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
![Stellar Blade red code chest](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Dcu4mwxYHrLsJTNFWmwaSB-320-80.jpg)
How to open the red code chest in Stellar Blade
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Stellar Blade chest in Bar 99 tells you to "enter passcode" - but won't let you
![Stellar Blade Abaddon](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/V3M4LejxotUNuGi26nuXE4-320-80.jpg)
How to beat the Abaddon boss fight in Stellar Blade
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Abaddon Alpha Naytiba at the top of the car park is all about the careful approach
![Stellar Blade laser puzzle](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/y3Qvb6S4mCWmuVgP23gpPY-320-80.jpg)
How to solve the Stellar Blade laser redirection puzzle in Altess Levoire
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Altess Levoire laser puzzle in Stellar Blade is about steering lasers to overheat the generator
![Stellar Blade review](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fAEcyeWhYWC78Y39mzh5Pe-320-80.jpg)
10 Stellar Blade tips and tricks to master the sword
By Joel Franey published
Guide Our Stellar Blade tips will help you get to grips with combat, exploration, and more besides
![Stellar Blade Monorail Power puzzle](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/otcC6NECjS4csUbr54MR3H-320-80.jpg)
How to solve the Stellar Blade Monorail power puzzle
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Monorail puzzle in Stellar Blade is about allocating squares of energy to activate the rail
![Stellar Blade ladder puzzle](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uzR3AidNS7oUeYmBDWjRMY-320-80.jpg)
The Stellar Blade ladder and water puzzle explained
By Joel Franey published
Guide Stellar Blade has a confusing sequence where you have to leap to a ladder across a pond of water
![A Stellar Blade looks towards the camera](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PSoDJfMNs886cxk2ZPSJGa-320-80.jpg)
How long to beat Stellar Blade
By Joel Franey published
Guide How long is Stellar Blade from beginning to end?
![Stellar Blade simple puzzle](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QoiMFjx5NC2CWR5TkS6YMF-320-80.jpg)
The Stellar Blade Simple Puzzle solution
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Simple Puzzle in Stellar Blade is an optional math test based on multiplication
![Stellar Blade wisdom puzzle](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/H6FxUHb62aRtFKFCQLKheh-320-80.jpg)
The Stellar Blade Wisdom Puzzle solution
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Wisdom Puzzle in Stellar Blade is the second math request from the Bulletin Board
![Stellar Blade skills](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fX3U2jAiZ7w6QqoMqgVHdG-320-80.jpg)
The best Stellar Blade skills and abilities
By Joel Franey published
Guide The best skills in Stellar Blade vary from tree to tree
![Stellar Blade gun](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LURH6RyNwNrfEbzq7dXn8h-320-80.jpg)
How to get a gun in Stellar Blade
By Joel Franey published
Guide The Stellar Blade ranged weapon is an upgrade to the Drone
![Helldivers 2 Devastators](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VnPpAcawCaw4qQpKhDqLYC-320-80.jpg)
How to kill Devastators in Helldivers 2
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Helldivers 2 Devastators show up on most difficulties but they can be tough to crack
![Grounded best weapons](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/joTBEvcML25KTCKCm5rfGM-320-80.jpg)
The best weapons in Grounded
By Joel Franey last updated
guide The strongest early and late-game weapon recipes in Grounded are here
![Helldivers 2](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/T9PErCturuGh4LVXQGPdKi-320-80.jpg)
How to kill enemies with the Machine Gun in Helldivers 2
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The Machine Gun Stratagem in Helldivers 2 is best used on bugs, and at high fire rate
![Cover of the hardback Chains of Asmodeus book against a gray background](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Jm5NK4hN9vTZUYUExsLz8R-320-80.jpg)
The best D&D module right now isn't even on D&D Beyond, and it was written by the creator of Baldur's Gate
By Joel Franey published
Opinion Chains of Asmodeus is the D&D adventure that tells you to go to hell, but for charity.
![A figure in a spacesuit stands in an opening, leveling a torch toward the foreground](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/X8wRdvs2C9tNhTXNzA8ctQ-320-80.jpg)
Alien RPG Building Better Worlds review: "Carrying on the quiet momentum of one of the best TTRPGs out there"
By Joel Franey published
Review
![Helldivers 2 factions](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ZXwhUTdyBxEKEMKtYg5dAE-320-80.jpg)
The best weapons for Terminids in Helldivers 2
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Helldivers 2 Bugs - the Terminids - focus on mass swarms and melee attacks
![Fortnite split screen](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6WHBLmdx8BYWKM74XbGonY-320-80.jpg)
How to play Fortnite split screen
By Iain Wilson last updated
Guide Fortnite split screen is now available again, following downtime due to an unspecified issue
![Helldivers 2 Secondary Objectives](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AsKoLPQQVZ9KrbbFhbGbc5-320-80.jpg)
How to complete Secondary Objectives in Helldivers 2
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Secondary objectives in Helldivers 2 are also called optional objectives, marked in pale blue
![Helldivers 2 Factory Strider automaton walker](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/b8dhbDFYea6KNwVZCZj3k4-320-80.jpg)
All Enemies in Helldivers 2 and how to beat them
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Every enemy in Helldivers 2 and their weaknesses in combat
![Best Grounded base locations](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9JAceWc23U3b8Y5gHSVn7M-320-80.jpg)
Best Grounded base locations to build a hideout
By Joel Franey last updated
guide The best base locations in Grounded for early and late game players
![Grounded](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/phXq9JU2ZqXRbaHA8kY6PD-320-80.jpg)
Grounded Mantis boss fight location, weaknesses and strategies
By Joel Franey last updated
guide How to find, summon and kill the Orchid Mantis in Grounded
![Grounded Mantis Kebab recipe stump lab](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/gevXgRYprgHPQJiBNJuDK3-320-80.jpg)
How to get the Mantis Kebab in the Stump Lab in Grounded
By Joel Franey last updated
guide Where to find the Orchid Mantis Kebab recipe in Grounded and how to make it