Staff Writer
Editor
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About Drew Swanson
Drew Swanson is a Features Article Editor from the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Being a gamer all his life and enjoying everything from ARPGs like Diablo to JRPGs like Pokemon and Persona, his love of digging into game lore and history naturally led to a passion for sharing these ideas with others through writing. He has been writing about games professionally for over 4 years, with bylines as a Contributing Writer at High Ground Gaming for 2 years before joining The Best War Games. He also has a background in video game studies with a degree from Washington State University, where he also won the Showcase for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award in 2021 for his writing and design work on the game Quest for Arete.
Proudest Gaming Achievement
Drew is a huge Pokemon fan, so completing a living National Dex through Pokemon Gen 9 is a huge achievement for him. He tries to complete the Pokedex in each new generation, but it wasn't until Gen 7 that he started building and maintaining a living National Dex that contains one of every critter in the franchise.
Favorite Games
Pokemon Black and White, Persona 5 Royal, Final Fantasy 7, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Xenoblade Chronicles, Elden Ring, Animal Crossing, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, and Metroid Prime are some of his favorites, but it's hard to pick just one. He tends to love JRPGs, and his "holy trinity" of JRPGs are Persona 5 Royal, Final Fantasy 7, and Xenoblade Chronicles.
Industry Focus
Drew focuses on Diablo 4 content, following trends in the community and highlighting popular builds for new seasons since the game's release nearly 3 years ago. He also leverages his almost 30-year fandom of Pokemon to write about the series' past, present, and future, including its lore and real-world connections. Otherwise, he tends to stay on top of the latest gaming trends, exercising his love of new gaming experiences to dive deep into new RPG, Survival, and Extraction Shooter releases.
Latest
Sigurd's Prominence in Fire Emblem Engage is Wasted Without a Genealogy Re-release
Sigurd's role as one of the first and most prominent Emblems in Fire Emblem Engage may seem odd, but could signal a remake is in the works.
Why Pokemon Fans Are Debating Whether Cynthia Counts as a Jumpscare in Gen 5
Although not typically known to be scary, Pokemon Black and White and their sequels contain what many fans believe to be a rare jumpscare.
Developers Who Could Nail a Post-AlphaDream Mario & Luigi RPG
After the bankruptcy of AlphaDream in 2019, Nintendo needs to find a different studio to develop a new entry in the dormant Mario & Luigi series.
Like a Dragon Should Explore Other Parts of History After Ishin
Like a Dragon: Ishin offers players a non-canon historical entry in the series, but future titles could also showcase the franchise's past.
Why Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's Tera Raid Greninja is Unlikely to Have Battle Bond
With Greninja featured as the next Pokemon Scarlet and Violet 7-Star Tera Raid Event, many are wondering if Battle Bond will be its ability.
How Fire Emblem Engage Reviews Compare to Other Games in the Franchise
While Fire Emblem games tend to review quite well, Fire Emblem Engage review scores are on the lower end compared to other entries in the series.
The Rumored Super Mario Game's Fourth Character Should Be Daisy Instead of Toad
With a new entry in the Super Mario franchise rumored to feature four playable characters, Daisy deserves to be included among the playable cast.
Every Move Cut From Pokemon Scarlet and Violet
Aside from the monsters themselves, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet are missing a lot from past generations of games, including a large number of moves.
All the Fossil Pokemon in the Franchise So Far
Although Pokemon Scarlet and Violet swapped fossils for Paradox Pokemon, the series has a long history of including rare, ancient monsters.
Why Lost Ark is Being Review Bombed Explained
The free-to-play MMORPG Lost Ark has been under fire for a recent wave of bans that has resulted in a dramatic drop in user reviews on Steam.
What's Next for Animal Crossing After New Horizons
After the critical and commercial success of Animal Crossing: New Horizons, there are many directions the franchise could go with future entries.
Pokemon Types That Have Yet to Be Represented in Starter Evolutions
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet's starters gain additional types when they evolve, but some types have still yet to appear on any starter evolution.
What to Expect from the Nintendo Switch in 2023
Now in its 6th year, the Nintendo Switch is once again set to have a strong year with new Fire Emblem, Zelda, and Pikmin titles coming in 2023.
Like a Dragon: Ishin's Kijinmaru Kunishige Sword Explained
Like a Dragon: Ishin features a variety of historical details for players to enjoy, including the pre-order bonus weapon Kijinmaru Kunishige.
Splatoon 3 Needs More Crossover Events Like the Pokemon Scarlet and Violet One
The popularity of Splatoon 3's Pokemon Splatfest shows that Nintendo is missing out by not having more crossover events with its franchises.
Remembering the NES' Launch Titles
As one of the most important game consoles in history, the NES had a strong launch filled with iconic titles like Duck Hunt and Super Mario Bros.
Remembering the Game Boy's Launch Titles
From Tetris to Super Mario Land, Nintendo's first foray into the handheld gaming space with the Game Boy changed the face of portable gaming forever.
Like a Dragon: Ishin's Place on the Timeline Explained
In a departure from other entries in the series, Like a Dragon: Ishin transports players back to the mid-19th century during Japan's Bakumatsu period.
What to Play Before Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden Come to Game Pass
Those awaiting Persona 3 Portable and Persona 4 Golden on Xbox Game Pass have a clear path on prerequisite games to play before release.
Why Pentiment’s Village of Tassing is the Game’s Most Important Character
With a diverse roster of characters players can impact with their choices, Pentiment's most prominent character is the village of Tassing itself.