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

Nightreign Undertaker guide, abilities and unlock requirements
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Undertaker character class in the Elden Ring Nightreign DLC is a melee powerhouse

How long is the Silent Hill 2 Remake?
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The time to beat Silent Hill 2 is roughly 20 hours on a first playthrough

How to beat Pyramid Head in Silent Hill 2 Remake
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide You can't kill Pyramid Head when you first meet him but you can outlast him

How to solve the Silent Hill 2 Remake Seesaw puzzle
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The Seesaw puzzle in the Silent Hill 2 Bluecreek Apartments needs two birds to balance it

How to solve the Bluecreek Apartments Clock puzzle in Silent Hill 2
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The Clock in Silent Hill 2's Bluecreek Apartments requires three hands set to the right times

The Nightreign Great Hollow event and crystal curse explained
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Great Hollow Shifting Earth event in Nightreign triggers a crystal curse, halving HP, requiring you break Resonating Crystals

How to unlock the Scholar and Undertaker in Nightreign
By Joel Franey published
Guide There are two new characters in Nightreign you'll need to unlock to use

What to do with Green Crystals in Metroid Prime 4 Beyond
By Joel Franey published
Guide Metroid Prime 4 green crystals are used to unlock new upgrades, and a new Suit

How to get back up the Volt Forge in Metroid Prime 4 Beyond
By Joel Franey published
Guide The ascent up the Volt Forge Tower 1, or Assembly Floor, in Metroid Prime 4 is harder than the descent

How to get the Psychic Boots and double jump in Metroid Prime 4 Beyond
By Joel Franey published
Guide You can cross psychic platforms once you have the psychic boots from the Xelios boss at Volt Forge

How to unlock the Vi-O-La bike in Metroid Prime 4
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Viola motorcycle is the prize for completing the Volt Forge region

How long is Metroid Prime 4 Beyond? Time to beat explained
By Joel Franey published
Guide Metroid Prime 4 has a shorter length than you might expect

All Silent Hill 2 Remake weapons and where to get them
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide There a pistol, shotgun, rifle and chainsaw, among the options you have to fight back

10 Silent Hill 2 Remake tips and tricks to master the basics
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Master the basics and with our help, your time in Silent Hill 2 can be smooth going

How to solve the Silent Hill 2 Remake Gem Box puzzle
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide How to solve the Silent Hill 2 Remake Gem Box puzzle

How to solve the Silent Hill 2 Remake broken mirror puzzle
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The broken mirror in Room 202 needs to be fixed - with an apple placed before it

How to solve the Silent Hill 2 suitcase and Mirror puzzle
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The suitcase in Hotel room 208 requires a red bulb to reveal the combination code

Silent Hill 2 Remake Director's Office Safe code and puzzle solution
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The safe in the Director's Office is solved by the book puzzle in the storage room

How to beat Eddie in Silent Hill 2 Remake
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Silent Hill 2 Remake Eddie boss fight guide and weaknesses

18 years after it owned the Xbox 360 era, Crackdown deserves so much better – and should have one more chance to prove itself
By Joel Franey published
Opinion Opinion | Helldivers 2 has opened the doors for Xbox's most mishandled series to make a proper comeback

How to solve the Silent Hill 2 Remake Rotating Cube puzzle
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The Labyrinth has a rotating head puzzle that lets you access new areas

How to solve the Silent Hill 2 Remake gallows and poem puzzle
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The gallows poems in the prison yard require the execution lever and a judgement choice

Where to find all prison weights in Silent Hill 2 and where to put them
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The six weights on the scale in the prison Yard are around SH2's Toluca Prison
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