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

Silksong Bilewater map location
By Joel Franey published
Guide The map for Bilewater in Silksong is located a little way in, past the fast travel point

Silksong The Slab walkthrough and Apostate Key location
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Apostate Key, Heretic Key, and Indolent Key are all needed to escape The Slab in Silksong

How to beat the Silksong Bell Beast boss and free it
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide We explain how to free the Bell Beast beetle in Silksong, and then how to beat it up

How to get maps in Silksong and see where you're going
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Silksong maps are purchased from the vendor Shakra for Rosary Beads

All Silksong bosses we've discovered so far
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide There are over 40 bosses in Silksong, and we've fought quite a few of them already

Silksong Last Judge boss guide, strategy and weaknesses
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Last Judge is a two-stage boss fight that marks the end of Silksong's Act 1

Silksong Blasted Steps walkthrough and map location
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Blasted Steps region in Silksong is a brutal platforming challenge with a major boss at the end

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

How to get through Hunter's March in Silksong
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Silksong region Hunter's March is deadly with red ants, but thankfully optional

Silksong Moorwing weakness, boss fight strategy and cheese (while it lasts)
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Moorwing in Silksong is a flying boss that you can summon help for

How to find Silksong Shell Shards and use them
By Joel Franey published
Guide Shell Shards in Silksong are used to replenish tools, as well as buy certain things, and complete the Bone Bottom Repairs Wish

How to Double Jump in Silksong
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Silksong does have a double jump, called the Faydown Cloak

Everything in the Helldivers 2 Dust Devils Warbond and is it worth it?
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The Helldivers 2 Dust Devils premium Warbond focuses on desert warfare

When is Hollow Knight Silksong out? Release date and time
By Joel Franey last updated
Silksong has now released

The best Helldivers 2 Warbonds for new players to buy first
By Will Sawyer last updated
Guide Our Warbond tier list for Helldivers 2 will let you know the best options for what to invest in

How to use the Portable Hellbomb in Helldivers 2
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Portable Hellbomb in Helldivers 2 is necessary to complete certain missions

The GATER in Helldivers 2 and Conducting Mobile Substance Extraction explained
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Helldivers 2 GATER is a truck used to extract the mysterious substance from various sites.

How to destroy the Hive Spore Lung in Helldivers 2
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Hive Lung in HD2, or Spore Lung, requires a Hellbomb to destroy it

How to kill a Helldivers 2 Dragonroach
By Will Sawyer last updated
Guide The Helldivers 2 Dragonroach is a flying bile titan that you can encounter on Terminid hive worlds

Helldivers 2 weapons tier list and the best guns to use
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Our Helldivers 2 weapon tier list ranks every gun in the game, including Primary Weapons, Stratagem support weapons and those in Warbonds

How to beat Helldivers 2 Shriekers
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Shriekers are flying Terminid bugs that Helldivers 2 has swarm you from above

How to kill the Helldivers 2 Chargers
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Chargers in Helldivers 2 are huge armored bugs with vulnerable backsides

Pokemon TCG Pocket best decks and meta tier list (September 2025)
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The best PTCGP decks are changing in the wake of Secluded Springs
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more