
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

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

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

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

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

How to unlock the Revenant in Elden Ring Nightreign
By Joel Franey published
Guide You'll need a special mirror for the Revenant class in Nightreign

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

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

All Secret Missions in Pokemon TCG Pocket
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Every secret mission in PTCGP is here, including Extradimensional Crisis!

All Pokemon TCG Pocket Shiny cards and how to get them
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The PTCGP Shiny cards are obtained through booster sets (and some promo cards)

Full Pokemon TCG Pocket Promo card list (June 2025)
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Our list of Promo Cards for Pokemon TCGP includes those from Extradimensional Crisis

Pokemon TCG Pocket events calendar and schedule (May 2025)
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide All events in the Pokemon TCG Pocket are all laid out in our calendar below

How to kill Leviathans in Helldivers 2
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Leviathans' weakness in HD2 is on their underbelly

Every Doom The Dark Ages guide you'll need and more
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Doom The Dark Ages is here, and we're here to help you thrive in the war against Hell

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Source of Inspiration walkthrough
By Joel Franey published
Guide The KCD2 Source of Inspiration quest in Brushes With Death focuses on finding Veles Shrine

How to get the KCD2 Phantom Horse
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Phantom Horse (or Ghost Horse) in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is part of a side quest for the Executioner Heinz

How long is the Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Brushes with Death DLC?
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Brushes with Death DLC expansion for KCD2 will take twelve hours at most

The lore of Doom The Dark Ages explained
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide When is Doom The Dark Ages set? We'll explain in this spoiler-free guide to the Doom timeline

How long is Doom The Dark Ages?
By Will Sawyer last updated
Guide Doom The Dark Ages has a lot of levels but you can get through the whole thing in well under 20 hours

How to play Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Brushes with Death DLC
By Joel Franey published
Guide Here's the starting location and requirements for the KCD2 Brushes with Death expansion

10 Doom The Dark Ages tips and tricks to help you rip and tear
By Will Sawyer last updated
Guide Here are some Doom The Dark Ages tips we wish we knew before we stepped into the Doom Slayer’s boots

Lost Skies is a skyfaring indie survival game that somehow manages to have better web-slinging than most Spider-Man games
By Joel Franey published
Indie Spotlight Indie Spotlight | Lost Skies let me build airships, gunfight robots, and swing around on what might be modern gaming's greatest grappling hook

Elden Ring Golden Scarab location
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide We show you where to find the Golden Scarab talisman in Elden Ring

Full Elden Ring Fia questline walkthrough for the Age of Duskborn ending
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide We explain how to complete Deathbed Companion Fia's quest for Elden Ring's Age of Duskborn ending
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