Joe Donnelly
Joe Donnelly is a sports editor from Glasgow and former features editor at 12DOVE. A mental health advocate, Joe has written about video games and mental health for The Guardian, New Statesman, VICE, PC Gamer and many more, and believes the interactive nature of video games makes them uniquely placed to educate and inform. His book Checkpoint considers the complex intersections of video games and mental health, and was shortlisted for Scotland's National Book of the Year for non-fiction in 2021. As familiar with the streets of Los Santos as he is the west of Scotland, Joe can often be found living his best and worst lives in GTA Online and its PC role-playing scene.
Latest articles by Joe Donnelly
Dustborn is a super-stylish blend of Borderlands, Telltale's The Walking Dead, and Kentucky Route Zero
By Joe Donnelly published
Features Gamescom 2023 | The latest from Dreamfall Chapters developer Red Thread Games wants you to choose your words wisely
What Barbenheimer could teach us about Starfield, Spider-Man 2, Super Mario Bros Wonder, and Baldur's Gate 3
By Joe Donnelly published
Opinion Opinion | Barbenheimer was a celebration not a competition – I want the same from video games in the coming weeks
Blasphemous 2 review: "A Soulslike sequel that's as unsettling as it is unpredictable"
By Joe Donnelly published
Review
Red Dead Redemption on Switch transported me back in time to one of my favorite GTA moments
By Joe Donnelly published
Features Opinion | Playing Red Dead Redemption on Switch conjured a beautiful PSP memory in me from 18 years ago
Rockstar's acquisition of FiveM mod team could be absolutely massive for GTA 6
By Joe Donnelly published
Opinion Opinion | FiveM is best known for its GTA roleplay servers, which makes the move an interesting one ahead of the next Grand Theft Auto
Meet the Dark Souls 2 magician whose masterful boss-killing spell combo will blow your mind
By Joe Donnelly published
Features Interview | From Elden Ring to Demon's Souls – this "so satisfying" Dark Souls 2 Hex magic combination is one of the best I've ever seen
From GTA 6 news to Baldur's Gate 3, Starfield and Spider-Man 2, 2023 might be one of the biggest years for games this century
By Joe Donnelly published
Opinion Opinion | With time, I reckon this year could sit among history's very best
The Red Dead Redemption remake could pave the way for a return to Grand Theft Auto's best-ever story
By Joe Donnelly published
Opinion Opinion | Love or loathe the Red Dead Redemption port news, it could open the door for more (re)adventures
Why has Rockstar brought Red Dead Redemption to the Switch and PS4 in 2023?
By Joe Donnelly published
Opinion Opinion | Speculation is par for the course when it comes to Rockstar's games, so let's indulge in the latest news
I turned GTA 5 into a twisted vision of The Sims by taking my screaming adopted baby to work at my job in an abattoir
By Joe Donnelly published
Feature The choice was simple: "Babys" or "Give Back Baby"
I've returned to Sekiro with one question: Does it need DLC?
By Joe Donnelly published
Opinion Opinion | Elden Ring has since stolen the show, but where does that leave the pseudo Sengoku era ARPG?
This highly-anticipated JRPG with Pokemon and Game of Thrones vibes will be totally worth the wait
By Joe Donnelly published
Opinion Opinion | Given its impressive lineage, the delay to Suikoden spiritual successor Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes is no big deal
This Bloodborne boss no longer haunts my dreams after reading one single item description
By Joe Donnelly published
Features To my surprise, the ability to read words in sequential order has pulled me from a rage quit-inducing hole
Doppelgangers in games are almost always horrifying – we asked an expert why
By Joe Donnelly published
Interview Interview | I asked a psychologist why doppelgangers in games are so bloody terrifying
Meet the Minecraft modder rebuilding Bloodborne block-by-block
By Joe Donnelly published
Interview Interview | Potomy and his team are crafting one of the most gorgeous crossover projects Minecraft has ever seen
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom made me feel helpless in its first few hours – and I'm still chasing that buzz
By Joe Donnelly published
Features I'm unsuccessfully chasing the thrill of Tears of the Kingdom's first few helpless hours
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's building is a game-changer, but Nintendo might have set its bar too high
By Joe Donnelly published
Opinion Opinion | Ultrahand and Fuse have changed the game, but replicating them to the same standards won't be easy
Call me a masochist, but I'd love longer boss runs in the Elden Ring DLC
By Joe Donnelly published
Opinion Opinion | Don't hate me, but longer boss runs is among my most wanted features in Elden Ring's incoming DLC
We've hailed the AAA horror renaissance, but it owes itself to the indie horror boom
By Joe Donnelly published
Opinion Opinion | The indie horror scene of the past decade made a lasting impact
This breakneck FPS is Doom meets Hotline Miami after dropping acid
By Joe Donnelly published
Features Indie Spotlight | First launched on PC in 2020, and now finally on PS5, Post Void is a trip worth taking
Sniper Elite 5's latest and final mission is the most fun I've ever had in the series
By Joe Donnelly published
Opinion Opinion | Sniper Elite 5 goes full Sniper Elite, and it's glorious
Early footage of Silent Hill creator's Slitterhead looks more like Parasite Eve 2 and I'm totally here for that
By Joe Donnelly published
Opinion Opinion | Between Silent Hill and Siren, Slitterhead was already well-placed - but its apparent ARPG trappings are exciting
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