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
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The best Minecraft texture packs to enhance your world's look
By Jordan Oloman last updated
Guide Learn about installing the best Minecraft texture packs for Java and Bedrock Editions
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The best Minecraft shaders to make your world look better
By Heather Wald last updated
Guide Change Minecraft's lighting and atmosphere with these shaders
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Dragon Age Veilguard Echoes of the Past walkthrough
By Joel Franey published
Guide Bellara's personal side quest, Echoes of the Past, is about finding power crystals for artifacts
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Should you knock out the First Warden or talk sense into him in Dragon Age Veilguard?
By Will Sawyer published
Guide As Weisshaupt crumbles, you must either knock out the First Warden in Dragon Age Veilguard or try to talk him around
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How to complete Pinnacle of Its Kind in Dragon Age Veilguard
By Joel Franey published
Guide Pinnacle of its Kind has Rook hunt three demons across the map of Veilguard
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Should you save the mayor or leave him in Dragon Age Veilguard?
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The mayor choice in Dragon Age Veilguard is about whether to spare the corrupted leader
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The Dragon Age Veilguard Lighthouse statues puzzle explained
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The pairs of statues in the Veilguard lighthouse need to be turned to face each other
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Best Minecraft mods for new biomes, more items, and optimization
By Aron Garst last updated
Guide Try the best Minecraft utility, building, and biome mods for Java Edition and enjoy a fresh experience
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How to install Minecraft Forge and use mods
By Leon Hurley last updated
Guide Using Minecraft Forge to install and manage mods in your games
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How to fix the Monster Hunter Wilds Black Screen glitch
By Joel Franey published
Guide If you get a black screen after character creation in the Monster Hunter Wilds beta, here's why
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What's the best Dragon Age Veilguard Lineage?
By Joel Franey published
Guide Elf, Qunari, Human and Dwarf are species options in DA Veilguard
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Monster Hunter Wilds unable to connect to server error and fixes
By Joel Franey published
Guide If you're unable to connect to server in MH Wilds, there's a few potential reasons
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How to change appearance in Monster Hunter Wilds beta
By Joel Franey published
Guide How to change appearance in Monster Hunter Wilds beta
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Dune and Ghibli collide in Steam Next Fest's strangest strategy game, where you drive steampunk war-crabs across an interplanetary Austro-Hungarian empire
By Joel Franey published
News Frank Herbert and Howl meet in a steampunk take on Sea of Thieves
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10 Helldivers 2 tips and tricks to dominating the battlefield
By Will Sawyer last updated
Guide Our advice and tips for Helldivers 2 will help you find your feet - and secure victory
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How to destroy Helldivers 2 Fuel Silos
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Fuel Silos in Helldivers 2 can be destroyed with a Hellbomb - but honestly, what can't?
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How to beat the Helldivers 2 Terminids
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The Helldivers 2 Bugs generally focus on mass swarms and melee attacks
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Helldivers 2 Boosters explained
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Boosters in Helldivers 2 are equipable modifiers that provide helpful bonuses.
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How to kill the Helldivers 2 Chargers
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Chargers in Helldivers 2 are huge armored bugs with vulnerable backsides
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There's one horror icon who could make the Alien Isolation sequel even better than the original
By Joel Franey published
Opinion Opinion | What's better than one legendary monster of the silver screen trying to murder players...?
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The Helldivers 2 guide to managing democracy
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Our Helldivers 2 guides are all here, with gear, enemies, missions more
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How to beat Pyramid Head in Silent Hill 2 Remake
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide You can't kill Pyramid Head in the first Silent Hill 2 encounter, but you can outlast him
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How to solve the Silent Hill 2 Remake Seesaw puzzle
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The Seesaw puzzle in the Silent Hill 2 Bluecreek Apartments needs a special bird to balance it
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