Vanguard Exiles, designed by Richard Garfield, the creator of Magic: The Gathering, and developed and published by The Tea Division, is a strategy game that reimagines the auto-battler genre by blending it with elements of traditional tabletop wargames. This creates a unique and engaging experience, but its Early Access status on Steam means it’s still a work in progress.
At its core, Vanguard Exiles involves players building squads of units and deploying them strategically on a battlefield to capture territory. However, it diverges from typical auto-battlers in several key ways:
- Dynamic Battlefield: Unlike static battlefields, Vanguard Exiles features environments that change and evolve throughout each match. Hex tiles may be added or removed, forcing players to adapt their strategies on the fly. This dynamic element adds a layer of unpredictability and replayability.
- Faction and Unit Variety: The game features diverse factions, each with its own unique units, abilities, and playstyles. Players can combine different factions, leading to a wide array of possible squad compositions and strategic approaches.
- Strategic Depth: Vanguard Exiles emphasizes strategic decision-making. Players must carefully consider unit placement, anticipate their opponent’s moves, and adapt to the shifting battlefield to gain an advantage. This focus on strategy over pure chance sets it apart from more casual auto-battlers.
The game features a distinctive dieselpunk aesthetic, blending magical fantasy elements with a post-World War I industrial feel. While the character designs are often praised for their detail and animation, some reviewers have criticized the overall visual presentation, citing a clunky and unintuitive UI.
As an Early Access title, Vanguard Exiles is still under active development. Players may encounter bugs, performance issues, and incomplete features. The game’s community is also still growing, which can sometimes lead to longer matchmaking times.
Overall, Vanguard Exiles offers a fresh and innovative take on the auto-battler genre. Its dynamic battlefields, diverse factions, and emphasis on strategic depth provide a unique and engaging gameplay experience. While the game shows great potential, its Early Access status means that it is still somewhat rough around the edges. Players willing to look past some technical issues and incomplete features will find a rewarding and strategically rich game.
Related: Reviews by Hemal Patel
A gamer turned into a game developer. A huge batman fan and follower of Arkham Series, generally I like to play mostly Action and RPG genre of Games. Into the Abyss!!! PSN: AbyssRyder
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