Richard Garfield is the genius mind behind the global phenomenon of Magic: The Gathering. The card game has been the gold standard for deck-building games for the last three decades. Garfield has collaborated with many other card-based games, including a trivia game with Jeopardy champion Ken Jennings. Now, the legendary game creator is venturing into another realm: video games. Vanguard Exiles, an auto-battler made by Garfield, will enter early access on March 11.
Richard Garfield On Vanguard Exiles
This is a new endeavor for Richard Garfield, but in an interview, he said the genre “fills this hole in my digital gaming.” It makes sense that he would connect with the auto-battler genre. It has many similar elements to board games. Players have to place units and devise a clear strategy that will help them come out on top. The developer, The Tea Division, confirmed the early access release date of March 11, 2025. Players who are interested can try the free demo of Vanguard Exiles, which is available now.
The early access phase will last anywhere from six months to a year. During this time, players will be able to give feedback and help shape the game for when it releases officially. This is a normal cycle for games to go through. Who better to playtest a game than gamers themselves? There should be no shortage of people wanting to try the game, as Richard Garfield is a name synonymous with quality games.
Gameplay
What can players expect from the gameplay in Vanguard Exiles? The 2D steampunk-inspired game features four modular elements: zones, factions, units, and actions. The gameplay has a deploy-and-capture system. Players choose where to deploy their troops in order to eliminate enemies and capture zones. As players win more fights, strong units become available allowing players to defeat strong enemies.
There are many elements of RNG as well, making the game different every time you play. The goal is simple, but the strategy to get there is layered. This is often the hallmark of a great game. Magic: The Gathering has a very simple goal: get your opponent to zero life. However, the journey to get there is often complex. This game seems to be following that pattern.
Final Thoughts
Players will not have to wait long to play Vanguard Exiles. March 11 is only a few weeks away. Seeing how Garfield does in the video game sphere will be interesting. This is not in his normal wheelhouse, but the body of work is so strong that very few are doubting this game will be high-quality. You can play the demo on Steam now and look out for the early access download starting March 11.
