Joel Franey

Joel Franey

Guides Editor, GamesRadar+

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

Helldivers 2 running away from bugs with coyote assault rifle

Best Helldivers 2 Primary Weapons to use against the Terminids, Automatons, and Illuminate

By Will Sawyer Last updated

Guide Your Helldivers 2 primary weapon is what you'll be using the most, so make sure it's something good

Guide
The best armor in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2's best armor and where to get it

By Joel Franey Last updated

Guide How to get the Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 best armor

Guide
Best weapons in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2

Best weapons in Kingdom Come Deliverance 2

By Joel Franey Last updated

Guide The best weapon is the Reforged Radzig Kobyla's Sword in KCD2, a special story longsword.

Guide
Gothic 1 Remake

How to learn Magic from Torrez in Gothic 1 Remake

By Joel Franey Published

Guide Torrez in the Old Camp will teach you spells in the Price of Magic quest

Guide
Mud in Gothic 1 Remake

What does Mud do in Gothic Remake?

By Joel Franey Published

Guide Mud is an annoying NPC in the Gothic 1 Remake who follows you around making constant comments

Guide
Gothic 1 Remake

How to get a bed to sleep in the Gothic 1 Remake

By Joel Franey Published

Guide If you want to find a home to sleep in the Gothic 1 Remake, here's where

Guide
Expendabots

Newly-announced co-op extraction game Expendabots looks like Lethal Company by way of Coraline

By Joel Franey Published

Presented by Blue Brain Games

Or, if you prefer, the 2005 animated movie "Robots" by way of Abe's Odyssey? There's a lot going on here.

Teeto

Teeto is the upcoming 3D platformer that's so wholesome the devs literally proposed to each other through it

By Joel Franey Published

Presented by Super Rare Games

A very engaging game indeed!

Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis

"This isn't a remake. A remake rebuilds what already exists" - Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis' Game Director shows off what classic Lara Croft is capable of in the modern era

By Joel Franey Published

News Lara Croft is back, and the T-rex isn't far behind.

News
Impermanence

Sci-fi horror Impermanence debuts to the world with eerie new reveal trailer

By Joel Franey Published

News And a Lovecraftian moth, I think?

News
Cordura at the Future Games Show

Co-op horror Cordura just got a chilling new gameplay trailer that proves you can't trust anyone

By Joel Franey Published

Presented by Garage 51

Absolutely do NOT stop and smell the roses

Dinghai: The Ocean Pillar

Dinghai: The Ocean Pillar looks like Hades for Chinese literature, right down to the awesome art

By Joel Franey Published

Presented by JustDan International

But with twice the firepower Zag ever had

Marsupilami 2: Salsa Palombia

Upcoming platformer Marsupilami 2 looks like Rayman Legends, Crash Bandicoot and Donkey Kong crashed into each other, and I'm all here for it

By Joel Franey Published

Presented by Microids

Welcome to the Jungle!

Fortnite Season 3 in Chapter 7 holding screen

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

Guide
Gothic 1 Remake

How the original Gothic set the stage for epic choice-based RPGs, and why you need to play the Remake

By Joel Franey Published

Sponsored by THQ Nordic

Where will your adventure take you?

Gothic 1 Remake

Why Gothic 1 Remake could be the RPG that surprises you in 2026

By Joel Franey Published

Sponsored by THQ Nordic

Twenty years later, Gothic is back.

Characters in Lego Batman Legacy of the Dark Knight

How long to beat Lego Batman Legacy of the Dark Knight?

By Joel Franey Last updated

Guide We explain how long to beat Lego Batman Legacy of the Dark Knight, including story and 100% completion

Guide
Lego Batman Legacy of the Dark Knight preview

How to increase the Lego Batman Legacy of the Dark Knight stud multiplier

By Joel Franey Last updated

Guide The Stud Multiplier is linked to the Hyper Combo skill upgrades, not cheats

Guide
Batman and Robin stand together in Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight

How to play co-op in Lego Batman Legacy of the Dark Knight

By Joel Franey Last updated

Guide Can you play co-op multiplayer in Lego Batman Legacy?

Guide
Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight

How to find all Lego Batman Legacy of the Dark Knight Iceberg Lounge collectibles

By Joel Franey Last updated

Guide There are Disco Balls, Waynetech Caches and a Red Brick to find in The Iceberg Lounge mission in Lego Batman

Guide
Skills and upgrades in Lego Batman Legacy

Best Lego Batman Legacy of the Dark Knight skills and upgrades

By Joel Franey Last updated

Guide Your team in Lego Batman have skill trees that enhance their unique abilities

Guide
Co-op in Lego Batman Legacy of the Dark Knight

All Lego Batman Legacy of the Dark Knight characters

By Joel Franey Last updated

Guide There are 7 playable characters in Lego Batman Legacy to unlock, and two more coming in DLC

Guide
Grounded Minotaur Maze Key

Where to find the Grounded Minotaur Maze Key

By Joel Franey Last updated

guide The location of the key to the Grounded picnic chest - and Mint Mace - is South

guide
Grounded upper yard

How to get to the Upper Yard in Grounded

By Joel Franey Last updated

guide How to unlock the Upper Yard and Shed, from the Upper Yard Ascent or otherwise.

guide
Grounded shed lab undershed

How to get to the Shed Lab in Grounded

By Joel Franey Last updated

guide How to find Wendell Tully's Lab in the Undershed - and get past the Black Widow Spider - in Grounded

guide
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