Vlad Mazanko-Senior Author

Editorial Team

Senior Author

April, 2024
Open-World, Action RPG, Racing
  • 366
    articles
  • 347
    Lists
  • 19
    Guides

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About Vlad Mazanko

Vlad Mazanko is Ukraine-based gaming enthusiast, writing about the industry since 2013 and covering everything from games and studios to movies and TV shows. He joined the Valnet family back in 2021, with past works featured at TheGamer and DualShockers. Over the years, he has worked on news, guides, lists, and reviews, always aiming to ensure a combination of factual accuracy and an engaging overall read.

Industry Focus

With years of experience in gaming news and a wide range of factual knowledge about the industry, his newest passion is doing lists. These allow to deliver brief squeezes of his favorite games, genres, and their creators. Mostly covering open-world action and RPG titles, soulslikes, and racing games, he also strives to complete every game before covering it to share a full picture with the readers.

Favorite Games

Some of his favorites of past years include Elden Ring, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Alan Wake 2, Resident Evil 4, Marvel Snap, Balatro, Forza Horizon 4, Cyberpunk 2077, The Last of Us Part 2, Red Dead Redemption 2, Gwent, God of War, Black Myth: Wukong, Grim Dawn, and The Witcher 3. He's also able to find joy even in not-as-universally-beloved games like Anthem, Mafia 3, Mass Effect: Andromeda, Marvel's Avengers, The Callisto Protocol, Outriders, or Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.

Favorite TV Shows

With a recent renaissance in video game adaptations, he greatly enjoyed Arcane, The Last of Us, and the Fallout series. Other notable TV shows and miniseries he'd recommend to anyone are Legion, Watchmen, Euphoria, Undone, True Detective, Sugar, and Fargo. He enjoys distinct visual storytelling coupled with a strong emotional core, as well as entangled stories with plenty of mind-blowing twists.

Latest

Best Next-Gen Open-World Games With Ultra-Realistic Graphics
Best Next-Gen Open-World Games With Ultra-Realistic Graphics

These great open-world titles truly show what the current generation of platforms is capable of in terms of visuals.

4
Soulslike Games With Better Combat Than Sekiro Shadows Die Twice
5 Soulslike Games With Better Combat Than Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

Wait, is it even possible? These soulslike action titles might prove it really is.

4
Welcome The Next 5 Big Open-World RPGs
Say Hello To The Next 5 Big Open-World RPGs

The first quarter of 2026 is already stacked with promising games to choose from for open-world action-RPG enthusiasts.

6
Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Best Weapons For Verso Ranked
Clair Obscur Expedition 33: Best Verso Weapons, Ranked

From knives, daggers, and swords to wrenches and even hammers — these are the best and most powerful weapons available for Verso in Expedition 33.

7
Games That Were Supposed To Be The Next Big Thing, But Then Disappeared Overnight
10 Big Games That Were Supposed To Dominate But Disappeared Overnight

These ambitious flops prove that being positioned as a “super game” is not always enough to actually get players interested in playing it.

These Are the Longest Single-Player Campaigns (By Main Story Hours)
Top 10: These Are the Longest Single-Player Campaigns (By Main Story Hours)
RPG

If players are looking for a really, really long play, these titles offer some of the longest main stories ever, easily taking over 70 hours each.

3
Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Best Weapons For Sciel
Clair Obscur Expedition 33: Best Sciel Weapons, Ranked

Sciel is one of the strongest characters for dealing damage, and these weapons are the best to unleash her full combat potential.

Upcoming RPGs Built Entirely Around Consequences
7 Upcoming RPGs Built Entirely Around Consequences
RPG

Based on what we currently know, these upcoming RPGs are shaping up to feature long-reaching consequences as a major part of the narrative.

These Developers Have The Best Selling Open-World Games Of All Time
These Developers Have The Best Selling Open-World Games Of All Time

Some studios are so prominent in the open-world genre that they have not just one, but several titles that became best-sellers.

1
Games That Reward Creativity More Than Skill
Games That Reward Creativity More Than Skill

Many games require players to perform at their best, but thinking outside the box in these titles is rewarded even more generously.

Games That Bring Out the Best of Unreal Engine
8 Games That Bring Out The Best Of Unreal Engine 5

Great visuals, strong performance - these games show what Unreal Engine 5 is truly capable of in the hands of a talented developer.

best open-world games for environmental storytelling exploration
8 Best Open-World Games With Stories Told Through Exploration

These open-world games excel in environmental storytelling, rewarding players who pay close attention to their surroundings.

4
Open-World Games With Most Surprising Finales
8 Open-World Games That Don’t Know When to End (In a Good Way)

Whenever players think the game is almost over, these titles find surprising ways to prove them wrong.

best movies about monster hunting
12 Best Movies About Monster Hunters, Ranked

The definitive monster-hunting movies list for anyone seeking thrilling, action-packed films full of adventure and terrifying creatures.

Games That Are a Masterclass in Storytelling and Gameplay
8 Games That Are a Masterclass in Storytelling and Gameplay

If you’re looking for the full package, try these games that represent the best fusion of narrative power and gameplay depth.

23
RPGs That Officially Last More Than 100 Hours
7 RPGs That Officially Last More Than 100 Hours
RPG

Even for hardcore RPG fans, each of these massive titles can easily keep players hooked for at least a month.

5
Open-World Games Where Ignoring The Main Quest Is The Only Right Way To Play
5 Open-World Games Where Ignoring The Main Quest Is The Only Right Way To Play

The main stories in these games aren't bad, but it’s often more fun to take a detour, enjoying freedom and endless activities along the way.

Xbox Game Pass Games That Are Perfect For A Second Playthrough
5 Xbox Game Pass Games That Are So Good, You'll Want To Play Through Them Twice

Game Pass users have hundreds of games to choose from, but some are so good it's easy to keep coming back for more.

Soulslikes With Better Combat Than Elden Ring
Soulslike Games With Faster, More Aggressive Combat Than Elden Ring

For players who found Elden Ring's combat lacking in speed and ferocity, visceral action is what these soulslikes are all about.

Short and Unforgettable Story-Driven Games You Can Beat In Under 10 Hours
10 Short Story-Driven Games You Can Beat In A Weekend But Never Forget

These impactful games with memorable stories all take under 10 hours to complete, making them the perfect way to spend a weekend.