
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

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...

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.

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

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

Marvel Rivals characters and tier list for Season 2.5
By Will Sawyer last updated
Guide We’ve examined all the Marvel Rivals characters for their place in the current Season 2.5 meta

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

Elden Ring Nightreign Recluse guide and abilities explained
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Recluse mage in Nightreign uses affinities to brew cocktails, which she sends at enemies

How to emote in Elden Ring Nightreign
By Joel Franey published
Guide We explain how to use emotes in Nightreign, and where to get more

How to unlock the Duchess in Elden Ring Nightreign
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Nightreign Duchess character class is unlocked through a special pocketwatch

How to beat the Elden Ring Nightreign Tricephalos, aka Gladius, Beast of Night
By Joel Franey published
Guide We explain how to defeat the first boss, Tricephalos (or Gladius), in Elden Ring Nightreign

How to beat the Elden Ring Nightreign Gaping Jaw, aka Adel, Baron of Night
By Joel Franey published
Guide We explain how to defeat the second boss in Nightreign, Gaping Jaw, also called Adel

How to unlock the Revenant in Elden Ring Nightreign
By Joel Franey published
Guide You'll need a special mirror for the Revenant class in Nightreign

Full Pokemon TCG Pocket Promo card list (July 2025)
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Our list of Promo Cards for Pokemon TCGP includes those from Extradimensional Crisis

How to kill Leviathans in Helldivers 2
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Leviathans' weakness in HD2 is on their underbelly

Every Doom The Dark Ages guide you'll need and more
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Doom The Dark Ages is here, and we're here to help you thrive in the war against Hell

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Source of Inspiration walkthrough
By Joel Franey published
Guide The KCD2 Source of Inspiration quest in Brushes With Death focuses on finding Veles Shrine

How to get the KCD2 Phantom Horse
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Phantom Horse (or Ghost Horse) in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 is part of a side quest for the Executioner Heinz

How long is the Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Brushes with Death DLC?
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Brushes with Death DLC expansion for KCD2 will take twelve hours at most

The lore of Doom The Dark Ages explained
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide When is Doom The Dark Ages set? We'll explain in this spoiler-free guide to the Doom timeline
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