Joel Franey

Joel Franey

Guides Writer

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

Stellar Blade's Eve looks off camera to the right

How long is Stellar Blade?

By Joel Franey last updated

Guide How long is Stellar Blade from beginning to end?

Guide
Dune: Awakening

Best Dune Awakening Character Creation choices

By Joel Franey last updated

Guide We explain which Homeworld, Caste and Mentor to choose in Dune Awakening character creation

Guide
All Dune Awakening trainer locations

The best skills in Dune Awakening to learn first

By Joel Franey last updated

Guide There for five skill trees in Dune Awakening, with a trio of subtrees

Guide
Dune Awakening tips

10 Dune Awakening tips and tricks we wish we'd know earlier

By Joel Franey last updated

Guide These tips for Dune Awakening will make Arrakis into your personal playground

Guide
Elden Ring Nightreign legendary weapons duchess using fire attack from Sword of Night and Flame

All the best weapons in Elden Ring Nightreign for every character

By Joel Franey last updated

Guide The best weapons in Elden Ring Nightreign are legendary weapons that play to characters’ skills

Guide
Elden Ring Nightreign Wylder running alongside spectral hawk at the start of an expedition

Is Elden Ring Nightreign crossplay? Cross-platform support explained

By Josh West last updated

Guide If you were hoping to play Elden Ring Nightreign cross-platform with your friends, I've got bad news for you

Guide
Elden Ring Nightreign Wylder character reaching for sword on his back during intro cutscene for tutorial

How long is Elden Ring Nightreign? Length and time to beat explained

By Joel Franey last updated

Guide Elden Ring Nightreign's time to beat is about 30 hours, but that number will vary significantly

Guide
Elden Ring Nightreign tips and tricks

12 Elden Ring Nightreign tips and tricks to help you conquer the Night

By Joel Franey last updated

Guide We'll help you survive in Elden Ring Nightreign with all the tips we wish we knew before playing

Guide
Elden Ring Nightreign playing solo Executor starting expedition

Can you play Elden Ring Nightreign solo?

By Joel Franey last updated

Guide Elden Ring Nightreign supports solo play but it's not easy, so you'll need to be prepared

Guide
Fortnite Season 3 Chapter 6 Super weapons Killswitch Revolvers, Tracking Visor, and Bass Boost gloves on white background

All Fortnite new weapons, vaulted and unvaulted for Season 3 Super

By Iain Wilson last updated

Guide Here's a list of all the new Fortnite weapons for Chapter 6 Season 3, themed around superheroes

Guide
Dune Awakening Vehicles

How to get the Sandbike in Dune Awakening

By Joel Franey last updated

Guide This one-person motorbike allows you to travel fast in Dune Awakening.

Guide
Dune Awakening

How to escape Dune Awakening Sandworms

By Joel Franey last updated

Guide Sandworms in Dune Awakening are drawn by vibrations

Guide
Griffin's Reach Tradepost in Dune Awakening

Dune Awakening Griffin's Reach location

By Joel Franey last updated

Guide We explain where to find Griffin's Reach Tradepost in Dune Awakening as part of the "A Wider World" quest

Guide

Explore the alien caverns of Mars in Blind Descent, a subterranean survival game that's giving Subnautica via Jules Verne

By Joel Franey published

Presented by Pokuch Studios

Journey to the center of somewhere quite a lot deadlier than Earth

Moros Protocol is a splashy mash-up of Hotline Miami and Dead Space, with a new trailer revealing more gameplay and the upcoming release window

By Joel Franey published

Presented by Super Rare Originals

With a playable demo to come soon too!

Crisol featuring in Future Games Show

Crisol: Theater of Idols is a game so bloody you're literally loading your guns with the stuff

By Joel Franey published

News I hope you're not uncomfortable with needles...

News
House Flipper 2 appearing in Future Games Show

Jinkies! There's a Scooby-Doo DLC expansion for House Flipper 2 coming this October

By Joel Franey published

News House looking a little Scrappy? Now's the time to turn it around...

News
Luto featuring in Future Games Show

Psychological horror Luto gets an official release date and chilling new trailer, featuring one of the creepiest dolls I've seen in a while

By Joel Franey published

Presented by SelectaPlay

This is a game about... well, everything

Formula Legends appearing in Future Games Show

Formula Legends has a new trailer and a new demo you can play right now, revealed in the Future Games Show

By Joel Franey published

Presented by 3D Clouds srl

A winning formula

Waifu Tactical Force appearing in Future Games Show

WTF: Waifu Tactical Force is the upcoming PVP shooter fever dream that just made its first open playtest available for all

By Joel Franey published

News I don't think those uniforms are standard issue.

News
Constance appearing in the Future Games Show

2D indie painterly platformer Constance gets a new trailer and release date reveal

By Joel Franey published

Presented by btf Games

That's some fine brush work

The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin appearing in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase

The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin gets a new trailer revealing that pre-registration is live now!

By Joel Franey published

Presented by Netmarble

With Shadow of the Colossus-style monster-climbing? Sweet.

Mario Kart World Online

How to play Mario Kart World online with friends

By Joel Franey published

Guide We explain how to join friends to play MKW all together online

Guide
Elden Ring Nightreign Executor

My least favorite Elden Ring Nightreign character just became one of my top choices by stopping a collapsing universe with a sword

By Joel Franey published

Now Playing Now Playing | Nightreign's Executor wasn't working for me, until I realized he's a refugee from an entirely different FromSoft game

Now Playing
Elden Ring Nightreign Sentient Pest

How to beat the Sentient Pest in Elden Ring Nightreign, aka Gnoster, Wisdom of Night

By Joel Franey published

Guide The Nightreign Sentient Pest leads you to Gnoster, a moth and beetle working together as a boss

Guide
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