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 a free loadout in Arc Raiders
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide A free loadout is very useful in risky areas, or if you're lacking equipment

Crimson Desert Stolen Quarry and Excavatron guide
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Karin Quarry is part of the Stolen Quarry quest in Crimson Desert, and completing it requires defeating the Marni's Excavatron boss

How to find the Greymane in the House of Healing in Crimson Desert
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The House of Healing in Crimson Desert is a stealth mission to find a Greymane in the Sanatorium of St. Halssius

Trade Goods and Trading in Crimson Desert explained
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Make money with Wagons as you carry Trade Goods across Crimson Desert

How to beat the Hornsplitter in Crimson Desert
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide To beat Kailok the Hornsplitter, players need to work on counters and Force Palm strikes

How to beat Tenebrum in Crimson Desert
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The Tenebrum fight at Scholarstone is more of a puzzle than anything

Mysterious Energy in Crimson Desert explained
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Mysterious Energy in Crimson Desert is a sign that there's Abyss Cresets or Nexuses nearby

Where to find Blix in Crimson Desert
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Finding Blix for their bounty in Crimson Desert isn't as obvious as it first seems, as they won't always appear where the map says

How to solve the Abyss Without Balance and Polar Opposites puzzles in Crimson Desert
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide We explain how to solve the Abyss Without Balance quest in Crimson Desert and how to solve the Polar Opposites puzzle

How long does it take to beat Crimson Desert?
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide We've put in over 100 hours so far, but it takes a bit less to beat the Crimson Desert main story

Is Crimson Desert a multiplayer or singleplayer game?
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide If you think Crimson Desert is a multiplayer game due to its relation to Black Desert Online, you may be disappointed

How to solve the Dragon's Stone Chamber in Crimson Desert
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The Dragon's Stone Chamber in Crimson Desert is about finding the right combination code around the map

How to change appearance, hair, and dye armor in Crimson Desert
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide To change your appearance in Crimson Desert, you need to go to camp and find a barber shop or dyehouse

How to solve the Precipice of Truth in Crimson Desert
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Here, we explain how to solve the Crimson Desert Precipice of Truth abyss puzzle and claim the Artifact

Crimson Desert Abyss Gears and Witches' locations
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide To install Abyss Gears in your equipment in Crimson Desert, you'll need to find Witches

How to solve the Thinker's Meadow fast travel point puzzle in Crimson Desert
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide To reach the Greymane camp quickly in Crimson Desert, you need to solve a puzzle for fast travel in the Thinker's Meadow

Crimson Desert Secret of the Ancient Ruins puzzle solution
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The Crimson Desert Reunion quest has a puzzle in the Ancient Ruins that requires Focus

Best way to make money in Crimson Desert
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Farming money, or Silver, in Crimson Desert is best done through Fundamentalist Goblins

How to fast travel in Crimson Desert
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Crimson Desert fast travel is unlocked with Abyss Nexus and Abyss Creset points, marked by Mysterious Energy

How to unlock all Characters in Crimson Desert
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Kliff, Damiane, and Oongka are the three playable characters in Crimson Desert

Best weapons in Crimson Desert
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The best weapon in Crimson Desert that we've found is the Fated Shadow, a deadly sword

Where to find 3 Androids in Arc Raiders
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The Arc Raiders In My Image quest has you find 3 Androids in Stella Montis

Where to find Mushrooms in Arc Raiders
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Arc Raiders' mushrooms appear in Lush Blooms, usually in Dam Battlegrounds and Spaceport
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