Demeo x Dungeons and Dragons: Battlemarked transports players into the enchanting realm of D&D’s Forgotten Realms, reimagining it as a cooperative multiplayer strategy game that captures the tactile joy of tabletop gaming. Currently available on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Meta Quest, Battlemarked is primarily designed for virtual reality (VR), allowing players to gather around a digital table, manipulate miniature heroes, and engage in combat with diminutive foes. However, for those without a VR headset, like myself, the experience may not be as fulfilling.
Publisher Resolution Games graciously provided our team at Wargamer with review keys for Battlemarked, as we continuously seek new contenders for our guide to the finest D&D games on PC. Unfortunately, a wave of autumn illnesses swept through our office, disrupting our plans to explore the co-op multiplayer features before its release on November 20. My time with the game has been limited to single-player, so consider this a preliminary impression. A crucial takeaway from my experience is to pay attention to whether reviewers have tested the game in VR.
Gameplay Insights
Battlemarked unfolds as a turn-based strategy game, breaking down the essence of a D&D adventure into a series of encounters set against charming, diorama-like landscapes. While the graphics may be low on polygons, they are rich in character. Players can choose from a variety of classic D&D classes and species, with both heroes and enemies represented as virtual miniatures rather than animated models. This design choice emphasizes the nostalgic feel of handling physical game pieces.
It’s important to note that Battlemarked is not a virtual tabletop like Roll20 or a video game adaptation of D&D 5e rules such as Baldur’s Gate 3. Instead, it encapsulates the spirit of D&D in a format that allows for quick play sessions, free from the potential discomfort of VR headset-induced nausea.
Having previously owned a VR headset, I appreciate how this platform transforms interactions with games, turning mundane tasks into delightful experiences. While testing Battlemarked, I encountered numerous elements that I believe would shine in VR but feel somewhat lackluster on a traditional screen. The camera system, for instance, poses challenges when navigating the game’s beautifully crafted levels, which resemble miniature landscapes akin to wargaming boards or model railway layouts. Although the camera isn’t inherently flawed, it often requires manual adjustments that can detract from the overall experience.
In a VR setting, the camera is controlled by motion sensors, allowing for seamless and intuitive adjustments to one’s field of view. As someone who enjoys crafting small-scale environments for toy soldiers and has visited diorama exhibitions, I can imagine that simply observing Battlemarked’s levels in VR would be an enjoyable experience in itself.
The control scheme also reflects its VR origins. To move a character, players must select and ‘pick up’ their figure before placing it in the desired location. Similarly, targeting an enemy with a special attack involves choosing a card and dropping it onto the target. In VR, this interaction feels natural and immersive, reinforcing the sensation of engaging with a physical game set in a virtual space. However, on a flat screen, the process feels more cumbersome compared to the streamlined selection methods found in games like XCOM.
These observations stem from my limited time with Battlemarked, and I look forward to further exploration of the game. I remain hopeful that it reveals its true beauty; however, without access to a VR headset, I fear I may miss out on its full potential. If you’re an avid fan of Demeo in VR or have insights on tweaks and mods for PC gameplay, I invite you to share your thoughts in the Wargamer Discord community.
