
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

What's the answer to the Death Stranding 2 block puzzle?
By Joel Franey published
Guide The DS2 question about blocks and shapes is about forming a rectangle from Tetris pieces.

The best Death Stranding 2 weapons and how to get them
By Joel Franey published
Guide The best DS2 weapons are obtained through meeting or building reputation with specific bunkers

How to get to the Inventor in Death Stranding 2
By Joel Franey published
Guide The DS2 Inventor is a settlement near West Fort Knot on an island

What's the best choice for Tomorrow's Nightmare in Death Stranding 2?
By Joel Franey published
Guide Tomorrow asks you who to choose in DS2's nightmare question: her, Higgs, Rainy or Fragile.

How to fast travel in Death Stranding 2
By Joel Franey published
Guide Fast travel in Death Stranding 2 is done with the DHV Magellan

How to farm materials in Death Stranding 2 and all Mine locations
By Joel Franey published
Guide You can earn resources in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach quickly with rebuilt mines

How to get to the Lone Commander in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
By Joel Franey published
Guide The DS2 Lone Commander is found in the hills above the Government's Base

All Death Stranding 2 vehicles and how to get them
By Joel Franey published
Guide There are two proper DS2 vehicles, along with their upgrades and a wildcard third option: monorails.

Master Mode is the best thing about replaying Zelda: Breath of the Wild on Switch 2, and it's a tragedy that Tears of the Kingdom will apparently never have that option
By Joel Franey published
Now Playing Opinion | I found that Breath of the Wild had lost its magic, until I made use of this ridiculous difficulty option

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

If Assassin's Creed isn't going to bring back the multiplayer we all loved, there's another stealthy murder game that can do it even better: Hitman
By Joel Franey published
Opinion Opinion | I love Hitman, but its upcoming co-op mode is just a stepping stone towards what it really needs: direct competitive assassination

Tears of the Kingdom is great, but the Switch 2 upgrades have made me confront the hard truth: Breath of the Wild is still the superior Zelda game
By Joel Franey published
Now Playing Opinion | Two years later and with the benefit of hindsight, who agrees that Breath of the Wild was better than Tears of the Kingdom?

How to open the red code chest in Stellar Blade
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The Stellar Blade chest in Bar 99 tells you to "enter passcode" - but won't let you

10 Stellar Blade tips and tricks for beginners to master the sword
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Our Stellar Blade tips will help you get to grips with combat, exploration, and more besides

How to solve the Stellar Blade laser redirection puzzle in Altess Levoire
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The Altess Levoire laser puzzle in Stellar Blade is about steering lasers to overheat the generator

How to solve the Monorail power puzzle in Stellar Blade
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The Monorail puzzle in Stellar Blade is about allocating the correct amount of energy to activate the rail

How to beat the Abaddon boss fight in Stellar Blade
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The Abaddon Alpha Naytiba at the top of the car park is all about the careful approach

How to get the Stellar Blade Pre-Order bonuses
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The Stellar Blade pre order bonuses are a red outfit, round glasses, and special earrings

How to get the Stellar Blade Double Jump ability
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The Double Jump in Stellar Blade is locked to story progression, not skill points

The Stellar Blade Secret Request explained
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The Secret Request in Stellar Blade is a bulletin board mission that's automatically refused

Stellar Blade ladder and water puzzle explained
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Stellar Blade has a confusing sequence where you have to leap to a ladder across a pond of water

Stellar Blade Recruit Passcode Specialists mission walkthrough and all code locations
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Where to find the code to unlock the container for the Passcode Specialists in Stellar Blade

Stellar Blade Stolen Treasure walkthrough and guide
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Stellar Blade Stolen Treasure walkthrough and guide
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