Staff Writer
Senior Author
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382articles
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363Lists
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19Guides
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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, Cyberpunk 2077, The Last of Us Part 2, Red Dead Redemption 2, 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.
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
5 Fantasy Games With Worlds Just As Amazing As Lord Of The Rings
Matching Middle-Earth is no easy task, but these games do their best to offer unique fantasy worlds that come close.
Big Upcoming Games Where You Can Fly
Go airborne with these upcoming titles that let players take to the skies through mounts, vehicles, fantastic gear, or superpowers.
6 Open-World Games Officially Longer Than Any Assassin's Creed Game
Odyssey and Valhalla rank among the biggest Assassin's Creed titles to date, but these massive open-world games are even longer.
Free Open-World Games With The Best Exploration
These free open-world games offer vast and beautiful open worlds, great exploration, loads of content; there's almost no catch.
6 Open-World Games That Officially Surpassed Red Dead Redemption 2
Despite ranking among the best open-world games ever made, these titles have managed to objectively surpass Rockstar’s Western in key areas.
Big Upcoming Games All About Player Immersion
Immerse yourself in detailed and atmospheric worlds with these upcoming AAA games.
Upcoming Games With Expansive Worlds
These upcoming games promise to deliver some of the biggest and most detailed virtual worlds ever seen.
Open-World Game Franchises That Are Effectively Dead
Despite their strengths and plenty of promise, some open-world series are very unlikely to make a comeback.
New Upcoming ARPGs That Will Scratch Your Diablo Itch
Fight, level up, loot, repeat — here are some of the most notable Diablo-like isometric ARPGs on the horizon.
Best Open-World Games That Let You Run Fast
Running in other open-world titles after these feels like switching from a supercar to a family van.
7 RPGs So Good, You’ll Play Them Twice
Great story, great characters, great combat, great world — great everything in these super role-playing games you'll want to play twice.
5 Open-World Games Officially Bigger Than Cyberpunk 2077
The world of futuristic Night City is impressively huge, but can't quite compare to the scope of these open-world games.
New Games With The Best Exploration
For fans of rewarding and exciting exploration, these 2025 games stand out as some of the best.
6 Perfect Fantasy Games With Complex Storytelling
Looking to escape reality and dive into fantastic storytelling set in a rich fantasy universe? Here are some games that won't disappoint.
Big Upcoming RPGs That Focus On Player Choices
Freedom to make impactful choices with far-reaching consequences lies at the heart of these upcoming RPGs.
The Next 5 Big Graphics Games That Will Be Stunning
If you’re blown away by cutting-edge technology in gaming, keep an eye on these upcoming titles set to release in early 2026.
Upcoming Games All About Loot
Loot goblins should definitely keep an eye on these upcoming games with randomized loot drop systems.
Open-World Games With A Ridiculous Amount Of Depth
Some open-world games stand out for their depth and complexity, making it tough for fans to find similar experiences elsewhere.
Scary Games All About Exploration
It's not just horror games that can deliver spooky and unsettling exploration, and this diverse game selection proves it.
Upcoming Games All About Atmosphere
Dark, nostalgic, terrifying, or magical — these upcoming games promise to capture a unique atmosphere like no other.