Rachel Watts
Rachel Watts is the former reviews editor for Rock Paper Shotgun, and in another life was a staff writer for Future publications like PC Gamer and Play magazine. She is now working as a freelance journalist, contributing features and reviews to 12DOVE.
Latest articles by Rachel Watts

Lost Records: Bloom and Rage – Tape 1 review: "This Life is Strange successor is Stephen King, Blair Witch, and Yellowjackets all rolled into one – delicious"
By Rachel Watts published
Review

“Atmosphere is more important than aesthetics”: Bionic Bay is a biomech platformer that’ll grip you from the get-go
By Rachel Watts published
Big in 2025 Big in 2025 | Bionic Bay creator Juhana Myllys talks about their puzzle platforming philosophy and why atmosphere is vital to game design

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is bringing Don't Nod back to its Life is Strange roots, and nothing could excite me more
By Rachel Watts published
Opinion Opinion | It's giving Stand By Me for the girlies

I'm proclaiming 2024 to be the year of outstanding indie puzzle games
By Rachel Watts published
Year in Review Year in Review | Time to get those brain gears whirring

From Balatro to Animal Well, here's the best indie games of 2024
By Rachel Watts published
Year in Review Year in Review | Here's the must-play indie games of the year that showed us all what's possible

From Silent Hill 2 to Crow Country, the best horror games of 2024 brought the chills
By Rachel Watts published
Year In Review Year in Review | Here's the must-play horror games of the year

Here are the 10 Steam Next Fest demos you need to play before they disappear
By Rachel Watts published
List From bickering gods to giant space worms, 10 Steam Next Fest demos you have to play this October 2024

As a long-time Stardew Valley fan, here's why I'm converting to Fields of Mistria
By Rachel Watts published
Opinion Opinion | Fields of Mistria lifts the pressure found in intimidating farming sims by rejecting demand and excess

Cruising around a strange planet in a beat-up van is my idea of the perfect sci-fi adventure in Caravan SandWitch
By Rachel Watts published
Feature Now Playing | I'm in love with my busted, rusted van

From horror gardening sims to RPG puzzlers, here's 15 Steam Next Fest demos you have to play this June
By Rachel Watts published
List List | With a torrent of Steam Next Fest demos released this week, here’s a handy list of which ones you have to play

Lorelei and the Laser Eyes review: "Totally engrossing, effortlessly stylish, and one of the best puzzle games of 2024"
By Rachel Watts published
Review

How one developer tapped the Internet's past to tell a timeless story of human connection
By Rachel Watts published
Interview Interview | Edge magazine explores the making of Videoverse

Open Roads review: "A cozy, nostalgic road trip that can't quite get into gear"
By Rachel Watts published
Review

I hope Hades 2 keeps its predecessor's greatest strength, making failure fun
By Rachel Watts published
Preview Big In 2024 | Supergiant's satisfying looping is a clever solution for the frustration of failure

Thirsty Suitors review: "A witty, heartfelt adventure about going home"
By Rachel Watts published
Review

How Cocoon's silent alien world found its voice with synthetic sound
By Rachel Watts published
Interview Interview |Geometric Interactive's Jeppe Carlsen and Jakob Schmid take us on a tour through Cocoon's excellent soundscape

15 Steam Next Fest demos you have to play this October
By Rachel Watts published
Feature With over 100 demos to choose from, we're here to tell you which Steam Next Fest demos are worth your time

Goodbye Volcano High review: "A bittersweet teen drama about mourning a lost future"
By Rachel Watts published
Review
Sign up to the 12DOVE Newsletter
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more