Nick Rodriguez-Contributor

Staff Writer

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 The Best War Games and Screen Rant, 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

Persona 5 The Phantom X Janosik
Persona 5: The Phantom X - Who is Janosik?

Janosik is the name of the player's first Persona in Persona 5: The Phantom X, but some may be surprised to learn that he's based on a real person.

PlayStation 4 Ninja Gaiden Ragebound
The PlayStation 4 Still Has 3 Big Games Releasing in July 2025
PS4

While many gamers have moved on to the PlayStation 5, there are still some high-quality games coming to its predecessor in the near future.

Persona 5 The Phantom X Lufel Morgana Comparison
How Persona 5: The Phantom X’s Lufel Compares to Morgana

Persona 5: The Phantom X introduces a new animal mascot called Lufel, who seems strikingly similar to Persona 5's team guide Morgana.

death-stranding-1-2-sam-update-game-rant
Death Stranding 2: Just How Good of a Litmus Test for Graphics is Norman Reedus' Sam Porter Bridges?

Death Stranding 2's Sam Porter Bridges, portrayed by Norman Reedus, is something of a poster child for current-gen graphics, but is this warranted?

gta-6-xbox-game-rant
Why Grand Theft Auto 6's Xbox Update is a Bigger Deal Than It Seems

GTA 6 has recently been made available to wishlist on Xbox storefronts, which could indicate better, more substantial things to come soon.

Resident Evil Gaiden Starlight
Fans of Retro Horror Games Shouldn't Sleep On This Classic Resident Evil Game

The Resident Evil franchise has had a storied history, and one of its oft-overlooked games could be fitting for some modern audiences.

Resident Evil Revelations 2 Claire and Moira
Resident Evil Co-Op Games Tier List

Cooperative multiplayer has cropped up several times in the Resident Evil franchise, though not all these experiences are created equal.

1
PlayStation Plus Logo Man Yelling
PlayStation Plus' Big Cancelation Controversy Explained

PlayStation has come under fire recently for some small, but nevertheless impactful, changes it's made to the PlayStation Plus management features.

horizion-3-game-rant
One Massive Horizon 3 Change Would Be a Risk Worth Taking

A key element of the Horizon franchise, expanded in Horizon Forbidden West, could be the albatross around its neck, and a third game could scrap it.

Skyrim Lydia Mantella AI
Ambitious Skyrim Project Could Be a Slippery Slope for Future Bethesda Games

Fans' desires are illuminated by a relatively recent Skyrim project, but this could spell trouble for future Bethesda games, if it continues to gather

hogwarts-legacy-2-romance-game-rant
Hogwarts Legacy 2: Romance Seems Like a Safe Bet, But It Should Be Off the Table

Romance has been a heavily requested feature for Hogwarts Legacy 2, but there's reason to believe that it should be left on the cutting room floor.

Diablo 4 Purple Goblin
Diablo 4's Rarest Enemy Also Comes With a Big Asterisk Attached

Diablo 4 has a famously difficult-to-spot Treasure Goblin, but its rarity isn't its only drawback—it has another that could be even worse.

3
Cyber Knights Flashpoint
Why Cyberpunk 2077 Players May Want to Keep an Eye on Cyber Knights: Flashpoint

Cyberpunk 2077 fans might want to take a peek at Cyber Knights: Flashpoint, a sci-fi RPG that targets the same high-tech, low-life motifs.

Puck Shadow Labyrinth
Shadow Labyrinth Hands-On Preview

The Best War Games goes hands-on with Shadow Labyrinth, a decidedly serious, action-packed 2D platformer set in the burgeoning Pac-Man universe.

Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree
One Year Ago, Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree Set a New Bar for FromSoftware DLC

It's officially been one year since Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree released, redefining what players can expect from a Soulslike DLC.

1
The Alters Jan Dolski
The Alters: Why Tabula Rasa Poses an Impossible Decision

The Tabula Rasa choice is a pivotal one in The Alters, and it's no surprise why it's caused so much indecisiveness from players.

The Alters Act 1
The Alters Doesn't Need New Game Plus, But It Could Use Another Common Game Mode

Regrettably, The Alters didn't launch with new game plus, but that doesn't mean that another, even more fitting game mode is off the table.

The Alters Jan Shrink
The Alters Made Me Feel Like I Was Talking To Myself

The Alters is a fun game, to be sure, but it's also a deeply personal and moving one, and I'm glad that I experienced its intimate themes firsthand.

1
The Alters Key Art(1)
You Can Play with All Jans in The Alters, but with an Asterisk Attached

The Alters players can actually bypass the six-Alter requirement imposed by the game, but only after some unconventional tweaks.

The Alters Dialogue Choices
How The Alters Makes You Care About Dialogue Choices

A lot of games put stock in choosing the right dialogue, but The Alters is a masterclass in how to make those choices feel meaningful.