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Wingspan to Vantage: 5 Stonemaier games ranked.
Stonemaier Games has released more than a dozen titles since 2015, and five of them account for most of the search interest, shelf space, and BoardGameGeek discussion the publisher gets: Wingspan, Scythe, Vantage, Tokaido, and Red Rising.
This ranking orders those five by how often people actually search for and play them, then breaks down what each one plays like, how long it takes, and who it fits best.
Stonemaier Games is an independent tabletop publisher founded by Jamey Stegmaier in 2015, known for high-production-value strategy games with strong solo modes and a design philosophy the company calls “player-first.” It publishes both in-house designs (Scythe, Wingspan, Vantage, Red Rising) and licensed or acquired titles from other studios (Tokaido).
How These Stonemaier Games Are Ranked
The order below is based on US search volume for each game’s core keyword, cross-checked against release date, player count, and playtime to explain why each one sits where it does. It is not a pure “best game” opinion ranking; a lower spot here can still mean a better game for a specific group size or complexity level, which the individual write-ups call out.
| Rank | Game | Year | Players | Playtime | Weight | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wingspan | 2019 | 1-5 (1-7 with expansion) | 40-70 min | Medium-light | New-to-hobby groups, solo players, families |
| 2 | Scythe | 2016 | 1-5 (up to 7 with expansions) | 90-115 min | Medium-heavy | Experienced strategy gamers, area-control fans |
| 3 | Vantage | 2025 | 1-6 | 120-180 min | Medium | Cooperative exploration and sci-fi fans |
| 4 | Tokaido | 2025 (Stonemaier edition) | 1-5 | ~45 min | Light | Casual groups, mixed-experience tables |
| 5 | Red Rising | 2021 | 1-6 | 45-60 min | Medium | Fans of the novels, hand-management players |
1. Wingspan
Wingspan is Stonemaier’s highest-volume search term by a wide margin and its best-known release. Designed by Elizabeth Hargrave and published in 2019, it is an engine-building card game where players attract birds to habitats on a personal player board, each with a unique power that chains into the next. It plays 1 to 5 (up to 7 with the Oceania expansion) in 40 to 70 minutes.
Wingspan won the 2019 Kennerspiel des Jahres, the 2020 American Tabletop Award for Strategy Game of the Year, and a long list of other international awards, and has sold more than 2.6 million copies worldwide as of early 2026.
Its complexity sits at medium-light, which is why it works equally well as a first “real” strategy game and as a low-friction choice for experienced groups. Three expansions (European, Oceania, and Asia) and a companion Wyrmspan spin-off have extended the line well past the base game.
Wingspan fits groups that want a game with genuine strategic depth but no combat, negotiation, or player elimination. It is a weaker choice for players who specifically want direct interaction between opponents, since turns mostly happen in parallel.
2. Scythe
Scythe is Jamey Stegmaier’s 2016 design and was Stonemaier’s flagship title until Wingspan overtook it in search volume and sales. It is an area-control and economic-engine game set in an alternate-history 1920s Eastern Europa, where five factions build up territory, resources, and mechs while largely avoiding direct combat until it becomes necessary.
It plays 1 to 5 out of the box, expandable to 7 with Invaders from Afar and Fenris expansions, in roughly 90 to 115 minutes.
The game won four Golden Geek Awards in 2016, including Board Game of the Year, and its two campaign expansions (The Wind Gambit and The Rise of Fenris) each won Best Game Expansion in their respective years.
Scythe sold over 382,000 copies by 2021 and remained Stonemaier’s top seller until Wingspan’s release. Its weight sits at medium-heavy: multiple resource tracks, asymmetric faction powers, and a tight turn-order system mean new players benefit from a rules teach before diving in.
Scythe suits groups that already enjoy strategy games and want a longer, more tactical session with meaningful player interaction, but it is a poor pick for a table that wants something explainable in five minutes.
3. Vantage
Vantage is Stonemaier’s newest major release, launched on the company’s webstore in July 2025 with wide retail availability the following month. Designed by Jamey Stegmaier, it is an open-world cooperative exploration game set on an alien planet after a ship crash, built around nearly 800 interconnected location cards and over 900 additional discoverable cards. Players explore from a first-person perspective, choosing their own path through the world rather than following a fixed narrative track, and can win through mission completion, reaching a personal “destiny,” or self-defined goals.
It supports 1 to 6 players in sessions of 120 to 180 minutes and sits at medium weight, more approachable than Scythe despite the longer runtime, because the complexity comes from exploration and choice rather than overlapping economic systems. Stonemaier has stated Vantage is self-contained with no expansions planned, unusual for a publisher whose other big titles (Scythe, Wingspan) built extensive expansion lines.
Vantage is the right pick for groups that want a long, story-driven cooperative session and don’t mind a bigger time commitment; it is not built for competitive players or anyone wanting a sub-hour game night.
4. Tokaido
Tokaido is the one game on this list Stonemaier didn’t design in-house. It was created by Antoine Bauza and originally published by Funforge; Stonemaier Games acquired the publishing rights to the brand and released an updated edition, revealed in March 2025, manufactured by Panda Game Manufacturing with refreshed components, revised rulebook text, and an added Automa solo mode.
Tokaido is a light, non-confrontational travel game where 1 to 5 players journey along Japan’s historic TĹkaidĹ road, stopping to collect souvenirs, eat local food, visit temples, and take in scenic views, all in about 45 minutes. There’s no direct conflict between players; the only tension comes from move order, since whoever is furthest behind on the road always goes next.
Tokaido works well for mixed-experience groups, family game night, and anyone who wants a genuinely relaxing game rather than a competitive one. It’s a weak fit for players looking for strategic depth or replayable variance, since the path and milestones stay largely the same each game.
5. Red Rising
Red Rising, designed by Jamey Stegmaier and Alexander Schmidt and released in 2021, adapts Pierce Brown’s dystopian novel series into a hand-management, combo-building card game. Players lead one of several great Houses, recruiting characters from the books’ 14-caste society and building card combinations toward victory through either dismantling the existing social order or embracing Gold dominance.
It plays 1 to 6 in 45 to 60 minutes, with a 5-minute setup, and sits at medium weight, more accessible than Scythe but with more combo interaction than Tokaido. Because it’s built directly on the novels’ setting and factions, familiarity with the books adds flavor but isn’t required to play.
Red Rising is the clearest pick for existing fans of the book series, and it also holds up as a stand-alone hand-management game for players who like deck-building-adjacent mechanics without needing a full deckbuilder’s ramp-up time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Stonemaier game to start with?
Wingspan is the most common starting point. It has the widest player range (1-5, up to 7 with an expansion), a shorter 40-70 minute playtime, and medium-light complexity, making it easier to teach than Scythe or Vantage while still offering real strategic depth.
Is Scythe or Wingspan better for a first-time strategy gamer?
Wingspan is the gentler entry point.
Scythe’s medium-heavy weight, asymmetric factions, and multiple interacting resource systems reward players who already have some strategy-game experience, while Wingspan’s engine-building is more linear and easier to explain in one sitting.
Did Stonemaier Games design Tokaido?
No. Tokaido was designed by Antoine Bauza and originally published by Funforge.
Stonemaier Games acquired the publishing rights to the brand and released a refreshed edition in 2025 with new components and an Automa solo mode, but the original design and credit belong to Bauza and Funforge.
How long does Vantage take to play?
A full session of Vantage runs 120 to 180 minutes. It’s the longest game on this list by a wide margin, since it’s built around open-world exploration across nearly 800 location cards rather than a fixed turn structure.
Do I need to read the Red Rising books to play the board game?
No. Red Rising the board game is a stand-alone hand-management and combo-building game. Familiarity with Pierce Brown’s novels adds thematic context, but the rules and victory conditions don’t require prior knowledge of the story.
Conclusion
By search demand, Wingspan and Scythe remain Stonemaier’s two most-searched and most-played games, with Vantage closing the gap fast as the publisher’s newest major release. Tokaido and Red Rising serve narrower audiences (casual travel-game fans and book-series readers, respectively) but hold their own within those niches.
For a first Stonemaier game, start with Wingspan (see our beginner-friendly board game picks for more like it); for a longer, more tactical session, move to Scythe or Vantage once the group is ready for it.
