Vertex Dispenser

It occurs to me that Steam is full of games like Vertex Dispenser. I mean, nothing's really like Vertex Dispenser, with its uniquely strange mechanics, ridiculously high skill ceiling, and its combination of fast action and deliberate spatial puzzle solving. But Steam is full of games that should have made an impact, should have caused enough of a splash for a community to form around them and keep the game alive for years after release, but didn't. It wears me out. Vertex Dispenser is a game I only played because Michael Brough went on to make a name for himself in the years since its release, with 868-HACK, Imbroglio and Cinco Paus, and it's nothing like any of those. And it's weird to think about, but if it had made more of a splash, is this the type of game we would now be calling a Broughlike? Would we have game jams where people make Real-Time Strategy games that are underpinned by some kind of geometric or spatial puzzle? Listen I don't really know where I'm going with this, but I do recommend you check Vertex Dispenser out, if only for that one moment in the Campaign where the tutorial explains to you what's ACTUALLY happening, and it blows your mind. And also because it'…

Vertex Dispenser is an uncompromisingly abstract strategy title developed and published by Michael Brough, a designer known for distilling complex decision-making into minimalist systems. Rather than presenting players with characters, armies, or narrative framing, the game strips strategy down to its bare essentials: geometry, color, territory, and time. This deliberate austerity immediately sets the tone for an experience that asks players to think spatially and systemically, rewarding curiosity and patience while offering little in the way of conventional onboarding or thematic comfort. The core of Vertex Dispenser unfolds on a geometric surface composed of vertices, edges, and faces, where influence is exerted by coloring vertices and claiming faces. Control of territory is not just a score metric but a defensive mechanic, as owning faces strengthens your position and makes it harder for opponents to encroach. The act of expansion is therefore inseparable from defense, creating a constant tension between spreading influence and consolidating it. Every action subtly reshapes the board, and even small decisions can cascade into major positional advantages or vulnerabilities. Wh…

A puzzley abstract action game that makes you think, but doesn't give enough time to do so carefully. Find some friends to play with - maybe at a LAN party :-D

I liked it. It is pretty complex, and it's sometimes hard to keep track of everything, but the ideas presented are innovative and are explored well.

https://youtu.be/UzmhhNcQgtA Loose goals and stiff movement makes for an overall unclear and unsatisfying territory control game.

really good