How to Play

ISS Vanguard

1-4 players 90-120 min 8.4 Board Game Geek Rating

This 1-4 player cooperative campaign follows humanity's first deep space mission aboard ISS Vanguard. Players manage four ship sections while exploring planets across a branching narrative filled with difficult choices. Gameplay alternates between strategic ship management—researching technology, recruiting crew, and resource allocation—and tactical planetary exploration using specialized landers. Success depends on efficiently gathering information and resources while surviving environmental threats and supply shortages to unravel humanity's cosmic destiny.

Published 2022

Get Ready

Setup the game with these step-by-step instructions before diving into your turn.

Select crewmembers

Choose crewmembers from the full set in the box instead of selecting them randomly

Load the Lander

Allow one Suit, one additional Crew item (helmet icon), and two Small Items per section

Choose sections

Play with as many sections as desired in any order

Include tutorial cards

Tutorial section cards are included in each section's deck and are not removed from the game

On Your Turn

What you can do during your turn.

Discard unwanted sections

Discard any unwanted section cards during your turn and draw up to your limit

Bring section cards

Crewmembers can bring any section cards from their deck, regardless of rank

Bring dice

Crewmembers may bring all dice from their section, regardless of rank

Re-roll dice

Spend an available section die to re-roll any number of dice after a dice check

Set die face

Spend an available section die to set a single die to any face after a dice check

Split icon results

Split multiple icon results to cover various items across POI cards, Section cards, Global Condition cards, etc.

Use standard dice

Replace all section dice with standard colored d6 dice: treat 4+ as successful; treat 3+ as successful if the conversion ability matches the current check

Remove injury

Sacrifice an available section die to remove one injury die or injury card

Rest to refresh

Spend one supply to refresh all spent dice

Assist other players

Assist from anywhere on the map at any time with either a die or a card