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
Broodmother location, weaknesses and strategies in Grounded
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The Hedge Broodmother is a giant spider boss in Grounded
All Grounded toenail locations
By Joel Franey last updated
guide We explain where to find Toenails in Grounded for making weapons
Wendell's SCAB location in Grounded
By Joel Franey last updated
guide Where to find Dr Wendell Tully's SCAB device in the Upper Yard in Grounded
Where to find the ORC Lab location in Grounded
By Joel Franey last updated
guide How to find the secret Ominent ORC lab in Grounded and get inside the Castle Moldorc Playset.
Everything you need to know about Pets in Grounded
By Joel Franey last updated
guide How to tame bugs in Grounded, including Aphids, Weevils and Gnats
Where to go after the Hedge Lab in Grounded
By Joel Franey last updated
guide What order to do the Pond Lab, Haze Lab and Black Anthill Lab in Grounded for their Superchips
Where to find the Grounded Minotaur Maze Key
By Joel Franey last updated
guide The location of the key to the Grounded picnic chest - and Mint Mace - is South
How to get to the Upper Yard in Grounded
By Joel Franey last updated
guide How to unlock the Upper Yard and Shed in Grounded, from the Upper Yard Ascent or otherwise.
How to get to the Shed Lab in Grounded
By Joel Franey last updated
guide How to find Wendell Tully's Lab in the Undershed - and get past the Black Widow Spider - in Grounded
How to beat Spiders in Grounded and use Arachnophobia mode
By Iain Wilson last updated
Guide How to use Arachnophobia Safe Mode and kill Grounded Spiders
Grounded MIXR modules and Javamatic defense guide
By Joel Franey last updated
guide How to defend the MIX.R modules and pipes from the ORC insects in Grounded's final mission, "Troubles Brewin'"
Where to go after the Oak Lab in Grounded
By Joel Franey last updated
guide After Grounded's Oak Lab, you need to reach the Hedge Lab
10 Grounded tips and tricks to master your backyard
By Joel Franey last updated
guide Our tips for Grounded will help players beat bugs and build bases
How to get Wheat Seeds in Palworld
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Palworld Wheat Seeds are a drop from certain Grass-type Pals
All Palworld Flying Mounts and how to get them
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The best flying mounts of Palworld can carry you across the map and vaporise enemies
All Palworld breeding combinations and how to breed Pals
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Breeding Pals in Palworld requires a Farm, an Incubator, and lots of Cake.
Dragon's Dogma 2 Off the Pilfered Path walkthrough and guide
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The DD2 Off the Pilfered Path has different endings, depending on what you advise Hugo
Dragon's Dogma 2 Tensions on the Highroad walkthrough
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Raghnall and Simon are fighting over the noble Augustin in DD2 - and you need to "take a side".
Dragon's Dogma 2 Shadowed Prayers quest walkthrough
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide How to identify the Assassin in the DD2 Shadowed Prayers quest
Everything we know about the Helldivers 2 Illuminate faction
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide The Illuminate may be the Helldivers 2 third faction
Helldivers 2 Boosters explained and how to unlock them
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide Boosters in Helldivers 2 are equipable modifiers that provide helpful bonuses.
How to Evacuate High Value Targets in Helldivers 2
By Joel Franey published
Guide HD2 has you guard generators and rockets in the new Evacuate missions
All Helldivers 2 errors, server status and working fixes
By Joel Franey last updated
Guide If you're having issues and errors in Helldivers 2 that mean you can't join or create lobbies, this'll help