Nick Rodriguez-Contributor

Editorial Team

Contributor

August, 2023
Bachelor's Degree in Creative Writing, University of Illinois
Action RPG, From Software, Mass Effect
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About Nick Rodriguez

Nick is a freelance writer from Chicago, IL, with a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His lifelong belief in the artistic power of video games led him to contribute to TheBestWarGames and ScreenRant, platforms where he has managed to share helpful news content, thoughtful opinion pieces, and more than a few hot takes.

While he believes all gaming genres and categories have worth, Nick's interests lie primarily in the realm of single-player experiences, with hand-crafted stories, tight and challenging gameplay, and emotive, unique visual and audio design. On the industry side of things, he is committed to supporting creators, identifying and criticizing exploitation, and combating negativity and toxicity.

Aside from gaming, he enjoys long-distance running, reading, contributing to his blog, working on his Honda CX650C, writing fiction, and having a beer or two.

Favorite Games

- Bloodborne
- Disco Elysium
- Death Stranding
- Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
- Mass Effect 2
- Red Dead Redemption 2
- Dead Space
- Signalis
- Hades
- BioShock
- Super Mario Galaxy
- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Industry Focus

A bit of everything, but with a particular affinity for indie games, industry news, gaming events, and new technology.

Favorite Console

Easy win for the PS2.

Latest

Crimson Desert Confirms Release Date
Why Crimson Desert is Not a Soulslike Game

Crimson Desert's developer has made it clear that it's not a soulslike game, despite a focus on difficulty, but what exactly does this mean?

A Knight in Golden Armor in Dark Farts
New Soulslike Game on Steam is a Funny Hodgepodge of Dark Souls, Skyrim, and South Park: The Stick of Truth

An absurd upcoming Steam game pokes fun at FromSoftware's Dark Souls franchise with toilet humor, fourth wall breaks, and AI-generated nonsense.

A big cat in Mewgenics
As a Cat Lover, I Can't Decide If Mewgenics Should Offend Me or Not

Mewgenics is bound to be one of my favorite games of 2026, but it's also the most likely to give me pause—no pun intended.

A Close Up Shot of Grace Ashcroft in Resident Evil Requiem
Resident Evil's Leaked 3-Year Plan for Future Games Carries a Huge Red Flag

The next three years of Resident Evil have been mapped out by a notable leaker, painting a bleak picture of one element of the franchise.

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The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince Picking a Red Flower in a Meadow
New Hand-Drawn Adventure Game on Steam Channels It Takes Two in a Hollow Knight Style

Eight years after its initial launch, The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince is coming to Steam, giving it another chance to shine.

PlayStation Studios Logo png Kena Scars of Kosmora
Kena: Scars of Kosmora’s PS Studios Label Could Be Both a Blessing and a Curse

Kena: Scars of Kosmora is being published under the PS Studios label, suggesting that it will be much more ambitious than its predecessor.

Fallout 3 Operation Anchorage Factory
Fallout 3 Remastered Could Finally Give Me a Chance to Fix My Greatest Mistake

There's a solid chance that Fallout 3 will be getting a remaster soon, and if it does, I'll have a chance to make good on a missed opportunity.

Kratos and Deimos in God of War Sons of Sparta
God of War: Sons of Sparta Bringing Back This Forgotten Character Feels Like the Calm Before the Storm

The shadow-dropped God of War: Sons of Sparta is surprising by its very nature, but one member of its central cast is especially meaningful.

Solid Snake in Metal Gear Solid 4 Guns of the Patriots
Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2 Finally Brings an 18-Year-Old Curse To an End

Konami just revealed Metal Gear Solid Master Collection Vol. 2, which is a watershed moment for at least one important reason.

Legacy of Kain Defiance Remastered Raziel New Look
Legacy of Kain: Defiance Remastered is Doing Something Demon’s Souls Remake Dropped the Ball On

With Legacy of Kain: Defiance bringing back a hefty piece of cut content, Sony's fumbling one aspect of Demon's Souls (2020) is highlighted.

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nivalis-steam-game-rant-1
New Cyberpunk Game on Steam Essentially Lets You Own Cyberpunk 2077's Afterlife Bar and Rewrite Nightlife

Cyberpunk 2077 and its ilk are thrilling sci-fi adventures, but an upcoming Steam game looks to tell a different story in a similar setting.

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Post battle carnage in Samson
Batman: Arkham Collides with the GTA Series in New Open-World Crime Game

An upcoming open-world action game aims to mix the ultra-violent freedom of Grand Theft Auto with the close-quarters combat of Batman: Arkham.

Velvet Crowe with a transformed arm in Tales of Berseria
Upcoming JRPG Remaster Puts You in the Shoes of an Anti-Hero (and the Original Received "Strong" Reviews on OpenCritic)

Yet another beloved JRPG is getting a remaster this year, and it should offer a hard-hitting narrative and great gameplay to boot.

Romeo Is a Dead Man Key Art
Romeo Is a Dead Man Has Cult Classic Written All Over It [Review]

Although its flaws are rather obvious, Romeo Is a Dead Man is an unforgettable and ultimately successful sci-fi romp through spacetime.

Sora Smiling While Holding a Keyblade in the First Kingdom Hearts
Kingdom Hearts Relux Leaks Explained (And How Trustworthy is the Leaker?)

Leaks have recently emerged about a possible remake of the first Kingdom Hearts, but just how realistic and how reliable are these claims?

Borderlands 4 Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned
Everything Coming in Borderlands 4's First Major DLC: Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned

Borderlands 4 is expanding with Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned, a beefy story DLC with new gear, locations, and an all-new Vault Hunter.

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Standing in a Graveyard in RadCity
Disco Elysium's Mind is Trapped in Fallout's Wasteland in New Game, and You Can Play It Right Now

An upcoming isometric horror-themed survival game is coming to Steam later this year, and it has major Fallout vibes with a hint of Disco as well.

Next Xbox Console Xbox Series X PNG
Everything Rumored or Leaked for the Next-Gen Xbox Console

Contrary to some claims, Xbox does seem to be planning a 10th-generation console release, though it will likely look different from previous models.

Prescribe and Pray Character Above Papers Please
New Simulation Game on Steam Applies Papers, Please–Style Gameplay to Life-or-Death Medicine

Papers, Please, one of the most simple and powerful indie games of all time, seemed to have had an impact on one upcoming medical sim.

Doom Eternal Call of Duty Black Ops 7 David Mason
The "Mighty" 89 Opencritic Shooter That Proves Tight Mechanics Still Matter More Than Hollywood Presentation (Looking at You, Call of Duty)

Some shooters (not naming names) want to make the player feel cool, while others transform the player into something that actually is.

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