New D&D game Battlemarked feels like my greatest tabletop adventures brought to life, without all the fuss

One of my favorite things about Baldur's Gate 3 is how it slides in little nods to its Dungeons and Dragons underpinning, like the lovingly animated dice. But while it's one of the best DnD games in years, you could probably play it without ever realizing that, if you weren't already familiar with the tabletop original. The newly released Demeo x Dungeons and Dragons: Battlemarked, on the other hand, absolutely revels in its heritage. Peering over its gorgeous environments dotted with figurines feels like playing the highest-budget tabletop D&D campaign you've ever seen.

Demeo x Dungeons and Dragons: Battlemarked might be rather too much of a mouthful for my liking, but at least it's a very clear explanation of what we're dealing with. This is a D&D-themed adaptation of Demeo, the tabletop-inspired, turn-based RPG released in 2021 by developer Resolution Games. Transporting those same concepts to the Forgotten Realms, Battlemarked is designed for "quick, pick-up-and-play action for players of every level."

You're able to play either solo with a squad of companions, or gather a party of up to four friends to join you, with a mixture of narrative-led encounters and combat sequences. There's also skirmish mode, which allows you to take command of a full group and figure out the best ways to combine abilities. "Teamwork isn't optional, it's your most powerful weapon," Resolution remarks.

The card system means battles don't play out in quite the same way as traditional D&D (this is an adaptation of the Demeo system, after all). Yet the feeling I get from looking across the board is so close to real-life tabletop that it almost tricks my brain. Its intricate battlefields, forest paths, and towns are actually more than that; they're a beautiful, three-dimensional rendition of what I might imagine in my head as I look over our hastily cobbled-together map during a session.

You can immerse yourself even further, too, with optional VR support, letting you truly feel like the richest kid around. The launch edition of Battlemarked includes two campaigns that will take you across a range of locations familiar to D&D veterans; you'll visit Neverwinter Wood, Cragmaw Castle, Spine of the World, and more. Resolution promises that more are on the way as DLC down the line.

Much like Demeo, and much like actual Dungeons and Dragons, Battlemarked will likely shine brightest if you're able to coerce a few friends to join you on your escapades. With that said, organizing some pals to hop onto your respective PCs for an hour or two of an evening is a much more feasible task than trying to coordinate a group of adults to all meet up in person and going through the arduous setup required (not to mention the cost of all the gear). It may not have quite the magic of sitting around a real-life table together, but I'll take this opportunity to enjoy the next best thing where I can.

Demeo x Dungeons and Dragons: Battlemarked is out now on Steam, priced at $29.99 / £24.99. Find it right here if you're eager to go on a new adventure without clearing everything off the coffee table first.