Nestlings

Nestlings Board Game – A Strategic Avian Adventure Across Diverse Biomes

Step into a vibrant and ever-changing ecosystem in Nestlings, a beautifully designed and deeply strategic board game that invites players to immerse themselves in the natural world of birds. In this captivating game, 1 to 4 players take on the role of unique bird species competing to gather vital resources across four distinct biomes—Savannah, Alpine, Freshwater, and Desert. Over the course of 30 to 60 minutes, players will use dice placement, tactical choices, and clever resource management to feed their baby birds (nestlings), complete key objectives, and build a thriving ecosystem to score the most victory points.

Perfect for gamers aged 12 and up, Nestlings blends accessible mechanics with challenging strategies that unfold over multiple rounds of play. With its stunning artwork, intuitive player boards, and a gameplay experience that evolves each session, the Nestlings board game offers the perfect blend of competitive strategy, immersive theme, and replayability.

An Overview of the Nestlings Game

In Nestlings, players compete not only to gather the most resources but also to place themselves in an optimal position to gain the right resource types at the right time. Each round presents opportunities to influence the outcome through dice placement, strategic decisions, and biome control. Whether you’re aiming to complete your personal nest goals or dominate the resource ring, Nestlings rewards thoughtful play and careful planning.

Each player controls a species of bird, all of which are seeking the most nutritious and diverse array of resources to feed their young. The board is divided into four biomes, each with a unique set of resources and gameplay dynamics. These biomes represent different habitats on Earth and include the lush Savannah, the frigid Alpine, the vibrant Freshwater wetlands, and the harsh, arid Desert. As the game progresses, players will find that mastering the unique rhythm and resource patterns of each biome is key to achieving victory.

Your primary goals are to gain priority in biomes, collect biome-specific resources, and use those resources to feed your nestlings, fill your resource ring, and accomplish your secret Nest Goals. With each round, the tension increases as players maneuver to stay ahead of their opponents while optimizing their own strategy.

Gameplay Mechanics: Strategy in Every Move

Dice Placement and Biome Control

At the heart of the Nestlings game is a dice placement mechanic that drives the resource selection process. Each round begins with players rolling their set of dice—each one color-coded to a specific biome—and then placing them in turns into the biomes of their choice. Gaining majority or priority in a biome is essential, as it allows the player to be the first to select a resource from that area.

But there’s more: when a player gains priority, they can also discard a resource token from the biome, effectively removing it from the pool of available choices for everyone else. This added layer of player interaction introduces a clever tactical element, enabling players to both enhance their own strategy and disrupt their opponents’ plans. The choice of where and when to place a die, and which biome to prioritize, becomes a thrilling and strategic decision point in every round.

Resource Management: Feed the Nestlings

Resources are central to everything in Nestlings. Each biome offers specific types of resources that correspond to the needs of your baby birds. Feeding your nestlings their preferred food earns victory points, while collecting a variety of resources contributes to completing the resource ring—a powerful mechanism on your personal player board.

Each segment of the resource ring grants a bonus once completed, such as additional points, extra dice, or one-time-use powers that can swing the game in your favor. Additionally, completing the full ring unlocks recurring points that add up quickly in the later rounds. Deciding whether to prioritize feeding nestlings or completing the ring becomes a key strategic element in every game.

Unused resources aren’t wasted—they can be traded in for bonus effects or converted into flexible advantages that provide crucial support in tight situations. This trading system ensures that no turn feels unproductive and that smart management can lead to long-term gain.

Strategic Goals and Secret Objectives

Each player receives a private Nest Goal at the beginning of the game—these are hidden objectives that reward players for collecting specific resources, completing certain tasks, or achieving biome dominance. These goals remain secret until the final round, where they can significantly swing the score if fulfilled.

In addition to Nest Goals, the game features gathering goals shared across the table, offering another opportunity to gain bonus points. Balancing public objectives with private ones creates a rich web of strategies and encourages diverse approaches from game to game.

Endgame Scoring

After four engaging rounds of dice rolling, resource gathering, and biome competition, the game enters the final scoring phase. Players reveal their Nest Goals, tally points from fed nestlings, completed gathering goals, bonus tokens, and the resource ring. The player with the most victory points becomes the winner—the bird species that most successfully adapted, gathered, and nurtured their young in a competitive ecosystem.

What’s in the Nestlings Board Game Box?

Nestlings comes packed with premium components that enhance every aspect of gameplay:

• 1 Central Game Board – Beautifully illustrated to represent the four biomes and the action spaces for dice placement.

• 4 Individual Player Boards – Track your resources, bonuses, nestlings fed, and ring completion.

• 1 Rulebook – Clear and easy to follow, guiding players through setup, gameplay, and scoring.

• 124 Resource Tokens – Including biome-specific resources and wild tokens for flexible play.

• 80 Biome Segments – Used to track progress and goals across each biome.

• 24 Biome Dice – 6 dice per biome, each color-coded to represent a unique habitat.

• 14 Gathering Goal Cards – Shared objectives that add another layer of strategy.

• 1 First Player Token – Indicates turn order.

• 1 Biome Resolution Token – Used to manage and resolve biome control.

• 4 Stamina Tracker Tokens – Track player stamina for potential variant play.

• 4 Scoring Tokens

• 16 Bonus Tokens

• 60 Point Tokens – In denominations of 1, 5, 10, and 20 to track score.

• 4 Biome Resource Bags – Keep resources organized and easy to access.

• 1 Resource Discard Bag – For removed or unused tokens.

• 4 Biome Decks (24 cards total) – For an optimized two-player variant.

• 1 Solo Mode Board – A unique board that allows for single-player gameplay.

• 1 Biome Deck Board

• 1 Gathering Goal Board

• 8 Wooden Meeples

• 4 Player Reference Cards – For quick rules and reminders during play.

Why Nestlings Is the Perfect Game for Your Table

The Nestlings board game is an ideal fit for a wide variety of gaming groups. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly game that kids and adults can enjoy together, or a more tactical experience for dedicated hobby gamers, Nestlings delivers.

Accessible Yet Deep

The rules are straightforward, making it easy to learn and teach. But beneath the surface lies a rich decision-making experience. Every round presents new challenges, and your choices have lasting consequences that ripple through the game. The balance between short-term tactics and long-term strategy is masterfully executed.

Replayability and Variation

Thanks to the random combination of Nest Goals, Gathering Goals, and ever-shifting dice rolls, no two games of Nestlings are ever the same. Every playthrough presents new priorities, combinations, and rivalries. Whether you focus on biome dominance, efficient resource ring building, or surprise endgame scoring, there are always fresh paths to victory.

Solo and Multiplayer Modes

For those looking for a satisfying solo experience, Nestlings includes a well-crafted solo mode that retains all the strategic tension of the multiplayer game. And when playing with others, whether in a competitive family game night or a relaxed game with friends, the interactive nature of dice placement and resource control ensures a lively and engaging session.

The Nestlings Game Brings the Natural World to Life

With its vibrant, ecosystem-inspired artwork and thematic integration of biome-specific resources, Nestlings brings the natural world to life on your tabletop. Every element—from the art style to the tokens—supports the immersive experience of guiding your bird species to ecological success. As you build up your resource ring, feed your nestlings, and gain priority in key biomes, you’ll feel immersed in the delicate balance of nature and strategy.

Whether you're fascinated by nature, love resource management games, or simply enjoy great strategic experiences with friends, Nestlings is the perfect game to add to your collection. It’s more than just a board game—it’s a journey into a thriving ecosystem where every choice matters and every resource has a role to play.

Summary: Why You’ll Love the Nestlings Board Game

• Strategic and Interactive: Every round challenges players to make clever, competitive decisions.

• Highly Replayable: With variable goals, shifting priorities, and dice-based randomness, no game feels the same.

• Immersive Theme: Dive into a rich, bird-filled ecosystem and help your species thrive.

• Great Components: Stunning art, thoughtful design, and quality production make every session a joy.

• Flexible Player Count: Works equally well as a solo game, a competitive two-player duel, or a full four-player strategy fest.

Take flight into a world of resource gathering, careful planning, and biome mastery with Nestlings, the board game where every turn offers a new opportunity to grow your flock, outwit your rivals, and rise to the top of the food chain.

Nestlings isn’t just a game—it’s an ecosystem waiting to be explored.