Sneak Peek: Vanguard Exiles (PC)

Oh boy, Early Access, here we go again. There’s something oddly fascinating about watching a game stumble its way from idea to reality. Remember when Early Access was like that mysterious drawer you never open because it’s overflowing with unfinished projects? Yeah, that. But, surprise! Some gems do crawl out of there now and then—like Vanguard Exiles, which I’m pretty stoked about checking out today.

So here’s the skinny: Vanguard Exiles is whipping up a storm from those folks behind Magic: The Gathering. Big names, right? But ditch the cards—this ain’t your typical collectible card deal. Picture a hex-based skirmish that screams “tabletop vibes” more than it should. Can totally see this landing in stores one day packed with pricey miniatures. I’d buy into that madness in a heartbeat.

Anyway, enough about me dreaming about future shopping sprees. Let’s talk gameplay. Or wait—side note—this is all work-in-progress stuff. The game’s still in that phase where things might, no, will change. So if something bugs me, it’s probably just a hiccup in the matrix for now. RNG? Oh, the memories of rolling dice and screaming at fate’s cruel humor.

Picture it: you, trench warfare, a band of mercenaries, strategic room captures—gotta snag those points! It’s like chess, but with gold coins and the occasional angry bear thrown in for good measure. Each room’s got a mood: points here, strength boosters there, and oh, what’s behind door number three? Deciding where to put your troops becomes this epic decision-making rat race.

Little tangent—never thought I’d say this, but auto-battlers have snuck into my heart. I mean, on one hand, it’s like, “C’mon, I want to DO something!” but on the other hand, I’m into this sneaky strategy puzzle they’re throwing at us. Spread your units around? Risky, but sometimes rewarding. Or just YOLO into one spot? Yeah, regrets happen.

Now then, back to the swarm of thoughts… the units. They’re a mixed bag of randomness and gold buys. No gold? No stress—you’ll always have something to play. But the real treasure’s getting those premium fighters. And no, this isn’t turning into a card game, even if it feels like it with these choices.

But, gotta admit, there’s stuff missing—like, where’s the juicy story mode? Just give me a reason why the teleporting elves are fighting those mysterious cult dudes. Right now it’s just “These units are dope, look at ‘em go!” Hopefully, it’ll get fleshed out, ‘cause a good backstory’s like salt—it just makes everything better.

Balance teeters a bit, too. Some rounds feel like the beginning of an epic saga, while others are over before they start. It’s hit or miss—you know that feeling? By round three, I’m flipping a coin if I should keep going or start over, anticipating either victory or a landslide loss. Still, they’ll tweak this, I’m sure.

The indomitable dwarves, though! Armor-piercing solutions seem like a distant fantasy when you’re locked in a stalemate. Either give us tools to smash through that armor early or… maybe, just maybe, let’s rethink how early those tanky foes show up.

Wrapping this chaotic ramble—Vanguard Exiles, in its raw energy, is catching my eye (even with quirks). A few patches, a couple of updates, and some magic sprinkled in? It might just release as something strategy lovers will devour. I’m camping out in this Early Access, curious to see where the journey leads. Fingers crossed, folks.