How Daggerheart Became the 2nd Most Popular Game on StartPlaying
The success wasn’t just luck, it was the result of Darrington Press truly understanding the value of Professional Game Masters
Daggerheart had one of the most successful launches we’ve ever seen for a brand-new TTRPG system. At StartPlaying, we’ve helped over 80,000 players find their group, hosting dozens of events and launches for various systems. Even with that experience, Daggerheart’s debut stood out as something special.
Why This Launch Worked So Well
The success wasn’t just luck, it was the result of Darrington Press truly understanding the value of Professional Game Masters (Pro GMs) and how to overcome one of the biggest challenges in tabletop gaming: getting a game to the table. Many people back Kickstarters or buy shiny new systems only to be faced with a familiar problem:
Scheduling a session
Finding other players
Convincing friends to try something new
Even the most exciting game can fizzle if players can’t find a group quickly. Darrington Press understood this and partnered with us so that on launch day, over 100 Pro GMs on StartPlaying were already familiar with Daggerheart and ready to run games.
Turning Launch Hype Into Play Sessions
Any good go-to-market strategy knows you only get one launch, so you have to make it count. Daggerheart’s release took advantage of everything Darrington Press and Critical Role do well:
A YouTube “how to play” series
A free quickstart for easy onboarding
Direct communication with Discord and Reddit communities
Partnerships with VTT platforms like Demiplane and Roll20
Collaborations with Friendly Local Game Stores for launch day events
A dedicated mini-series (Age of Umbra)
And, of course, becoming an official StartPlaying launch partner
This meant that when marketing sparked interest, “Wow, this game looks fun, I’d love to play”, players didn’t hit a wall. Instead, they found over 200 one-shots and campaigns on StartPlaying ready for them to join.
The Power of Professional Game Masters
One of the most overlooked factors in game adoption is the onboarding experience. When someone’s first session is with a Pro GM, the odds of them walking away excited and eager to play again skyrocket. Pro GMs are skilled teachers of new systems. They are experts in keeping players engaged and make sure players feel welcomed.
In paid games, every player at the table is invested, because they’ve chosen to be there for the game, not just the social hangout. This avoids the “movie night with someone who talks through the whole film” problem, where one person’s disinterest can dampen the whole experience.
Darrington Press recognized StartPlaying as a resource for their community, ensuring that from day one, anyone who wanted to play Daggerheart could.
Ongoing Momentum
During its launch month, Daggerheart was the second most popular system on StartPlaying. At the time of writing, it’s still holding strong in the top three.
Of course, our partnership wasn’t one-sided, we also activated our own marketing machine: working with creators/YouTubers, and influencers to spread the word, alongside performance marketing. This combined push made a measurable impact and offers a blueprint for any publisher launching a new TTRPG.
We’ve also continued conversations with Darrington Press about future partnerships and activations to keep the Daggerheart community engaged and thriving.
Daggerheart’s success wasn’t just about hype. It was about removing barriers between curiosity and play. By combining thoughtful marketing, strong community engagement, and immediate access to high-quality play experiences, Darrington Press created a launch that other would be wise to study.