ISS Vanguard
- Designer Andrzej Betkiewicz , Krzysztof Piskorski , Paweł Samborski , Marcin Świerkot
- Publisher Awaken Realms , Albi , Delta Vision Publishing , MeepleBR , Pegasus Spiele
- Illustration Piotr Gacek , Patryk Jędraszek , Ewa Labak , Dominik Mayer
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Start for freeWhat to Expect
You command sections of the ISS Vanguard through a branching campaign written by Krzysztof Piskorski. Play alternates between Ship Management — choosing destinations, researching technologies, recruiting crew via a large binder — and Planetary Exploration where you land, explore, perform dice checks and manage limited supplies. The campaign features narrative choices, twists and persistent consequences across missions.
Who Is This Game For?
For cooperative groups and solo players: supports 1–4 players (solo mode included) and targets experienced gamers. With a playtime around 120 minutes it fits extended sessions; prior experience with narrative campaign or solo titles is useful.
How It Works
ISS Vanguard blends Cooperative Game, Scenario / Mission / Campaign Game and Dice Rolling. Players alternate Ship Management phases (resource allocation, recruitment, research) with Planetary Exploration phases (landing, exploration, tactical dice checks). Narrative Choice / Paragraph passages drive branching storylines, while Open Drafting and crew/equipment selection shape immediate tactical options and long‑term campaign state.
What Makes It Special
Designed by Andrzej Betkiewicz, Krzysztof Piskorski, Paweł Samborski and Marcin Świerkot; the scenario content is by Krzysztof Piskorski. In 2022 ISS Vanguard received multiple nominations at the Golden Geek and Board Game Quest Awards (including Best Cooperative and Best Thematic categories). The game uses a large binder as a core component to link campaign and ship systems.
Awards
2022
- 2022 Board Game Quest Awards Best Cooperative Game — Nominated
- 2022 Board Game Quest Awards Best Thematic Game — Nominated
Pro
- Branching narrative campaign with hard player choices (Narrative Choice / Paragraph).
- Mix of strategic ship management and tactical planetary exploration.
- Supports solo play and cooperative groups (1–4 players).
- Uses a binder component to create persistent campaign state and immersion.
Contra
- Long playtime (~120 minutes) requires a significant time investment.
- Campaign complexity creates a steeper learning curve for newcomers.
Setting & Atmosphäre
Near‑future/space exploration sci‑fi: you command the first human ship capable of venturing into deep space, balancing ship systems and planetary expeditions while pursuing a mystery tied to human DNA.
Tipp für Einsteiger
Focus first on learning the two main phases (Ship Management and Planetary Exploration) and how crew/equipment choices affect checks before exploring all campaign options.
Häufige Fragen
Can I play this solo?
Yes — the game supports solo play; the player count lists 1 as the minimum.
How long does a game really take?
The listed duration is about 120 minutes; setup, campaign bookkeeping and explanations can extend that time.
What prior experience do I need?
Prior experience with cooperative campaign or narrative solo games is helpful; the game is aimed at more experienced players.
How does this compare to similar games?
ISS Vanguard combines ship management and tactical exploration with Narrative Choice / Paragraph elements and a binder‑based campaign system.
Is this suitable for families?
With a minimum age of 13 and campaign complexity, it is better suited to older family members or families familiar with heavier games.
What mechanic makes it special?
The mix of Scenario / Mission / Campaign Game structure, Narrative Choice / Paragraph content and Dice Rolling defines its core experience.
Fazit
Recommended for players who enjoy narrative, campaign-driven cooperative games; solo players and groups up to four will find content. If you prefer short sessions, the roughly 120‑minute campaign rounds may feel long.
