
Joel Franey
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

The ultimate Helldivers 2 beginner's guide
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide For those starting Helldivers 2, our beginner's guide will help you figure out your role in the Galactic War

10 Helldivers 2 tips and tricks to help you spread Managed Democracy
By Will Sawyer last updated
Guide Our beginner tips for Helldivers 2 will help you find your feet - and secure victory

Upcoming historical epic 1348 Ex Voto just got an ominous new reveal trailer, and I'm already getting KCD2 flashbacks
By Joel Franey published
News Back to a distant time when the bowl cut was still fashionable...

Skate releases new gameplay footage and progress update, detailing verticality and parkour that's "light years ahead of where we were in the previous game"
By Joel Franey published
News With a live-service model that'll have players exist in-world together

How to beat Black Bear Guai in Black Myth Wukong
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The final boss of the Black Wind Mountain is Black Bear Guai - a huge bear with fire powers

How to upgrade armor in Black Myth Wukong
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Armor in Black Myth Wukong can't be upgraded until you meet the blacksmith Yin Tiger in Chapter 3

Black Myth Wukong guides for aspiring monkey warriors
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide We can help those enjoying Black Myth Wukong with our expert guides

9 Black Myth Wukong tips we wish we'd known before playing
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide These tips and tricks for Black Myth Wukong will help players master their destiny

Black Myth Wukong's best skills and abilities
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Here are the best skills you should prioritize in Black Myth Wukong, and how to respec them

Where to find Sterness of Stone and Keeness of Tiger in Black Myth Wukong
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The King of Flowing Sands' gate tally needs Tiger's Keeness and Stone's Sterness to open

How to free the Black Myth Wukong Man in Stone
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The Man-in-Stone in Black Myth Wukong is trapped near Squall Hideout

How long is Black Myth Wukong?
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Black Myth Wukong's length is anywhere between 20 and 50 hours

All Black Myth Wukong Buddha's Eyeballs locations and use
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide There are six Buddha's Eyeballs in Chapter 2 of Black Myth Wukong, and this is what you need to do with them

How to restore Mana in Black Myth Wukong for your spells
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Mana fuels your spells in Black Myth Wukong, but how do you get it back?

How to access the Battlefield 6 beta
By Iain Wilson last updated
Guide The last weekend of the Battlefield 6 open beta has now concluded, so it can no longer be accessed

Pokemon Legends Z-A has made me realize what I miss about the series, and it's up to Gen 10 to fix it
By Joel Franey published
Opinion Opinion | Gen 10 needs to carve out its own identity

Best weapons in Battlefield 6
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The best gun in BF6 is undoubtedly the M87A1 Shotgun, at least until it's inevitably patched

All Battlefield 6 classes: Assault, Engineer, Support and Recon explained
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide With BF6's class system, you get to choose between Assault, Engineer, Support, and Recon

Battlefield 6 multiplayer is taking inspiration from Bad Company 2, but I hope its single player campaign looks further back to the series' best story
By Joel Franey published
Opinion Opinion | Battlefield 6's single player looks like it's going to take itself very seriously, but the series' best is still a late 2000s comedy
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more