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
![Eriksholm featuring in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q9X7tXdvc5G5yjCbmAPx98-320-80.jpg)
Strategy game Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream gets gorgeous reveal trailer at Future Games Show
By Joel Franey published
News This top-down stealth strategy game is an atmospheric feast for the eyes
![Goat Simulator 3 featuring in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x5ceRPaN2qU7R6v4HjY3ZN-320-80.jpg)
Goat Simulator 3 reveals its "Multiverse of Nonsense" DLC at the Future Games Show with a cosmic trailer
By Joel Franey published
News Including a capybara wearing the Infinity Gauntlet on its head, because obviously
![The Operator featuring in the Future Games Show Summer Showcase](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/daLrbh2RBWTZ45rK5yoPiU-320-80.jpg)
Be the guy in the chair and solve crimes in secret agent mystery The Operator, with a playable demo right now
By Joel Franey published
News Using cutting-edge software - and your own brain - to analyze data and crack FDI cases
![In Sink appearing at the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2024](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/mBuNJqzZVRuu8jjbLeWJCC-320-80.jpg)
Escape a castaway's fate in this co-op brain-teaser, In Sink, exclusively revealed in the Future Games Show
By Joel Franey published
News It's a gauntlet of escape rooms that'll require two minds to crack
![Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bBtnSSPT3oDtYiEkfPegjZ-320-80.jpg)
Turns out the early meta for Shadow of the Erdtree is Absolutely Humongous Hammers
By Joel Franey published
Preview Preview | The worst thing you can do with the early bosses of Shadow of the Erdtree is overthink them
![Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/33yeisTZSugYBBGWkvnYaf-320-80.jpg)
Forget swords and sorcery, my time with Shadow of the Erdtree has convinced me that the best route is unarmed combat
By Joel Franey published
Preview Preview | The Elden Ring DLC Shadow of the Erdtree has over 100 new weapons, and I have my favorite picked out already
![A knight bows before Miquella's Golden Cross in Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rMdw5qUzUwsfuV6XiiNsFe-320-80.jpg)
Turns out the gold symbols in Shadow of the Erdtree are "Miquella's footsteps," and they hold the key to controlling the Elden Ring DLC's difficulty
By Joel Franey published
News You'll need to find their "Scadutree fragments"
![Elden Ring DLC Shadow of the Erdtree](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UR3xQE7FQqAuAHrgGVZJQX-320-80.jpg)
What to do to prepare for Shadow of the Erdtree, from somebody who's actually played it
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Shadow of the Erdtree expansion is the ultimate Elden Ring test, and you'll need to be ready
![Helldivers 2 extract 2 times](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dpSDnCsseg7HyoFENYy3UY-320-80.jpg)
How to extract from a successful mission 3 times in Helldivers 2
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide To extract from a successful mission, you need to complete primary objectives and leave safely
![Diablo 4 Masterworking](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QBjci5YESLu5TW6c66ni54-320-80.jpg)
How to unlock Masterworking in Diablo 4
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Masterworking in Diablo 4 is an endgame activity unlocked via the Pit
![Helldivers 2 Minefield](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zJdRayiZkCWQPBMEVrSN8L-320-80.jpg)
How to get kills with the Anti-Personnel Minefield in Helldivers 2
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The Anti-Personnel Minefield in Helldivers 2 is most effective against Terminids
![kill 50 enemies with the Grenade Launcher in Helldivers 2](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NxDNbX25dHHgZNYkYAhPQU-320-80.jpg)
How to kill 50 enemies with the Grenade Launcher in Helldivers 2
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The Helldivers 2 Grenade Launcher is a solid weapon best used on Terminids
![Helldivers 2 mechs](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7FrMRRQLwr2x24jLKWWXa-320-80.jpg)
The best Helldivers 2 Stratagems and tier list
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The best Helldivers 2 Stratagems and supports for combat
![Indiana Jones and the Great Circle](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wdsJtW5B5ooprB2CXmdrwS-320-80.jpg)
Will the Indiana Jones game be on PS5?
By Joel Franey published
Indiana Jones and Great Circle isn't planned for a PlayStation 5 release at time of writing
![The Rogue Prince of Persia](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/awgW2HfdTaBkN2k4psqoz6-320-80.jpg)
The Rogue Prince of Persia Review: "a roguelite with few fresh ideas that's mainly being propped up by its slick combat"
By Joel Franey published
Not yet ratedEarly Access Review
![Helldivers 2](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VCowJCoSrUWana49UePiXi-320-80.jpg)
Will Helldivers 2 be on Xbox?
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Is Helldivers 2 going to be ported to the Xbox Series X and S at any point?
![Helldivers 2 Patriot Exosuit mech](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/u4zVM4o3eDT2bTB8tLA6dP-320-80.jpg)
Helldivers 2 Exosuits explained and how to use them
By Will Sawyer last updated
Guide The Patriot Exosuit might be joined by the Emancipator in Helldivers 2 if a Major Order is completed
![Helldivers 2 Expendable Anti Tank](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jnkXAeZ4VVedQcKnZs2dbi-320-80.jpg)
How to kill enemies with the Expendable Anti-Tank in Helldivers 2
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The EAT launcher in Helldivers 2 is used to blow up armored enemies
![Fortnite Chapter 5 Season 3 new weapons](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/e7mmMhtPjD5CLpJpDJFmgP-320-80.jpg)
All Fortnite new weapons, vaulted and unvaulted for Season 3 of Chapter 5
By Iain Wilson last updated
Guide All of the new Fortnite weapons for Chapter 5 Season 3
![Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree screenshot](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jZbskesRhzALfcqHx9eiDb-320-80.jpg)
Everything we know about Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree
By Will Sawyer last updated
Guide Here's what we know about Elden Ring DLC and the massive Shadow of the Erdtree expansion
![Elden Ring consecrated snowfield haligtree secret medallion half rold](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AUMPGtvudoMGBayobkNTAE-320-80.jpg)
How to get to the Consecrated Snowfield in Elden Ring
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The Haligtree Medallion location and Grand Lift of Rold take you to the Snowfield
![Elden Ring](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7GXBe94HHP2z8KwCnzMWYR-320-80.jpg)
How to play Elden Ring PvP and Invade players
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide We explain PvP and invasions in Elden Ring
![Elden Ring](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HcedWeWVfX3sCtTAa2jMhR-320-80.jpg)
All Elden Ring main bosses in order
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Every required and mandatory boss fight you have to do in Elden Ring