By Aimee Rogers 
The upcoming roguelite Vanguard Tides is built on a deceptively simple two-act structure. Survive long enough, and you unlock the “final battle” phase where you actually win by destroying enemy castles. Fail to make it that far, and you’re back to the beginning.
During the survival phase, you’ll spend your time doing what you roguelike veterans know best, upgrading your hero and army while fending off relentless waves of enemies. It’s the meat of the run, the part where you’re making meaningful decisions about how to build your character and whether to take that risky treasure room or play it safe. Standard stuff, executed (hopefully) well.
But here’s where Vanguard Tides gets interesting. If you survive the gauntlet, you transition into something altogether different. The final battle phase abandons the tower defense grind and shifts into aggressive offense. You’re no longer reacting to waves, you’re actively sieging enemy strongholds. It’s a tonal whiplash that could either feel refreshing or jarring depending on execution, but the developer captured gameplay footage that suggests they’ve nailed the pacing.
The studio is prepping a demo release soon, so you won’t have to take their word for it. You can judge for yourself whether this two-phase structure actually delivers the kind of variety that keeps runs feeling fresh. Roguelikes live and die on their loop design, and splitting the experience between defensive turtle-ing and offensive castle-smashing could be the difference between another forgettable roguelite and something worth your time.
Steven Andrew