Vanguard Galaxy

Early access since Oct 2025

A relaxing game about space exploration that can be played full screen or at the bottom of your screen. Trade, fight, mine and salvage your way through a procedurally generated galaxy. Let the game idle while your autopilot handles business and builds your fortune.

90% positive · 573 reviews

Not yet

In early access, content still planned

High confidence

Content Planned

Not yet

In early access, content still planned

High confidence

Content Planned

Where to buy

Steam Updated 13 Oct 2026 $8.99

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Evaluation

Vanguard Galaxy launched into Early Access on October 30, 2025 and remains firmly in that state — the Steam Early Access flag is still active. Bat Roost Games has maintained an exceptionally active development pace throughout the Early Access period, with 49 news posts scanned covering major content drops, feature patches, and bug fixes. The three major content milestones so far have been the initial Early Access launch, the "Conquest" update (version 0.8, released March 17, 2026) which added faction warfare, destroyers, a raised level cap of 60, and an expanded galaxy, and now "Reinforcements" (version 0.8.2, released August 27, 2026) — today's date — which introduces crew and boarding mechanics, battlecruisers and carriers, boss encounters, hull upgrades, and a significant number of new ships. Between these major drops, the developer ran an extended open beta (versions 0.8.1.x) throughout June–August 2026 with near-weekly feature patches and hotfixes, closing out the beta with a final pre-merge update on August 25, 2026. On June 22, 2026, the developer published a comprehensive roadmap post reaffirming their long-term commitment to the project. The content outlined in that roadmap — expanded galaxy map, level cap raised to 100 and beyond, full fleet mechanics with RTS controls and formations, Empire & Faction building, even larger ship classes, expeditions, a robotics skill tree, torpedo system improvements, economy overhauls, salvageable space stations, and more story content — remains largely undelivered. The 0.8.2 update post itself explicitly names the next development priorities: removing the artificial level cap, further galaxy expansion, and Empire/Fleet mechanics. The game is clearly mid-development with a large volume of committed future content and a developer that has shown consistent, frequent communication and delivery throughout Early Access.

Evidence

Update 0.8.2 'Reinforcements' shipped as the third major Early Access update, adding crew, boarding mechanics, battlecruisers, carriers, bosses, hull upgrades, and many new ships. The post explicitly states the next focus will be removing the level cap, expanding the galaxy, and adding Empire and Fleet mechanics.

news post · Aug 27, 2026 source content planned

high

Developer published a detailed roadmap outlining substantial planned content: expanded galaxy map, level cap raised to 100+, full fleet mechanics with RTS controls, Empire & Faction building (own stations and faction), larger ships, expeditions, robotics skill tree, torpedo expansion, economy improvements, salvageable space stations, and more story content.

news post · Jun 22, 2026 source content planned

high

Content

2 of 2 released · no outstanding content

Released

Vanguard Galaxy Soundtrack

May 2026

Released

Vanguard Galaxy - Supporter Pack

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Media

Details

Developer

Bat Roost Games

Publisher

Bat Roost Games

Achievements

Platform

Windows

Controller

—

Steam Deck

Playable

Players

Single-player

Idler Space Casual Sandbox Top-Down Incremental Loot Space Sim Mining Resource Management Crafting Exploration Sci-fi Relaxing 2D

About this game

The Great Gate has opened; adventure and riches await!

Welcome to the Canis Major dwarf galaxy! We hope that your trip through the Great Gate was a safe one; many of the fortune-seekers that embark on this dangerous journey never make it this far. After all, an unauthorized jump of 25,000 light years through a heavily guarded artificial wormhole is bound to cause some issues – both technical and legal. Thankfully, now that you’re here, it’s time to get straight to business.

Key features

Choose your own playstyle
Combat: Fight enemies using a wide range of weaponry.
Mining: Scrape asteroid surfaces or blow them to bits to harvest their core.
Salvage: Discover and salvage derelict ships and wreckage.
Trading: Find the best trade routes. Buy low, sell high.
Play the game full screen or place it on the bottom of your desktop
You can let the autopilot play idle or take a more hands on approach.
Find and collect loot
You'll find powerful gear and rare items that allow you to push further into the sectors.
Buy and upgrade new ships
Choose from a wide variety of ships, ranging from small miners to large destroyers.
Dynamic NPC captains
From rival pirates and traders to helpful miners. Interact, ally, fight or avoid them.
Refine raw ore/salvage and craft your gear
Raw resources can be refined into materials. Use these materials to craft powerful gear to boost your ships and level up your game. Or sell them for a handy profit.
Level up your captain and hire crew
Pick from multiple skill trees and unlock powerful abilities or focus on becoming an industrial powerhouse. Crew with different professions provide passive perks and unique bonuses that enhance your skill trees.
Explore a vast, procedurally generated galaxy
Travel using the gate-network.
Story & dynamic missions
A wide range of different missions that will require you to diversify your ships.

Let the game idle while you work

Play Vanguard Galaxy full screen on a second monitor or place it at the bottom of your screen. It stays out of your way when you need to focus on something else (work, play another game, or watch a video). Engage the Autopilot and your ship’s ECHO system will complete most basic tasks on its own, with minimal input required from you.

Explore a destabilizing galaxy

You are let loose in a procedurally generated world where corporate interests clash with the galaxy’s established population. Pledge allegiance to one of the corporations, or stay neutral and forge your own path. The world reacts to your actions and builds its own storyline as you explore new systems and make a name for yourself.

Reach the top

Level up your captain and crew, and equip all of your space ships with top-of-the-line components. The deepest reaches of the galaxy may be savage and unpredictable, but with sufficient preparation you’ll be ready for any challenge it can throw at you.