Vantage Review: A Massive Narrative Sandbox Board Game Experience

Stonemaier Games, renowned for their acclaimed title Wingspan, and led by the innovative game designer Jamey Stegmaier, presents Vantage: an ambitious sandbox board game that invites players on an immersive intergalactic exploration journey. After eight years of development, Vantage offers a richly detailed, open-ended experience set on an extra-terrestrial planet where players are scattered crewmembers of a crashed spaceship, working together to explore and survive.

Vantage Features & Design

Vantage stands out thanks to its incredible scale and narrative depth. The game arrives in a hefty box weighing nearly five kilograms, packed with more than 400 tarot-sized location cards, alongside over 900 standard cards representing encounters, skills, and items. This vast assortment enables a truly explorative adventure with a high degree of unpredictability and variety.

Beyond the cards, the game includes nine reference books filled with detailed paragraphs that drive the narrative and outcomes of player actions. Complementing these are custom dice pools and punch-out tokens for tracking money and skills. The storage design is excellent, with well-thought-out dividers facilitating efficient setup and teardown.

Though three different artists contributed to Vantage’s illustrations, the visual presentation maintains a distinctive, cohesive style that vividly brings the alien world to life. Rich, detailed artwork enhances the immersive atmosphere, engaging players as they uncover the planet’s many secrets.

Key Design Elements at a Glance:

• Massive card decks: 400 large location cards and 900+ smaller cards enrich the game’s depth
• Narrative-focused: Nine books guide storytelling and outcomes
• Immersive art: Consistent, high-quality illustrations unify the aesthetic
• Well-structured storage: Dividers ensure easy game setup and storage

Gameplay

The gameplay revolves around players taking on individual crewmember characters who crash on different parts of the alien planet. Each player receives a tarot-sized location card placed so others cannot see it, symbolizing their current position and surroundings. Contact is maintained only via radio, reinforcing the thematic of isolation and exploration through descriptive communication.

Players have a shared group objective, but the sandbox nature of the game encourages open-ended exploration. Each game session offers a unique experience, with players forging new paths, uncovering mysteries, and deciding collectively or individually when to end the session.

Actions are tied to six skill categories, adapted contextually based on the environment and encounters. For example, the “overpower” skill might present as “smash” or “duel” depending on the situation. Players consult color-coded books for outcomes and difficulty levels when undertaking actions. All actions succeed, but dice rolls represent challenges that affect health, morale, and available time.

This dice system introduces a tactical layer where players manage risk with their collected skills and items that can mitigate negative effects. However, uncertainty remains a core part of the experience—players must commit to actions without knowing exact outcomes, fostering tension and surprise.

Gameplay Highlights:

• Story-first approach: Players choose the most thematic and enjoyable resolution
• Asymmetric roles: Different crewmember characters and scattered locations
• Action resolution: Dice rolls determine resource costs but not success
• Sandbox structure: Open exploration with multiple evolving goals
• Group communication: Use descriptive radio talk to coordinate without revealing location cards

Should You Choose Vantage?

Vantage offers a unique and polarizing experience. It is not a game for players seeking rigorous strategic challenges or clearly defined win/loss conditions. Instead, it excels as an exploratory and narrative sandbox, prioritizing immersion and shared storytelling over competitive tactics.

For enthusiasts of narrative-driven board games, studies show the rising popularity of open-world and sandbox styles, which enhance player engagement through emergent storytelling and freedom (Source: Journal of Games, 2024). Vantage is among the most ambitious attempts to bring this experience to the board game medium.

Players drawn to expansive worlds with richly intertwined stories and who enjoy investing imagination and time across multiple sessions will find Vantage a remarkable journey. Each session can explore new facets of the alien world, slowly piecing together a profound lore and deepening the communal narrative.

However, those who prefer quick, competitive, or streamlined games may find Vantage’s length, complexity, and narrative openness frustrating or cumbersome. Understanding your group’s preferences is crucial before diving in.

Who Will Love Vantage?

• Fans of exploration-focused and narrative board games
• Players seeking deep immersion and creative storytelling
• Groups willing to commit to multiple, lengthy sessions with open-ended goals
• Gamers intrigued by novel game mechanics and sandbox designs

Who Might Not Enjoy Vantage?

• Players who prefer clearly defined strategic puzzles and win conditions
• Those who want fast-paced or simple board games
• Groups averse to ambiguity and complex administration during play

Testing Methodology

The review was based on multiple full playthroughs using a publisher-provided sample. This allowed an in-depth evaluation of the rules, narrative flow, and the longevity of Vantage’s systems across varied scenarios. Repeated sessions were essential to capture the game’s replay potential and its ability to sustain player interest over time.

Our reviewers have professional experience in tabletop games, combining analytical and experiential approaches to provide a balanced assessment. The unique nature of Vantage required careful attention to narrative developments alongside mechanical depth.

Summary

Vantage represents a bold innovation in narrative sandbox board gaming, delivering a massive, richly illustrated world filled with mystery and choices. Its design encourages creativity and exploration over rigid competition, offering players a chance to craft their own stories collaboratively.

While its scope and depth are impressive, the game demands significant time commitment, patience, and a willingness to embrace uncertainty. For the right audience, it is an unforgettable adventure; for others, it may lack the structure or challenge desired.

As narrative board games continue to evolve, Vantage pushes the boundaries of what sandbox gameplay can offer on the tabletop, making it a standout release in 2025.

Pros

• Extensive, well-realized alien setting offering immense exploration
• Innovative mechanics enhancing narrative immersion
• Massive variety of content ensuring high replayability
• Beautiful, cohesive artwork by multiple artists
• Thoughtful box design for organization and ease of setup

Cons

• Sandbox and open-ended approach may feel directionless to some
• Complex administration and rules can interrupt flow
• Requires substantial time and commitment for full enjoyment

Note: This review was conducted with a publisher’s sample. Our evaluations are based on extensive gameplay and analysis to provide an informed perspective on Vantage’s design and appeal.