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, JellyDeals and Dicebreaker, in various capacities. 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 ongoing pop culture comedy podcast, "Margaret Thatcher, Templar Spy".
Latest articles by Joel Franey
![Children of the Sun](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jiUVM2gPVGcEEdJ9mkQphW-320-80.jpg)
Children of the Sun is a grimy puzzle shooter about a psychic sniper and one magic bullet
By Joel Franey published
Feature Indie Spotlight | Devolver pairs with developer René Rother to create a head-popping revenge flick
![Sea of Thieves Ashen Lord](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Y59774Cdrr9hEV7ch4XJTJ-320-80.jpg)
How to beat an Ashen Lord in Sea of Thieves
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Sea of Thieves Ashen Lords are boss skeletons with fire powers
![Helldivers 2 chargers](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ctBPH5tui3Fts4uHpMNUZ9-320-80.jpg)
How to kill Chargers in Helldivers 2
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Killing Chargers in Helldivers 2 requires patience, speed and firepower
![Stellar Blade fishing](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MiU8SYtLTSxjpzHYVwY2SV-320-80.jpg)
Everything you need to know about fishing in Stellar Blade
By Joel Franey published
Guide Stellar Blade's fishing minigame is tied to various secondary missions
![Stellar Blade Precious Treasure](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hafJnPRB44v93oJhtLK62H-320-80.jpg)
Stellar Blade Precious Treasure mission walkthrough
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Precious Treasure side quest has a puzzle about crossing a bridge
![Helldivers 2 Flamethrower](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cz5s48zLdyzA5kCe5JWDee-320-80.jpg)
How to kill 100 enemies using the Flamethrower in Helldivers 2
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Helldivers 2 Flamethrower is one of the most powerful weapons
![Sea of Thieves world events](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ubPxftKpPoAP9QnP5SAFoF-320-80.jpg)
All Sea of Thieves world events and cloud markers
By Joel Franey published
Guide We explain every world event in Sea of Thieves and what clouds or tornadoes mean
![Stellar Blade lost ark puzzle](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Hn6pestAdhasg3tmY5PBR8-320-80.jpg)
Stellar Blade Lost Ark puzzle and passcode explained
By Joel Franey published
Guide Stellar Blade Lost Ark puzzle and passcode explained
![Stellar Blade Stolen Treasure](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PuD8gD65bpXGXpZtmhFW79-320-80.jpg)
Stellar Blade Stolen Treasure walkthrough and guide
By Joel Franey published
Guide Stellar Blade Stolen Treasure walkthrough and guide
![Sea of Thieves Double Barrel Pistol](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/a8CLSDDcFpWmSnSucLiEdn-320-80.jpg)
How to get the Double Barrel Pistol in Sea of Thieves
By Joel Franey published
Guide Introduced in Season 12, the Double Barrel Pistol is high-damage weapon for SoT
![Sea of Thieves throwing knives](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MDKyLrm5665BVZKcCckXv3-320-80.jpg)
How to get Throwing Knives in Sea of Thieves
By Joel Franey published
Guide The throwing knife introduced in SoT Season 12 is a combo melee ranged weapon
![Sea of Thieves how to fish](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/paoptmJgdfuGw7cQ3wdRCb-320-80.jpg)
How to fish in Sea of Thieves
By Jack Yarwood last updated
Guide From where to find fish in Sea of Thieves, to how to equip the rod and more
![Stellar Blade recruit passcode specialists](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YSuUDPLjSThw5U9TRWXru4-320-80.jpg)
Stellar Blade Recruit Passcode Specialists mission walkthrough and all code locations
By Joel Franey published
Guide Where to find the code to unlock the container for the Passcode Specialists in Stellar Blade
![Helldivers 2 Eagle Cluster Bomb](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3ighxKNFqwHrvMti6JAE6Q-320-80.jpg)
How to kill 40 enemies with the Eagle Cluster Bomb in Helldivers 2
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The HD2 Eagle Cluster Bomb is a Stratagem used to clear out groups
![Stellar Blade Secret Request](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MNm8eMQ7JtApN9Rj4Zwszh-320-80.jpg)
The Stellar Blade Secret Request explained
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Secret Request in Stellar Blade is a bulletin board mission that's automatically refused
![Stellar Blade double jump](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TnhZhPMHuJ96PBoFziBQaG-320-80.jpg)
How to get the Stellar Blade Double Jump ability
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Double Jump in Stellar Blade is locked to story progression, not skill points
![A chunky pirate with a goatee surrounded by friends in Sea of Thieves](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cvqfSKdzujkmhnazXX4cY9-320-80.jpg)
All Sea of Thieves error codes and beards explained
By Zoe Delahunty-Light last updated
Guide From Kiwibeard to Bronzebeard, we explain every Sea of Thieves error code
![Sea of Thieves tutorial](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nBBZEyTzAzMLdAXXgP6C9A-320-80.jpg)
Sea of Thieves Maiden Voyage and Tutorial Key location
By Mark Delaney last updated
Guide How to beat the tutorial in Sea of Thieves and find the Old Sailor's Key
![Sea of Thieves change appearance potion](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vfuarStCi2YNYdd2dHUQXe-320-80.jpg)
How to change your pirate's appearance in Sea of Thieves
By Joel Franey published
Guide Your character's appearance can be changed with an Pirate Appearance Potion
![Stellar Blade](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bgbXVXoE9BhR5RFgv7ZGmB-320-80.jpg)
How to get the Stellar Blade Pre-Order bonuses
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Stellar Blade pre order bonuses are a red outfit, round glasses, and special earrings
![Sea of Thieves burning ship](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QxJttg2enjMU4zU7zhhpVi-320-80.jpg)
Is Sea of Thieves crossplay over PlayStation, Xbox, and PC?
By Iain Wilson last updated
Guide You can use crossplay in Sea of Thieves to connect PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, and PC
![Stellar Blade review](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fAEcyeWhYWC78Y39mzh5Pe-320-80.jpg)
10 Stellar Blade tips and tricks to master the sword
By Joel Franey published
Guide Our Stellar Blade tips will help you get to grips with combat, exploration, and more besides
![Stellar Blade Monorail Power puzzle](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/otcC6NECjS4csUbr54MR3H-320-80.jpg)
How to solve the Stellar Blade Monorail power puzzle
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Monorail puzzle in Stellar Blade is about allocating squares of energy to activate the rail