Finding Meaning in Vantage with All the Cats and No Notes
Find out what it’s like to explore and enjoy the sheer awe of new discoveries in the stories that are possible in Vantage.
My birthday weekend had a single requirement: Vantage! This has been all I want to play lately, and although that feeling will likely subside, it is amazing at the moment. The stories I’m telling bring in elements from every card, and a character’s full grid feels like a little glimpse into their happiest memories. Just another grand sense of wonder in this lovely game!
Spoiler Alert
Unless you look really closely, nothing here should give away the specifics about locations or outcomes. What you will see are elements present beyond the basic setup, meaning you won’t encounter them right when you start playing. As a unique exploration-style game, I’m still discovering brand new things I didn’t even know existed in the game, nor the setting.
As a spoiler-free example, this is like me revealing that you might come across a handmade spatula shop somewhere in this world. I do my best not to say where it is or what any of the actions entail, but now you know something that might be found in this world. And honestly… There might be a handmade spatula shop that I still have yet to come across. Ha ha!
With all that said, this is what I mean when I share a spoiler alert like this. Going in with just the rules for my first few plays was amazing, as I audibly yelled, “Wow!” or “Ooo!” the first time I encountered something brand new. Preserve that sense of excitement and discovery if you’d like to: This post will be here if you ever want to circle back in the future!
Game Overview
Game Name: Vantage
Publication Year: 2025
Designer: Jamey Stegmaier
Artists: Valentina Filic, Sören Meding, & Emilien Rotival
Publisher: Stonemaier Games
Solo Mode: Included in the Base Game
With storybooks and an open world, every action leads to success, but at a variable cost with the challenge dice. The focus is on the story and finding out what happens in this vast world… Which features even more than meets the eye with new types of cards and even a sealed spoiler pack!
First Play
July 22, 2025
Complexity
2
Latest Play
August 3, 2025
Expansions
0
Setup Time
5 Minutes
Lifetime Plays
11
Play Time
1 Hour & 30 Minutes
High Score
N/A
Game Area
36" x 20"
Low Score
N/A
In Dramatic Fashion
Each play includes a starting mission, which is often a main sort of objective to pursue. Some are easier than others, but I like having a goal in mind. Soren was ready for this one!
Actually, he wasn’t. Ha! It involved battling something I had not come across that often, which meant there was a grand trek around the world. And what an adventure!
I really love taking photos because the main parts of a play often come back to me. Stole a mech suit here, for instance.
Yet the main highlight was when Soren simply made friends with a curious creature who followed him around. Cute!
Scene Re-creation
If you know me, you know I have a collection of little animal figures called Calico Critters… And about a million related accessories! So when this location started out here…
It was too tempting not to try to do a silly little re-creation with my own tiny boat! No board games were harmed while pouring this really life-like “water” over the area. Ha ha!
The way most locations evoke imagination is excellent. This is quite unconventional, but I felt like I was “in” the artwork.
Each place has a sort of surreal or slightly abstract appearance, so my mind could bring it to life, in focus.
That’s In This Game?!
So, let’s just say that I know of a way to sort of upgrade a character’s portrait. I figured that was the only way to do so, until this play. Soren had a very different appearance!
This was one of my most memorable plays yet. I found out some major elements of the world and some other things. Like… The Traveler. And I’ll leave it at that for less spoilers.
But I had this feeling of utter awe as I read some of the text. It was a moment of what I can only describe as, “Wow.”
And don’t discount the story behind my animals! Soren found a new way to travel via air after a daring rescue.
To a Remote Waterfall
Now, this play took a little longer because Soren picked up an escort quest right around the time when he could complete the mission and destiny. But he wasn’t done yet.
This was a tricky endeavor, and moving via land became a silly concept when I felt like I was going in circles.
If you’re looking closely, that there would be a working vehicle that Soren used to take to the skies! And it was simply amazing, full of new perspectives and options.
The remote waterfall was finally located in a completely accidental way, and it was just so satisfying to find it!
The Meaning of Everything… And No Notes
I keep going deeper into this world, which also encompasses the characters. There are surprises, and not all of them have been pleasant. Ha! But as much as I agree that there is a great deal of randomness to a play, there is meaning. I’m not rolling dice to randomly figure out where I’m going. I’m not randomizing what my character does. I’m making those decisions.
This allows me to learn along the way, getting a feel for what some actions and locations might be about. That’s useful, but doesn’t stop me from going into Tina mode and choosing an overpower action that’s probably a bad idea. Ha! I have the agency to do whatever I like, and the cards I pick up along the way mean something. In a way, I feel like I earned them.
Even something that looks boring or basic has a story to it. I remember the moment when Soren found a bar of soap and was suddenly bathing anywhere water could be found. What a moment! Silly and mundane, but still meaningful.
At the same time, despite me learning more with each play, I’ve decided not to take any notes. I “know” where some things might be found, but I’m trying not to document these. Because each play really is different and I’m not here to optimize the best paths. Is that an option someday? I’m sure it could be, taking a character through the “best” possible journey.
Maybe that’s appealing right from the start to some, though. If that’s you, go for it! There are many ways to play. I’m still loving the initial exploration phase, and I may pivot someday. But for now, it’s all about appreciating each little adventure.
Puzzling Away
Perhaps the feature that may have the least longevity are the puzzles that are tied to specific locations. That’s not a bad thing, though, as these take a bit of thinking to solve.
This example was simply delightful! I won’t reveal the actual rules, but I was thrown for a loop when I thought I couldn’t solve it. Started over, tried to think it through…
And then it clicked! All of the puzzles I’ve encountered have been just the right difficulty level: Solvable, but not too easy.
For this sort of exploration game, these feel like fun little activities to come across every now and then. So clever!
Bits of Humor
There are probably somewhere around 9,000 different text paragraphs… Or even more since I’m just estimating! They are short, keep the action going, and are often quite fun.
Yet during one play, I stumbled across a bit of humor that made me laugh out loud. It’s a well-known line about sand, but it came at the perfect moment in my story. Hilarious!
I’ve also been enjoying the writing style. It’s short, but still evocative. The shortest paragraphs still lead to something.
Even circling around the same general region felt like it made sense in the story I was telling. Had to find that thing!
An Epic Sort of Journey
Then, it happened. I’ve had memorable plays up to this point, each with something that made them special. Those plays have all lasted around an hour or two. But this one?
It took me 3.5 hours to play. Which definitely felt long: I don’t want to make it seem like it didn’t! I had to pause every now and then to leave my table, then raced back.
Part of the length had to do with Soren’s struggles. Try as he might, he couldn’t complete the mission or any destiny.
There was a way I could have ended early, yet I was totally invested in everything that happened. Complete immersion!
Herd Mentality
I thought the highlight was going to be the funny time when Soren had both soap and a toothbrush… He was the cleanest adventurer you could possibly imagine. Ha ha!
Yet it was a quest to herd some lost animals that was the turning point in his life. Because for whatever reason, no matter what I did, the herd action had disastrous results.
Luckily, Soren was well-equipped… But something on a card changed his character portrait, and he literally grew a beard.
In my mind, it took him years to herd those pesky animals. Ha ha! But as I would learn, he needed that knowledge.
Life of the Party
Soren discovered a pair of kittens on his journeys, who took a little time to settle down from their wild ways. It was such a nice moment, and they made conversations lovely!
Along the way, he hatched an egg and raised the creature into a loyal friend. And don’t worry about that reanimated skeleton… Definitely also a friend after a neat experience!
He trudged across the world forever, though. I was looking for something, and raced through dozens of locations.
But when he reached his destination, somehow, both the mission and destiny were fulfilled. It was an amazing end!
Cat Herder for Life
Finally, the Calico Critters showed up! Soren’s early life as an animal herder gave him all the skills to properly herd cats for the rest of his life spent in the city where he settled.
So many cats and kittens! It was perfect, though. This play felt extra long, yet the payoff at the end felt like I had followed Soren through all of his trials and tribulations.
Cards don’t feel so much like cards, but the memories of each play. The same card won’t always be exactly the same.
I can’t stop playing, and can’t wait to see what else might be out there in this world that never stops providing wonders.
Session Overview
Play Number: 7-10
Accessory 1: Vantage: Metal Coins
Accessory 2: Vantage: Playmats
Accessory 3: Vantage: Wooden Skill Tokens
Solo Mode: Included in the Base Game
Outcome: 4 Complete Plays
It was so nice to have Soren find a shelter! Other destinies piled up, but this one felt the most thematic for this story. I had the greatest time, and although I’m moving onto another character, Soren still feels like he could have many other adventures. Onward to more fun on this planet!
%
10 Plays
Affordability
Price & Value
7
Functionality
Challenges & Mechanics
10
Originality
Design & Theme
10
Quality
Components & Rules
10
Reusability
Achievement & Enjoyment
10
Variability
Distinctness & Randomness
10
+ Pros (Positives)
- Each play offers a new story with moments to take along as knowledge of the planet, and even pleasant life lessons.
- Something new feels like it can happen with the choices, some of which might not be good but can be entertaining.
- Starting with nothing and building up a character feels meaningful with a grid of cards that ties into experiences.
- Referencing the storybooks doesn’t take too long, especially if these are kept in an ordered stack for easier access.
- Plays may not always be classified as exciting, yet they bring out different emotions that are often very positive.
- Locations offer scenes illustrated in a way that brings a player closer in to fill in the details with a little imagination.
– Cons (Negatives)
- The visuals on the cards and text in the storybooks are excellent, but require some effort to craft a character’s story.
- Some outcomes may be entirely unexpected, and although this is all about new experiences, this can be frustrating.
- A few card types require a little extra table space to track something, which can get slightly messy with many cards.
- Objectives provide general guidance on what to achieve, yet there are times when a traditional victory is very difficult.
Victory Conditions
Reach a Natural End Point to the Story
- Overall Goal Progress 100%
Goals and Milestones
Complete at least 1 game with a fulfilled destiny.
Complete at least 1 game with a fulfilled mission.
Complete at least 1 game with a full card grid.
Continue the Conversation
What are your experiences with Vantage? Are there any stories or moments that stand out to you the most? I wouldn’t have thought that I would still be having such a fun time after playing nonstop for around a week, yet here I am! The stories have all felt meaningful and each play offers something very different. Just an amazing experience I’m enjoying so much!
I find using the story app way easier than rifling through the story books:
https://vantage.rulepop.com/#story-lookup
Definitely a useful site! I personally prefer the excitement of grabbing physical books and flipping through the pages to find the paragraph numbers, but this is a fantastic resource. Excellent for rules and errata checks, too!
I love all your writting about the games you play, that is such a lovely way to tellement the experience of a board game. I fell kind the same way when playing, but I am unable to express it the way you do. Keep on writing 😀
Thanks so much for the kind words! Hope you have a wonderful time the next time you play!