Heather Wald
I started out writing for the games section of a student-run website as an undergrad, and continued to write about games in my free time during retail and temp jobs for a number of years. Eventually, I earned an MA in magazine journalism at Cardiff University, and soon after got my first official role in the industry as a content editor for Stuff magazine. After writing about all things tech and games-related, I then did a brief stint as a freelancer before I landed my role as a staff writer here at 12DOVE. Now I get to write features, previews, and reviews, and when I'm not doing that, you can usually find me lost in any one of the Dragon Age or Mass Effect games, tucking into another delightful indie, or drinking far too much tea for my own good.
Latest articles by Heather Wald
![An assassin on the roof of Assassin's Creed Codename Red](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RbRXW98GZLTsJX9wwqFmSA-320-80.jpg)
Upcoming Assassin's Creed games: Every new Assassin's Creed game in development
By Josh West last updated
Feature From Red to Hexe and everything in between, these are the new Assassin's Creed games you need to watch
![The Outer Worlds 2](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CpZoGWiCToqu8Zwc26Yv3m-320-80.jpg)
The Outer Worlds 2: Everything we know so far about Obsidian's new RPG
By Josh West last updated
Feature Xbox-exclusive The Outer Worlds 2 is on the way
![MMS](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fhqGZjN9RnbEqN5ABELfsN-320-80.jpg)
How the systems in Marvel's Midnight Suns and XCOM 2 influenced Jake Solomon's next-gen life sim
By Heather Wald published
Interview Interview | "There's no hit point bars, there's no damage, but there's still ways to make it meaningful"
![Avowed screenshot Xbox Series X](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LoLdwXqVAvRvhqQhTZXGDa-320-80.jpg)
Avowed: Everything we know so far
By Jordan Oloman last updated
Feature The very latest Avowed news and updates from developer Obsidian on its upcoming fantasy epic
![Marvel's Midnight Suns](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XZVnRqS2gwcSfFKegPsewX-320-80.jpg)
Former Marvel's Midnight Suns dev wants his debut life sim to focus more on storytelling than similar games: "we feel ourselves drifting off into our own little bubble"
By Heather Wald published
News "Paralives looks awesome… and Life by You. But those feel like they're definitely hewing closer to The Sims"
![Midsummer Studios](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RAoy9c74ihKCAPBxriUCNQ-320-80.jpg)
Marvel's Midnight Suns and XCOM dev is looking to reinvent the life sim genre with newly-formed Midsummer Studios: "the whole point is player-storytelling"
By Heather Wald published
Interview Interview | Founder and creative director Jake Solomon on Midsummer Studios and the quest to put their own spin on the life sim genre
![Dragon's Dogma 2](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DfDzPX7vUkfafHnFzJ5h7h-320-80.jpg)
I returned to Dragon's Dogma 2 after taking a break, only to be faced with the toughest RPG challenge ever
By Heather Wald published
Now Playing Now Playing | Dragon's Dogma 2 is putting my memory to the ultimate test
![Little Kitty, Big City](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gMj3qnqJfaKgMKJntMpWqD-320-80.jpg)
This cat-shaped sandbox adventure offers up the purrfect playground to get lost in
By Heather Wald published
Feature Indie Spotlight | From taking cat naps to wearing hats and helping a Shiba Inu, Little Kitty, Big City is an utter delight
![Assassin's Creed Hexe news](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/axF2jEhbbgfP9fd8gCP8wQ-320-80.jpg)
Assassin's Creed Hexe: Everything we know about the new flagship AC game
By Josh West last updated
Feature The latest Assassin's Creed Hexe news as we await the most mysterious upcoming AC game
![Baldur's Gate 3](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uKWfoaxQKczTqLJovg8rJG-320-80.jpg)
I finally started playing as Baldur's Gate 3's most popular Origin character and I was not disappointed
By Heather Wald published
Now Playing Now Playing | Rather than a dice roll, I let Larian's stats determine my latest Baldur's Gate 3 run
![The Movies](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dnoQLsGsvyWSVQG34EraLE-320-80.jpg)
Almost 20 years later, I still want a remake of the PC simulation game that turned me into a Hollywood movie mogul and rocked my world
By Heather Wald published
Opinion Opinion | From making my own films to discovering talent, The Movies brought out my creative side and kickstarted my love for management sims
![Dragon's Dogma 2](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RRhiJAH2S2VSKJVFjdRzXj-320-80.jpg)
Dragon's Dogma 2 may be light on romance, but that hasn't stopped me turning the action RPG into a dating sim
By Heather Wald published
Now Playing Now Playing | Making the most of Dragon's Dogma 2's affinity system
![Best Nintendo Switch Games with the Nintendo Switch overlaid](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DAFPc2kL5EtjWQV6Ft9MP7-320-80.jpg)
Best Nintendo Switch games to play right now
By Sam Loveridge last updated
Feature Here are the best Switch games you should be playing, from Super Mario Odyssey to Minecraft
![Starfield](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/opAqsZTMU6qFWqcpMj92WJ-320-80.jpg)
Starfield's May update just convinced me to try this RPG again, and all it took was proper maps and The Sims-like ship decorating
By Heather Wald published
Opinion Opinion | Plus, the tease of a Starfield land vehicle might just be the one giant leap we need
![Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tJBfUd7gMFATkX4hZzZeG4-320-80.jpg)
I keep replaying the Casino Royale-style part of Cyberpunk 2077 Phantom Liberty to fulfill my spy RPG fantasy
By Heather Wald published
Now Playing Now Playing | Just call me V, agent V
![Fallout 4](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5oA2jSKvBPJnja45Pz9XTP-320-80.jpg)
I held out for Fallout 4's next-gen update, but the biggest draw of the RPG coming to PS5 is unexpectedly the trophies
By Heather Wald published
Opinion Opinion | Fallout 4's next-gen update may have added new freebies and a coat of paint, but popping those trophies all over again is the best bit
![Lost Records: Bloom and Rage](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DECoJLLrpPHTWb6PXJeFuS-320-80.jpg)
Life is Strange devs talk Lost Records: Bloom and Rage's protagonist, story, and choices: "looking at the world is a big part of the interactivity in our game"
By Heather Wald published
Interview Interview | Exploring Lost Records: Bloom and Rage with creative director Michel Koch and executive producer Luc Baghadoust
![The best zombie games](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bzQGTXgtUYWwZro2Ftdw8P-320-80.jpg)
The 10 best zombie games that will munch your brain
By Connor Sheridan last updated
Feature Success in the best zombie games is simple: remove the head or destroy the brain
![Best PS Vita Games](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZkSP2bzv6KtqCzP4eNVkxe-320-80.jpg)
The 25 best PS Vita games of all time
By Darran Jones last updated
Best List The best PS Vita games that helped transform Sony's powerhouse of a portable console
![Dragon's Dogma 2](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bFAr784nbUYorq2bk49v6N-320-80.jpg)
After 700 hours in Baldur's Gate 3, I'm playing Dragon's Dogma 2 with Astarion at my side
By Heather Wald published
Now Playing Now Playing | The pale elf has come to Vermund
![Star Wars Jedi: Survivor](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jZCWMwdSEbXbVE2VFcD9pe-320-80.jpg)
Star Wars Jedi Survivor guide to help you master the Force
By Will Sawyer last updated
Guide Master the ways of the Jedi with our Star Wars Jedi Survivor guide covering tips, walkthroughs, and secrets
![Dragon's Dogma 2](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pUdfz3CHoy4u3iz9TPepTi-320-80.jpg)
Dragon's Dogma 2 has helped me tackle my anxiety in a way few RPGs have managed to, and it was completely unexpected
By Heather Wald published
Opinion Opinion | I tried out Dragon's Dogma 2 to see what its story was all about, but stayed for the sense of adventure
![Best PSP games](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CenxhvdyExZxFzpxNYQQ3Q-320-80.jpg)
The 25 best PSP games of all time
By Nick Thorpe last updated
Best List The best PSP games you should play today, from Half-Minute Hero to Lumines