First Look: Vanguard Exiles (PC)

Alright, so we’re diving into Early Access land today. Honestly, it’s like a circus of ideas—some flying high, others tripping on their own feet. Back in the day, it was a mess, let me tell you. A mishmash of half-baked games that felt like they were never gonna leave mom’s basement. Somehow, though, the tide’s turned, and now, it’s like a treasure trove (sometimes). And speaking of treasures, let’s talk about Vanguard Exiles—this one’s got my Spidey senses tingling.

Ever heard of Magic: The Gathering? The brains behind that are crafting this gem, and surprise—no cards. Like, not even one. It’s a hex-based brawler, feeling all tabletop-ish, and I swear, I can almost see it sitting on a shelf with fancy miniatures. If that happens, I’m first in line, period.

Just a heads-up, we’re still in Early Access. Plenty of room to grow and change, which is kinda the whole point, right? So anything I gripe about might just vanish like a puff of smoke. Right now, though, it’s the RNG that’s got me twitching a bit.

So what’s the deal with Vanguard Exiles? You’re the boss of a batch of mercenaries slogging through trenches, capturing rooms with different point values. Always feels like a balancing act. Oh, and watch out for the bear. Yeah, the angry one. It’s all about strategy—grab the right spots for points, gold, power-ups, or just a cool skirmish.

Auto-battler, anyone? Stay with me—strategy’s in positioning your troops. Stack up at a high-value spot, play it smart, or spread out and risk getting pummeled. The thing fights for you, but you gotta be smarter about it. Honestly, I’m digging the way it’s done here—no laziness creeping in.

There are all these units to play with—but don’t panic if they don’t shower down like rain. Cards show up randomly between rounds, and you’ll use gold to snag them. There’s always a freebee, but save that gold for the big guns. This isn’t some card game in disguise, folks.

Now, if there’s a gray cloud in this sunny sky, it’s the absence of a story mode. The factions are just a bunch of cool characters without backstories—like dwarves, elves, and cultists, oh my! We’ll need that juicy lore soon; mechanics are great, but I need fluff.

A quick word on balancing—it’s all over the place. Some matches feel fair, others like you’re climbing a greased rope. Imagine knowing you’re doomed by the third round—just hit restart. Oh, and the unkillable dwarves? Yeah, they’re a problem—stalemates are frustrating, especially early on.

But hey, even with these hiccups, I’m keeping my eyes peeled for the next update. With some tweaks, Vanguard Exiles might just be a star. It’s fun, it’s strategic, and let’s be real—it’s gotta be one to watch.

Oh, and shoutout to the publisher for the Early Access copy—always a good start.