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, JellyDeals and Dicebreaker, in various capacities. 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 12DOVE 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 ongoing pop culture comedy podcast, "Margaret Thatcher, Templar Spy".
Latest articles by Joel Franey
![Dragon's Dogma 2 Short Sighted Ambition](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gfV5yAu7RkG5Ymc7PesaS4-320-80.jpg)
Dragon's Dogma 2 Short-Sighted Ambition and On the Transference of Souls walkthrough
By Joel Franey published
Guide The DD2 Short-Sighted Ambition quest has you find a piece of fruit - and then an ancient tome of dark magic
![Minecraft Legends portal pile](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Atf5pBzCYARcDfnD2KaijH-320-80.jpg)
Minecraft Legends Portal Pile guide and walkthrough
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Portal Pile, the first of the Lost Legends and Myths in Minecraft Legends, is a real challenge
![Minecraft Legends nether portal](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gaqYcXyVVkGUQMakUN5Weh-320-80.jpg)
How to destroy the Nether Portal in Minecraft Legends
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Our walkthrough will show you how to beat the portal outpost for the Night Beacon quest in Minecraft Legends
![Dragon's Dogma 2 Dwarven Smithing](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hy32jXoXn83pMPJoFUeqFX-320-80.jpg)
How to unlock Dwarven Smithing in Dragon's Dogma 2
By Joel Franey published
Guide Dwarven Smithing in DD2 is focused on the Volcanic Island, and is unlocked through quests
![Minecraft Legends Prismarine](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9Fhx7egtY6oR5YBRY4cLSE-320-80.jpg)
The best Minecraft Legends Prismarine farming method
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Prismarine is the main resource for upgrades and levelling in Minecraft Legends
![Minecraft Legends Iron](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q7G6XtqkujLBdSMByn3M4c-320-80.jpg)
How to get iron in Minecraft Legends
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Where to find and mine iron for golems and more in Minecraft Legends
![Minecraft Legends best mobs](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dEt6S2GNdBp5PPWECFLLbR-320-80.jpg)
The best mobs in Minecraft Legends explained
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide What all the mobs in Minecraft Legends do and how to use them properly
![Minecraft legends order command mobs minions](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/C7FiBvt5jto6UXcuxMrUKB-320-80.jpg)
How to control mobs in Minecraft Legends
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide How to give your golem minions orders in Minecraft Legends and controlling them explained
![Minecraft Legends fast travel](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZfH69LAukSE6dAgKghSSYf-320-80.jpg)
How to fast travel in Minecraft Legends
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide How to get around Minecraft Legends' map quickly and teleport to new locations
![Minecraft Legends characters present building lute](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rSsb5VRiWNEgXz9yD6gEHm-320-80.jpg)
How to build in Minecraft Legends
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide How to craft, construct, create buildings, and more in Minecraft Legends
![Minecraft Legends multiplayer](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hziaF3uv562QcPurf3iDRa-320-80.jpg)
How to play with friends in Minecraft Legends multiplayer
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Connecting with friends in cooperative and competitive online multiplayer for Minecraft Legends explained
![Dragon's Dogma 2 Guardian Gigantus](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TCree6PY4TaEFFAuhfQJof-320-80.jpg)
Dragon's Dogma 2 Guardian Gigantus boss fight and trophy guide
By Joel Franey published
Guide The DD2 "Gigantus, I Hardly Knew Ye" trophy/achievement comes from quickly slaying the statue
![Minecraft Legends tips tricks](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/X7qSsqeKq6KcsFaAPtextB-320-80.jpg)
9 Minecraft Legends tips to know before your quest begins
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The best tips on how to play Minecraft Legends and hold back the Piglin hordes
![Dragon's Dogma 2 Flamebearer Spellseal Door](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Awbu3mo7HHWQzftPbvGeHF-320-80.jpg)
How to open the Flamebearer Palace Spellseal Door in Dragon's Dogma 2
By Joel Franey published
Guide The DD2 Flamebearer Palace door leads to the Volcanic Island region.
![Dragon's Dogma 2 A Candle in the Storm quest](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YGYcQF6e7VBx7RQfKm6C5b-320-80.jpg)
Dragon's Dogma 2 A Candle in the Storm walkthrough and choices
By Joel Franey published
Guide The DD2 quest, A Candle in the Storm, ends (eventually) with the choice to support the Empress or not
![Dragon's Dogma 2 Battahl](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xcnSKGrotzUXGEZd3DDHqM-320-80.jpg)
How to get to Battahl in Dragon's Dogma 2
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide To get into the Battahl region in DD2, you need a permit from Brant
![Dragon's Dogma 2 Phantom Oxcart](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/RpBgJceeDhW52su9CVH5hU-320-80.jpg)
Dragon's Dogma 2 Phantom Oxcart walkthrough and guide
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Phantom Oxcart in DD2 is a quest about following a strange cart - with a cargo of Pawns
![Dragon's Dogma 2](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Rxpiu7fAoUxn46MCQDpxse-320-80.jpg)
Dragon's Dogma 2 A Veil of Gossamer Clouds walkthrough
By Joel Franey published
Guide Where do you go to investigate the letter in the DD2's A Veil of Gossamer Clouds quest?
![Minecraft Legends](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hacGQ5ibyzVG8MJg6GUNm-320-80.jpg)
Minecraft Legends guide, walkthrough, and everything you need to know
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide All of the Minecraft Legends details for Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC
![Dragon's Dogma 2 Mystic Spearhand](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Rqw536dAmPP7P2F6yiVjz3-320-80.jpg)
How to get the Mystic Spearhand vocation in Dragon's Dogma 2
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Mystic Spearhand is unlocked from Sigurd, after fighting a dragon in Melve
![Helldivers 2](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VyRa3WvghKwFxcSHTQD9CP-320-80.jpg)
How to extract Samples in Helldivers 2
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Farming Super, Rare or Common Samples in Helldivers 2 is best done through short, quick missions
![Dragon's Dogma 2 Ornate Box](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Ek59D2aU7w8uAKuVMwbtvL-320-80.jpg)
Dragon's Dogma 2 The Ornate Box quest walkthrough and guide
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Ornate Box in DD2 should be given to the boy Sven
![Helldivers 2 Liberate Troost](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UG8uuW3gwRb5uF6yiwTpuH-320-80.jpg)
How to Liberate Troost for the Helldivers 2 Major Order
By Joel Franey published
Guide Liberating Troost in the Trigon Sector means fighting the Automatons off Ustotu and more