"Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked" – How Good is the Tabletop Role-Playing Game?
"Demeo" makes a comeback with an official D&D license. We clarify how the successor "Battlemarked" further develops the game.
"Demeo" is back after three years. Was the wait worth it?
(Image: Resolution Games)
The original "Demeo" was released in 2021 exclusively for Virtual Reality and simulated turn-based tabletop role-playing evenings with friends with great charm. Alone or with up to three companions, you assemble a group of archetypal classes, tactically move miniatures across dungeon tiles, and use cards to deploy special abilities. Dice rolls then determine whether an action succeeds, fails, or critically hits.
"Demeo" quickly became one of the most successful multiplayer titles in the medium and is now also available as a screen version on numerous other platforms, including PC and Mac, PlayStation 5, and iPad.
After the release of the last major content update three years ago, things went quiet around the title. What fans didn't know: Resolution Games managed to secure an official Dungeons & Dragons license and was secretly working on a successor that was intended to eclipse the original.
(Image:Â Resolution Games)
"Battlemarked," released today, combines the easily accessible, turn-based tabletop role-playing system of "Demeo" with the settings and lore of the "Forgotten Realms," the most popular D&D campaign world.
New players don't need to be familiar with "Demeo" or Dungeons & Dragons: A tutorial explains the game mechanics, which have been almost entirely adopted from "Demeo," while conversations with NPCs gradually introduce players to the history, races, and conflicts of the role-playing world.
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The VR and screen versions each have their own user interface, reflecting the differences between the two media. Since "Battlemarked" supports crossplay, players from all platforms can play together, with or without VR headsets.
We played through the two story campaigns with Meta Quest 3, which led us to Neverwinter Wood and Icewind Dale.
Demeo 2.0: More story-driven, more diverse, more accessible
"Battlemarked" fulfills one of the biggest wishes of "Demeo" fans: the adventures are no longer confined to isolated dungeons but are embedded in story campaigns. These consist of main and side quests that lead players to various locations where they encounter diverse NPCs and challenges. This gives "Demeo" a narrative dimension for the first time. This, along with the significantly more diverse, beautifully designed fantasy settings, contributes noticeably to the atmosphere.
(Image:Â Resolution Games)
The game's four dungeons form the highlights of the two campaigns and, as in "Demeo," consist of three floors and a final boss. Once mastered, the dungeons can be entered directly with friends later without having to play through the story campaign.
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Mechanically, everything remains close to "Demeo." What has changed is the *game feel*: "Battlemarked" plays significantly more action-packed, with faster pacing and more enemies, although this comes at the expense of tactical depth. While in "Demeo" an ill-considered action could quickly mean the end of an adventure, the successor is significantly more forgiving. As long as the entire hero party doesn't fall, heroes can be revived as many times as needed without losing hit points. Furthermore, the rapid replenishment of cards ensures that tactical misjudgments are less severely punished.
(Image:Â Resolution Games)
The studio's intention is clear: "Battlemarked" is intended to be more accessible and faster-paced, thus reaching a broader audience. A decision that will likely cause controversy among "Demeo" veterans. For experienced players, there is at least the option to increase the difficulty of the dungeons.
More campaigns and heroes planned
We liked the new option to create heroes and level them up over individual matches. Through accumulated experience points, their abilities can be improved and new ones unlocked, offering more room for individual playstyles. However, the level cap for heroes is reached quickly, and the game still lacks a long-term motivating endgame. At least there will be no shortage of new content in the future: DLCs with new campaigns and heroes are planned for 2026 and beyond.
(Image:Â Resolution Games)
The first "Demeo" never fully realized its potential because its development was halted in favor of its successor. The hope now is that "Battlemarked" will achieve what "Demeo" was denied: establishing a tactical role-playing game that constantly grows in scope and depth.
The signs are good: "Battlemarked" already offers more at launch than the first "Demeo" did after two years. In many respects, it noticeably expands and improves upon the original. Resolution Games should quickly fix the occasional bugs and balancing issues encountered in our test.
Those who can should play the VR version: it conveys a significantly stronger social presence through the feeling of sitting around a table with friends. Local multiplayer in Mixed Reality is also supported, provided you use multiple Meta Quests. The game board is synchronized and projected onto a real table for all players.
"Demeo x Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked" is available now on Steam (PC, Mac, PC-VR), in the Playstation Store (PS5, PS VR2), and in the Horizon Store (Meta Quest 2, 3, 3S). The price is 30 Euros.
(mack)
