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, JellyDeals and Dicebreaker, in various capacities. 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 ongoing pop culture comedy podcast, "Margaret Thatcher, Templar Spy".
Latest articles by Joel Franey
![The player fights the Dead Bride in The First Descendant](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LRrc6x6u5RMv2b6WqdNPA3-320-80.jpg)
How to beat the Dead Bride in The First Descendant
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The First Descendant Dead Bride boss fight requires speed, literal fire power, and resistance to Chill damage
![The First Descendant Pyromaniac](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CapBC4Th3TiKMg4iif7XN5-320-80.jpg)
How to beat the Pyromaniac in The First Descendant
By Joel Franey published
Guide How to beat the Pyromaniac in The First Descendant
![The First Descendant](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WS9Jd8o5LD8H4eZW5MiKRQ-320-80.jpg)
Best weapons in The First Descendant
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The best weapons in The First Descendant are all listed here
![The First Descendant Gold Farm](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/inUT35fzp29CyemES98aYF-320-80.jpg)
The best Gold Farm for The First Descendant
By Joel Franey published
Guide To farm gold in The First Descendant, players should switch to Bunny, then head to Echo Swamp
![A player fights The Devourer in The First Descendant](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2oDGnP8PbzSd8zQQskywu7-320-80.jpg)
How to beat the Devourer in The First Descendant
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The Devourer boss fight in The First Descendant can be beaten with careful use of electrical power
![Is Fortnite down?](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WsPMaxW3PZT8Fj6TpKuifJ-320-80.jpg)
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
![The First Descendant](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XTB9nFnd2heN7p6iDNCJMm-320-80.jpg)
How to unlock The First Descendant Hard Mode
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Hard mode in The First Descendant is a difficulty unlocked through campaign completion
![The First Descendant Caliber](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xLUMrvGURRe35Hpi88DU6B-320-80.jpg)
How to get Caliber in The First Descendant
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Caliber is a currency you can't earn for free, sadly
![Flintlock Healing Flasks](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tdiKpinP5ukY3GhJ45RyNT-320-80.jpg)
How to get more Healing Flasks in Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
By Joel Franey published
Guide Healing Potions in Flintlock are rewards for finding coffee shops
![Nor in Flintlock The Siege of Dawn](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MqC4DQRCEgP5bVqCeZRS6j-320-80.jpg)
How long is Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn?
By Joel Franey published
Guide Flintlock will take up to 15 hours to beat, depending on your playstyle
![Sebo in Flintlock The Siege of Dawn](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8P5HYtceCJGLicaFUdbDDK-320-80.jpg)
How to play Sebo in Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
By Joel Franey published
Guide Sebo is a recurring board game in Flintlock about making triangles
![Flintlock best skills](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/28JBuYELnaXyyLPrquPS5L-320-80.jpg)
The best Skills in Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
By Joel Franey published
Guide The best Skills in Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn are those that focus on control and common use
![Flintlock the Siege of Dawn XP farming](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BVCy2fzjx78G49Ym4ZAMBN-320-80.jpg)
How to farm XP in Flintlock and earn Reputation
By Joel Franey published
Guide Farming Reputation in Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn is best done through rapid 1-on-1 fights with enemies
![Elden Ring Bayle](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WtXxsWCCCjDevBW72zk5BE-320-80.jpg)
How to get to every Shadow of the Erdtree area, region and map location
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Here's how you can get everywhere in the Erdtree DLC, from the Hinterlands to the Abyss
![A player finds a Scadutree Fragment in Shadow of the Erdtree](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8zFtCyC6axbXL6rdgVvnKo-320-80.jpg)
All Scadutree Fragment locations in Shadow of the Erdtree
By Ford James last updated
Guide Scadutree Fragments in Elden Ring's expansion are found at crosses, minibosses and more
![A booster for Kuiper Shards from The First Descendant battle pass](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eUPxfZ5sYhU8zmX9RHZfeH-320-80.jpg)
Best The First Descendant Kuiper Shard farming method
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The best Kuiper Shard farming methods in The First Descendant are based on quick, easy missions
![Baldur's Gate 3 Honour Mode](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fgLyEvvUYUJmw7r62FMHEG-320-80.jpg)
I'm playing Honour Mode in Baldur's Gate 3 with a truly dreadful handicap - a character created by somebody who doesn't know D&D
By Joel Franey published
Opinion Opinion | Still, playing Baldur's Gate 3's hardest difficulty with its worst hero has made me love the game all the more
![The First Descendant Void Fragments](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/y4V6L7tmVuXCCKn2S3LaAZ-320-80.jpg)
Void Fragments in The First Descendant and how to get Void Shards explained
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Void Fragments in the First Descendant can only be broken by certain elements
![The First Descendant](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XTB9nFnd2heN7p6iDNCJMm-320-80.jpg)
Is The First Descendant crossplay and cross-platform?
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Yes, The First Descendant can be played with friends cross-platform
![Darkest Dungeon 2 jester puzzle Music of the Night](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/p99GFTbUqtgjE4DAEEMBB3-320-80.jpg)
Darkest Dungeon 2 Jester Chapter 2 puzzle explained
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Beat the Violinist in Music of the Night, the Jester's second Shrine of Reflection chapter
![Darkest Dungeon 2 complete your confession](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4aYKZZwyNx28hAPF6hykJW-320-80.png)
Darkest Dungeon 2 Complete Your Confession contract explained
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide What to do at the Complete your Confession contract in Darkest Dungeon 2
![Darkest Dungeon 2 best teams characters](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/WxNgRkSpqScCrTJtj62gh9-320-80.png)
Darkest Dungeon 2 best team and character choices
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The best classes and heroes to choose for your team in Darkest Dungeon 2
![Darkest Dungeon 2 tips](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PpSDCbZfpXKRXPYK5hgtoX-320-80.jpg)
10 Darkest Dungeon 2 tips and tricks to help you stay safe and sane
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Everything you need to know about combat, strategy and survival in Darkest Dungeon 2