_pk 113248
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Good amount of content
- Well-received by community
Cons
none
Thematic elements
- Light game
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
Mechanics unknown.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- I'm not as much of a completionist as I used to be
- I've got so much content in there already that probably still isn't played
- I've just kind of given up on Kickstarter
- Board game geek is kind of guilty for that
- I'm playing games to enjoy them and yes I play to win but I play to win in the spirit of the game
- Why am I spending this much money on a gamble it's not worth it
- These are the ones I like or these are Trends I don't like these are mechanics I don't like
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video 695BHacQuFg
Getting Games rules teach at 0:00 sentiment: neutral
video_pk 8902 · mention_pk 127478
Click to watch at 0:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
neutral
Pros
- Multi-layered scoring (eggs, young, schools, consumed fish) creates long-term strategy
- Diving mechanics create varied, zone-based rewards and risk-taking opportunities
- Endgame and side variant rules add depth and replayability
- Rules are clearly demonstrated through a tutorial format with on-screen corrections
Cons
- Rule interactions are complex and may present a steep learning curve for new players
- Tracking tokens and managing multiple zones can be cognitively demanding
- Some players may experience analysis-paralysis due to numerous strategic options
Thematic elements
- Marine biology and ecological observation with collecting fish and managing habitats
- Oceanic exploration across Sunlet, Twilight, and Midnight Zones
- Educational/tutorial through a guided playthrough
Comparison games
none
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Compound Scoring — At the end of each week, progress toward scoring goals; eggs, young, and fish rows contribute to weekly scores, with a four-week cycle.
- consume_and_trigger — Some fish require consuming other fish when placed, triggering additional effects and altering the board state.
- diver_allocation — Each week each player uses six divers to either place a fish from hand onto the board or dive down a column for zone-based benefits.
- diving_zone_effects — Diving down a column activates zone-specific effects depending on the zone reached (Sunlet, Twilight, Midnight) and the current fish on that zone.
- eggs_young_schools — Eggs and Young tokens accumulate on fish; three Young form a School worth six points when scored; Eggs/Ys can be moved, hatched, or used to fuel plays.
- end_of_week_scoring — At the end of each week, progress toward scoring goals; eggs, young, and fish rows contribute to weekly scores, with a four-week cycle.
- endgame_scoring_and_tie_breakers — After four weeks, tally points from eggs, young, schools, consumed fish, and top fish; ties are broken by hand size.
- Engine Building: Triggered/Cascading — Some fish require consuming other fish when placed, triggering additional effects and altering the board state.
- random_card_draw_and_discards — Certain fish grant draws or the ability to discard and retrieve cards from discard piles, adding randomness and hand management decisions.
- schools — Three Young tokens on a fish become a School; Schools are worth six points and can be used to unlock or enable plays, with special rules for disassembly and renewal.
- side_variants_sideA_and_sideB — Two goal sets determine endgame bonuses and scoring emphasis; side B introduces shuffled goals and extra victory points for leaders.
- Tags — Some fish cards include tags such as camouflage that interact with rules and can affect future decisions.
- tags_and_camouflage — Some fish cards include tags such as camouflage that interact with rules and can affect future decisions.
- tile placement — When a new fish is placed on top of an existing one, the covered fish is consumed and removed from future scoring, but still contributes a point when the game ends if not consumed.
- tile_placement_and_cover — When a new fish is placed on top of an existing one, the covered fish is consumed and removed from future scoring, but still contributes a point when the game ends if not consumed.
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- the game takes place over four weeks and within each week every player is going to use all six of their divers
- each player is a marine researcher and we are seeking to find and observe an array of aquatic life
- divers always make it to the very bottom of those columns
- the first thing to note is zone effects this says we gain one egg as long as there is at least one fish within this zone
- three young to make a school and that is six points at end of game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video Lb7g4Bg7MNM
3 Minute Board Games game_review at 0:11 sentiment: positive
video_pk 4561 · mention_pk 13363
Click to watch at 0:11 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Unique fish cards with individual abilities
- Interesting life cycle mechanic
- Accessible game design
- Excellent player guide
- Fast-moving engine building
Cons
- Vertical board design can be awkward
- Deluxe eggs are slightly impractical
- Lost some charm compared to previous games
Thematic elements
- Fish life cycle exploration
- Marine biology
- Strategic resource management
Comparison games
- Wingspan
- Wyrmspan
- Oceans
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- action selection — Place divers to take actions on player board
- card management — Manage fish cards with unique abilities
- engine building — Chain card effects and maximize board positions
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Finspan is the third game in the Wingspan series and it's easily the most accessible
- The balancing act between playing cards and building up your stocks is a very big part of the game
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video K6XE540CG6w
Might I Suggest a Game top_15_list at 26:00 sentiment: positive
video_pk 4302 · mention_pk 89446
Click to watch at 26:00 · YouTube ↗
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Streamlined Wingspan feel with strong theme
- Beautiful table presence
Cons
- Not a true gateway game
- Some concepts may take time to learn
Thematic elements
- engine-building with fish
- Bird-themed Wingspan successor
- thematic, elegant
Comparison games
- Wingspan
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action track management — Move actions along track; upgrade abilities across rounds
- engine building — Fish on the board upgrade actions; activated abilities trigger actions
- engine-building / tableau building — Fish on the board upgrade actions; activated abilities trigger actions
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition.
- The only thing you can count on in this game is chaos.
- If you've got a rowdy and loud family, Hot Streak is going to be for you.
- Beige box belies its depth.
- This is a no-brainer for any Lord of the Rings fans.
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Video wwGnBisUMAU
Cardboard Herald game_review sentiment: positive
video_pk 3729 · mention_pk 10995
Overall sentiment (raw)
positive
Pros
- Streamlined gameplay
- Unique resource management
- Interesting fish lifecycle mechanism
- Flexible card usage
Cons
- Feels isolating
- Less interactive than previous Span games
- Potentially unnecessary for collectors
Thematic elements
- Fish lifecycle and marine habitats
- Underwater marine ecosystem
- Resource management and ecosystem development
Comparison games
- Wingspan
- Wormspan
Mechanics (from transcript analysis)
- Action placement — Players place action cubes on fish placement sections
- Life cycle progression — Tracking fish from eggs to fry to schools
- Resource conversion — Using fish as resources to play other fish
Video topics + discussion points
No key topics recorded for this video.
Quotes (from this video)
- Try before you buy to see if it's something that you really want to add
- Always a bigger fish
References (from this video)
No references stored for this video.
Transcript Navigation
Showing 1–12 of 12