Sneak Peek: Vanguard Exiles (PC)

Oh man, here we go again. Back in Early Access land, and honestly, I kinda love it. There’s something about watching a game get built from scratch that just feels… raw? Early Access used to be this swamp of half-baked ideas, and devs sometimes ditched projects because, hey, money was already coming in, right? But that’s in the past (mostly). Now, Steam is just cranking out some real gems. Vanguard Exiles? Got a good feeling about this one.

So, check it. The big brains behind Magic: The Gathering are making Vanguard Exiles. But brace yourself — no cards! It’s a hex-based fighting game, really gives off that tabletop vibe. I might have to snatch a boxed version with minis if that becomes a thing. Seriously. I’d preorder.

Okay, picture this: you’re in these gritty trenches with your mercenary crew. Rooms to conquer, each giving different perks — think points, gold, even strength boosts. Or maybe you’re just up against some ticked-off bear. End of the day, first team hitting 80 points wins. Strategy’s all about picking the rooms that match your mojo.

And oh, auto-battler alert! Now, I know some folks might roll their eyes here, but hear me out. It’s about where you place those forces — spread ’em out? Or go all in? The choice is yours, but it can make or break your game. The auto-battle bit is done nicely, not the lazy stuff we’ve groaned about in other games.

Got all these units to juggle. Random card picks each round. You can buy with gold or take a freebie if you’re skint. But hey, it’s not a card game per se; think of them as unit tokens. Yeah, that’s it. Tokens.

Vanguard Exiles is fun. Period. But… there’s this gray area. Story mode is MIA. Yes, we’ve got factions — dwarves, elves, cultists — but what gives? Why are we even fighting? Would love to see the lore beefed up soon.

Balance tweaks are needed. Some games feel like a mountain to climb, especially if you start rough. Can end up a slog. Like, you just know by round three if you’re toast — or I’m just dramatic? Probably both.

And don’t even get me started on the unkillable units. Those armored dwarves — geez! Leads to early stalemates. Maybe they need to rethink armor until counters are available or something. It’s a mechanics thing.

Yet, for all my gripes, I’m really digging Vanguard Exiles’ vibe. With some polish and depth, this could be a strategy gem. I’m keeping it on my radar as we get closer to the final drop. If they get the balance right, man, this game could be killer.

And yeah, this is coming from an Early Access version provided by the publisher. So, there’s that.