
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

How to get the Owlbear Cub in Baldur's Gate 3
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Can you get a pet owlbear in BG3 - and if so, how?

How to get into the Goblin Camp in Baldur's Gate 3
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The BG3 Goblin Camp is found just past the Blighted Village and has several possible entrances

How to free Shadowheart from the mind flayer pod in Baldur's Gate 3
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The woman in the Mind Flayer pod with the console next to her in BG3 can be freed - but how?

How to find Karlach in Baldur's Gate 3
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide How to find Karlach Demonsbane in BG3 and get her as a companion

How to find Halsin in Baldur's Gate 3
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Halsin's location in BG3 is the Worg pens in the Goblin Camp

How to beat Commander Zhalk in Baldur's Gate 3
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide How to kill the Devil Zhalk on the Nautiloid in BG3 and get his magic fire sword, the Everburn Blade.

How to beat Auntie Ethel the Hag in Baldur's Gate 3
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Auntie Ethel in BG3 is a deadly hag who has captured Mayrina and hides behind summoned minions and more.

Best Baldur's Gate 3 party composition
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The best BG3 party members for your team comp

I've been hunting sandworms while doing hoverboard kickflips and keytar solos in this hypnotizing mashup of Breath of the Wild and Hi-Fi Rush
By Joel Franey published
Indie Spotlight Indie Spotlight | Star Overdrive is a smooth, stylish saga for those who love the thrill of movement

"It's OK" to have secrets that players "will never see" says creator of hit open-world indie adventure A Short Hike, praising Dark Souls' exploration for its "depth and richness"
By Joel Franey published
News "It's very easy for an RPG to give you rewards. [But] it was rewarding to explore Dark Souls", says Robinson-Yu

I'm convinced Grounded 2 could be 2025's scariest game, and it's all from a single shot in the trailer
By Joel Franey published
Opinion Opinion | I'm already getting nervous for Grounded 2, because Obsidian know that terror is more effective when it's unpredictable

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 Statagem support weapons and Warbonds

Cyberpunk 2 associate game director admits CD Projekt Red "are sometimes slower" than players would like, and yeah, I'd already made peace with the fact we'll be waiting on this sequel for years
By Joel Franey published
News Patch 2.3 has gone live now on all consoles and platforms

A Short Hike dev says "Where's Waldo moments" like Zelda: Breath of the Wild's Korok Seeds help "to stop you getting too bored" when traveling around in open world games
By Joel Franey published
News Robinson-Yu says it's beneficial to have players "feeling acknowledged for noticing something interesting – like they see a weird looking rock"

Everything in the Helldivers 2 Control Group Warbond
By Josh West last updated
Guide Dangerously experimental technology is up for grabs in the Control Group Helldivers 2 Warbond

This new co-op monster-feeding game looks like a bizarre blend of REPO and Overcooked, and there's a free open playtest you can try right now
By Joel Franey published
News And yet "Co-op Kaiju Horror Cooking" probably won't even be in the top three weirdest games its developers have made

After Metal Gear Solid 5 made sparing or killing enemies so important, I'm disappointed Death Stranding 2 wasted its most interesting mechanic
By Joel Franey published
Opinion Opinion | A third Death Stranding game would be wise to play up the Voidout mechanic that's unique to the series

I've been searching for the best Superman games after watching the new James Gunn movie – here are my 7 favorites
By Joel Franey published
Best List Finding the best Superman games seems impossible at first, but there's still a few options out there for those who want the full Kryptonian fantasy

The best retro remakes and reboots out there aren't afraid to get weird with it – as Shadow Labyrinth being a dark and gritty Pac-Man game shows us
By Joel Franey published
Best List Pac-Man recreated as a D&D warlock patron has me thinking back to the best retro remakes and out-there reboots from gaming history

I'm going back to the five best post-apocalyptic games I ever played, thanks to Death Stranding 2 giving me a taste for the terrible
By Joel Franey published
Best List Armageddon any of the best post-apocalypse games in the next Steam sale

What to expect from the next Prime Day board game deals, and when they might happen
By Benjamin Abbott last updated
Deals The GamesRadar+ team is here to find you all the best Prime Day board game deals once again

Red Dead Online's role-play servers have clearly broken my brain, but I'm just happy to be saving the Wild West as a flamboyant gentlemen vigilante
By Joel Franey published
Now Playing Now Playing | Dressed in a flashy pink costume with plumed hat and domino mask, the Puce Pamplemousse is out to save the Frontier

The best last-chance Prime Day monitor deals 2025
By Phil Hayton last updated
Deals Prime Day monitor deals will kick off again this coming Tuesday, and we're here to help you grab all the deepest display discounts in the lead up to the event.
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