Joel Franey

Joel Franey

Guides Writer

Joel Franey got his Bachelors in Creative Writing and Games Design from Brunel University in 2017, before going on to do a Masters in Creative and Critical Writing from Sussex University. During this time he also worked freelance in various gaming-related roles and professions, including design, PR, reviews and features, before eventually joining the guides team at USgamer and ReedPop in 2019. Since then, he has written professionally for numerous publications, including Gfinity Esports, Eurogamer, VG247, Dicebreaker, RPS, Jelly Deals and more. These have involved, among other things, writing guides, news, features, reviews, and even working as an SEO consultant, restructuring and rewriting content for the purpose of increased online traffic. He eventually joined GamesRadar+ as a Guides Writer in 2021, with a focus on covering single player games and narrative games, though nonetheless regularly contributing to ongoing coverage of online gaming services and multiplayer properties, and has covered a variety of major AAA games in his time since then. In his spare time he is also a long-time fiction writer, having written books, screenplays and more besides in a variety of genres, and is the co-host and co-creator of the pop culture comedy podcast, "Margaret Thatcher, Templar Spy".

Latest articles by Joel Franey

Explore the alien caverns of Mars in Blind Descent, a subterranean survival game that's giving Subnautica via Jules Verne

By Joel Franey published

Presented by Pokuch Studios

Journey to the center of somewhere quite a lot deadlier than Earth

Moros Protocol is a splashy mash-up of Hotline Miami and Dead Space, with a new trailer revealing more gameplay and the upcoming release window

By Joel Franey published

Presented by Super Rare Originals

With a playable demo to come soon too!

Crisol featuring in Future Games Show

Crisol: Theater of Idols is a game so bloody you're literally loading your guns with the stuff

By Joel Franey published

News I hope you're not uncomfortable with needles...

News
House Flipper 2 appearing in Future Games Show

Jinkies! There's a Scooby-Doo DLC expansion for House Flipper 2 coming this October

By Joel Franey published

News House looking a little Scrappy? Now's the time to turn it around...

News
Luto featuring in Future Games Show

Psychological horror Luto gets an official release date and chilling new trailer, featuring one of the creepiest dolls I've seen in a while

By Joel Franey published

Presented by SelectaPlay

This is a game about... well, everything

Formula Legends appearing in Future Games Show

Formula Legends has a new trailer and a new demo you can play right now, revealed in the Future Games Show

By Joel Franey published

Presented by 3D Clouds srl

A winning formula

Waifu Tactical Force appearing in Future Games Show

WTF: Waifu Tactical Force is the upcoming PVP shooter fever dream that just made its first open playtest available for all

By Joel Franey published

News I don't think those uniforms are standard issue.

News
Constance appearing in the Future Games Show

2D indie painterly platformer Constance gets a new trailer and release date reveal

By Joel Franey published

Presented by btf Games

That's some fine brush work

The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin appearing in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase

The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin gets a new trailer revealing that pre-registration is live now!

By Joel Franey published

Presented by Netmarble

With Shadow of the Colossus-style monster-climbing? Sweet.

Is Fortnite down? Galactic Battle Season 3 in Chapter 6

Is Fortnite down? And if so then how long is the Fortnite downtime?

By Iain Wilson last updated

Guide What to know if you're seeing the dreaded "Fortnite servers not responding" error

Guide
Mario Kart World Online

How to play Mario Kart World online with friends

By Joel Franey published

Guide We explain how to join friends to play MKW all together online

Guide
Elden Ring Nightreign Executor

My least favorite Elden Ring Nightreign character just became one of my top choices by stopping a collapsing universe with a sword

By Joel Franey published

Now Playing Now Playing | Nightreign's Executor wasn't working for me, until I realized he's a refugee from an entirely different FromSoft game

Now Playing
Marvel Rivals Ultron mvp animation sword drawn

Marvel Rivals characters and tier list for Season 2.5

By Will Sawyer last updated

Guide We’ve examined all the Marvel Rivals characters for their place in the current Season 2.5 meta

Guide
Elden Ring Nightreign Sentient Pest

How to beat the Sentient Pest in Elden Ring Nightreign, aka Gnoster, Wisdom of Night

By Joel Franey published

Guide The Nightreign Sentient Pest leads you to Gnoster, a moth and beetle working together as a boss

Guide
Elden Ring Nightreign screenshot of three characters walking side by side

Can you play Elden Ring Nightreign solo?

By Joel Franey last updated

Guide FromSoftware is here to support solo players and trios, but those looking for Elden Ring Nightreign duos sessions may be disappointed

Guide
Pokemon TCG Pocket best decks

Pokemon TCG Pocket best decks and meta tier list (June 2025)

By Joel Franey last updated

Guide The best PTCGP decks are ranked for the current meta in the wake of Extradimensional Crisis

Guide
Marvel Rivals Ultron X-Tron MVP pose

All Marvel Rivals upcoming characters and leaks

By Patrick Dane last updated

Guide All the leaked, new, and upcoming Marvel Rivals characters we've heard about

Guide
Elden Ring Nightreign Recluse

Elden Ring Nightreign Recluse guide and abilities explained

By Joel Franey published

Guide The Recluse mage in Nightreign uses affinities to brew cocktails, which she sends at enemies

Guide
Elden Ring Nightreign emotes

How to emote in Elden Ring Nightreign

By Joel Franey published

Guide We explain how to use emotes in Nightreign, and where to get more

Guide
Elden Ring Nightreign Duchess character class

How to unlock the Duchess in Elden Ring Nightreign

By Joel Franey published

Guide The Nightreign Duchess character class is unlocked through a special pocketwatch

Guide
Elden Ring Nightreign tips and tricks

10 Elden Ring Nightreign tips and tricks to conquering the night

By Joel Franey published

Guide We'll help you survive Nightreign with all the tips we wish we'd known before playing

Guide
Elden Ring Nightreign best weapons

All the best weapons in Elden Ring Nightreign

By Joel Franey published

Guide The best weapons in Elden Ring Nightreign are legendary weapons that play to characters’ skills

Guide
How long is Elden Ring Nightreign?

How long is Elden Ring Nightreign? Length and time to beat explained

By Joel Franey published

Guide Nightreign's time to beat is about 30 hours, but that number will vary significantly

Guide
Elden Ring Nightreign Tricephalos

How to beat the Elden Ring Nightreign Tricephalos, aka Gladius, Beast of Night

By Joel Franey published

Guide We explain how to defeat the first boss, Tricephalos (or Gladius), in Elden Ring Nightreign

Guide
Elden Ring Nightreign Gaping Jaw

How to beat the Elden Ring Nightreign Gaping Jaw, aka Adel, Baron of Night

By Joel Franey published

Guide We explain how to defeat the second boss in Nightreign, Gaping Jaw, also called Adel

Guide
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