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

Best Baldur's Gate 3 Paladin class build
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide How to make the best build for your Paladin in BG3, and what the class is best at

Best Baldur's Gate 3 Bard class build and choices
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The best Bard build in BG3 is about versatility and charm in equal measure

Marvel Rivals is killing it right now, but there's one more thing it needs to borrow from Overwatch to truly thrive
By Joel Franey published
Opinion Opinion | I have a problem with the cast of Marvel Rivals: I can't bloody well tell them apart

How to get the Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 best armor
By Joel Franey published
Guide How to get the Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 best armor

The best Baldur's Gate 3 weapons and how weapons work
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide From swords to axes to bows, the best BG3 weapons pack a hefty punch

The best Baldur's Gate 3 feats
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The best feats in BG3 can make a strong character into an unstoppable one

The Baldur's Gate 3 Dark Urge explained
By Jasmine Gould-Wilson last updated
Guide The Dark Urge in BG3 is a new origin where players can be afflicted with violent compulsions...

How to respec in Baldur's Gate 3 and change class
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide How to change class in BG3 via Withers, the mysterious camp ghoul

Best Baldur's Gate 3 Illithid powers gained from Parasites
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The Mind Flayer parasites grant special powers in BG3

How to get a horse in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Horses in KCD2 can be earned through quests, through horse traders, or theft.

Monster Hunter Wilds Rey Dau weaknesses, tips and strategies
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Monster Hunter Wilds Rey Dau weaknesses, tips and strategies

Monster Hunter Wilds Chatacabra weakness, tips and strategy
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The first monster in MH Wilds is the Chatacabra, an armored frog/turtle beast

Best Monster Hunter Wilds weapons and tier list for the Beta
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Our weapon tier list for the MH Wilds Beta has all the best options for hunters

Best Helldivers 2 Warbonds ranked in our tier list
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The best HD2 premium Warbond is currently the Steeled Veterans

Everything in the Helldivers 2 Servants of Freedom Warbond
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The HD2 warbond Servants of Freedom is themed around self-destructive firepower

The best Helldivers 2 weapons and tier list
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Our Helldivers 2 weapon tier list ranks every gun from every warbond and more

How to change appearance in Baldur's Gate 3
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The magic mirror in camp can let you alter your face in BG3

All playable Baldur's Gate 3 races and which you should pick
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Wondering which species you should play as in BG3?

All Baldur's Gate 3 difficulty modes and how to change difficulty
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide There are five difficulty levels in BG3, with lots of ways to set how hard you want the game to be

Advantage and disadvantage in Baldur's Gate 3 explained
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide What is advantage and disadvantage in BG3 and how do you get them?

7 Baldur's Gate 3 tips and tricks for your adventuring life
By Aimee Hart last updated
Guide Our top BG3 tips could be the difference between life and death out there

How to get a torch in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 and use it
By Joel Franey published
Guide Torches in KCD2 help you see in the dark, but also make you look innocent

What to do first in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 for the best start
By Will Sawyer published
Guide Henry has no money or food to begin with, so here's what you should do first in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 to get started
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