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 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 pop culture comedy podcast, "Margaret Thatcher, Templar Spy".
Latest articles by Joel Franey

Is Fortnite down? And if so then how long is the Fortnite downtime?
By Iain Wilson last updated
Guide What to know if you're seeing the dreaded "Fortnite servers not responding" error

All the best Assassin's Creed Shadows weapons and how to get them
By Will Sawyer last updated
Guide There are eight weapon types in Assassin's Creed Shadows, the best of which we've got here

Assassin's Creed Shadows Thrown to the Dogs quest and key location
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Thrown to the Dogs is a pre-order only AC Shadows quest in the Osaka region, and you get a free dog as a reward!

How to get Mastery Skill Points in Assassin's Creed Shadows
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The best way to get Mastery Points in AC Shadows is by eliminating Daisho Samurai, but that's not your only option

Assassin's Creed Shadows seasons and how to change them explained
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Seasons in AC Shadows are hour-long periods that bring new weather and reset certain mechanics; here's how to change them in-game and what will happen if you do

How to get Knowledge Points in Assassin's Creed Shadows and increase your Knowledge Rank
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Knowledge rank and points in AC Shadows requires temples, Hidden Paths, Kofuns and more

The best Helldivers 2 Stratagems tier list
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide After a hefty patch, here are the best Helldivers 2 Stratagems and support weapons

The best Helldivers 2 weapons tier list
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Our Helldivers 2 weapon tier list ranks every gun from every warbond and more

Best Helldivers 2 Warbonds tier list
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The best HD2 premium Warbond is currently the Steeled Veterans, with Democratic Detonation close behind

After more than two decades since the last full game, Painkiller is back - with a vengeance
By Joel Franey published
News And it's coming later this year

Is Assassin's Creed Shadows multiplayer and does it have co-op?
By Joel Franey published
Guide AC Shadows doesn't have a multiplayer or co-op mode - yet.

All Tennoji temple lost pages in Assassin's Creed Shadows
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Tennoji temple in AC Shadows has 3 pages - and lots of enemies

All Gansenji temple lost pages in Assassin's Creed Shadows
By Joel Franey published
Guide We show all the lost page locations in Gansenji temple in AC Shadows

The best weapons for Automatons in Helldivers 2
By Will Sawyer last updated
Guide The loadouts you need for Automatons in Helldivers 2 and the best weapons to use

All Kabukimono assassination target locations in Assassin's Creed Shadows
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Kabukimono in AC Shadows are a series of rowdy assassination targets
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