Development archive: This mode was removed from the current game in October 2026. This article records an earlier version. The game now focuses on galaxy travel, colonies, space combat, turret defense and first-person exploration.

When a crippled enemy capital ship drifts into range, the Vanguard docks and your pilot boards on foot. Ship Boarding is a top-down dungeon crawler - tight corridors, locked doors, and enemies with line-of-sight AI that hunt you through the ship's interior.

Boarding a Hollow Carrier - Deck 3
// Boarding a Hollow Carrier - Deck 3

Three enemy types defend boarded vessels: patrol guards that follow fixed routes, alert responders that chase on sight, and heavy sentinels that anchor chokepoints. The AI uses line-of-sight detection - break line of sight around a corner and enemies lose track, creating opportunities for ambush or retreat.

Boarding missions reward rare salvage components and crew intel. Some ships contain encrypted data terminals that unlock bestiary entries or hint at the Hollow's origins. The deeper you push into Sector Zero, the more dangerous - and rewarding - these boardings become.