Tasmanian-made A Game Called Birds the bestseller at Hobart’s biggest game store

Invented by four friends nearly five years ago, A Game Called Birds has grown into a local phenomenon, becoming the bestseller at Hobart’s biggest game store last month.

Chris Bury, Rosie Hastie, Thomas Friend, and Harrison Bowe in training for the A Game Called Birds tournament at Good Grief Studios. Picture: Linda Higginson

A homegrown board game has become a local sensation, outselling heavy-hitters like Monopoly and Catan at the biggest game store in Hobart.

A Game Called Birds, which was invented by four friends, Chris Bury, Corey Graham, Leigh Ellis, and Thomas Friend, started out as a bit of fun between mates looking to pass the time on a bushwalk in the state’s remote South-West.

But nearly five years later, it’s grown into a borderline phenomenon, having sold more than 1600 game packs since launching its first edition in 2023.

Chris Bury, Corey Graham, Leigh Ellis and Thomas Friend, who are the co-creators of A Game Called Birds. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“The game has come a long way, and with the new game board we have had lots of positive responses,” Mr Friend said.

“Through the development stages, we had some good feelings about it. More close ‘birdy’ finishes make it more fun and exciting to play.”

The game comprises a board and set of 105 playing cards featuring 72 different Australian birds, with a focus on Tasmanian species.

They are ranked based on their aesthetic value (‘twitch’) and power level (‘fight’).

With a mix of strategy and luck, the game sees players pick birds from their hand to contend with those of their opponents.

It’s all governed by a spinning wedge-tailed eagle mechanism, which introduces chaos and chance to the proceedings.

The third annual Birds Trophy will be held at Good Grief Studios on Argyle St this Saturday, giving keen players the chance to test their mettle in a hotly contested tourney – or “tawny”, as the game-masters call it.

Chris Bury, Rosie Hastie, Thomas Friend, and Harrison Bowe in training for the A Game Called Birds tournament at Good Grief Studios. Picture: Linda Higginson

The winner will claim $1000 in cash, while local businesses including Inala, Fullers Bookshop, the New Sydney Hotel, and Pennicott Wilderness Journeys have donated $1000 worth of prizes.

“Mistakes will be made and laughs had. We hope to have a good crowd contributing to local bird conservation efforts,” Mr Friend said.

Andrew Schwartz, the owner of the city’s largest game store, Area 52, said A Game Called Birds was the shop’s biggest-selling board or card game in the month of December, outperforming other popular Christmas stocking fillers like Monopoly Deal and Uno Show ’em No Mercy.

Andrew Schwartz of Area 52. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

“It’s one of those games where it doesn’t matter how we display it, where we put it – we get asked for it,” he said.

“Normally we wouldn’t get a tonne of copies after Christmas. But we just [sold] another 50 copies and are probably going to need more in a couple of weeks.

“This has had a lot of legs because it’s got some great art … but it’s also fun to play.”

For every game pack sold, $1 is donated to bird conservation in Tasmania.

The 2025 Birds Trophy kicks off at 2pm on Saturday, February 1. Participants should have three games’ worth of experience to enter. Entry is free and you can register by contacting [e-mail].

Originally published as Tasmanian-made A Game Called Birds the bestseller at Hobart’s biggest game store