First Look: Vanguard Exiles (PC)

Wow, Early Access games. They’re kinda like a treasure hunt, aren’t they? Some gems, some… not so much. I love diving into them. There was a time when this space was like a swamp full of half-baked ideas. Games that never really made it, you know? But hey, things have changed, and now we’ve got some real goodies popping up. Vanguard Exiles caught my eye lately—I’ve got high hopes for it, more than I do for my houseplants. Which is saying something.

So, Vanguard Exiles. It’s brainchild’d by one of the folks behind Magic: The Gathering. Funny, right? No cards here, though—just hexes and all that tabletop jazz. It’s got this vibe where you kind of expect it to show up as a board game with little pricey figures. If that happens, mark my words, I’ll be in line with my credit card.

Oh, and let me just sidetrack for a bit—Vanguard Exiles is still in Early Access, meaning it’s not quite done yet. Like baking a cake but it’s still gooey. My grumbling’s mostly about the reliance on good ol’ RNG. You know, Random Number Generator? It’s both a blessing and a curse.

Imagine leading a band of mercs down some maze of trenches. Each decision could lead you to a jackpot room, or maybe something silly like a cranky bear. Gold and power-ups—or just a fluffy nightmare. Sounds like breakfast at my house. You gotta be choosy with your moves since everything adds up to victory points. First to eighty wins. Easy peasy, right? Maybe.

Anyway—no—back to auto-battling. Some folks hate it. It’s like, the computer makes decisions for you but still, strategy decides if you win or are toast. Disappointing on paper? Sure. But think nuts and bolts here. It’s tactically sound if done right—a neat package instead of lazy chaos.

The game’s a thrill. Let’s face it, though, I wish there was more story. I’m a sucker for narratives. Right now, we don’t know much about the factions: tough dwarves, speedy elves, shady cultists… But who are they really? Hopefully, they flesh that out because a good story can really glue a game together.

Balancing’s still a work in progress. Some battles feel like trying to climb a greasy pole, and I can tell early if I’m doomed. But that’s being fine-tuned. Persistence and some tweaks, and players shouldn’t feel stuck on an uphill trek.

Now, armored enemies. Yikes. I encountered these little tanks early on. Good luck chipping away at them. Either give players some way to crack those nuts early, or adjust the prevalence of armor—stalemates get old fast.

Despite my little gripes, Vanguard Exiles feels like it’s going somewhere special. With some adjustments and a bit more depth, strategy lovers might just find a home here. Can’t wait to see how it grows—and trust me, I’ll be right there, keeping tabs on its evolution. Game on, folks. Game on.

Reviewed using an Early Access edition provided by the publisher.