Carla Carmona -Contributor

Staff Writer

Contributor

March, 2025
BA in English & Creative Writing | MA in English
RPG, Life Simulation
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    articles
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About Carla Carmona

Carla is a writer from Peñuelas, Puerto Rico, now based in Atlanta. She’s an Emory alum with both a BA and MA in English, but more importantly, she’s a Pisces with lots of opinions about video games.

Her work has ranged from academic institutions to nonprofits and even Fortune 500 companies, but these days she’s happiest writing about games. As a Contributor for The Best War Games, she dives into fandoms, industry trends, and the weird little corners of gaming culture. She especially loves picking apart stories in RPGs and analyzing how games shape the way we think about modern storytelling.

When she’s not writing, she’s probably deep into yet another The Sims 4 playthrough (her 2,000+ hours say "sul, sul, The Best War Games readers"), crying about Shadow the Hedgehog, overanalyzing vampire lore, or flirting with disaster in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Favorite Games

Baldur's Gate 3
• Pentiment
• Mass Effect: Legendary Edition
• Red Dead Redemption 2
• Super Mario Galaxy

Industry Focus

Is your girlfriend/wife playing it? Carla is likely writing about it. 

Favorite Movies

Cabaret (1972)
Interview with the Vampire (1994)
Nosferatu (2024)
In the Mood for Love (2000)

Latest

The Sims 4’s Update Roadmap May Be Writing a Check It Can’t Cash
The Sims 4’s Update Roadmap May Be Writing a Check It Can’t Cash

EA's new Quality of Life Roadmap for The Sims 4 promises player-voted fixes, but its crowdsourced approach to prioritizing issues could backfire.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Players on a ‘No Illithid Powers’ Run Can’t Recruit This Character
Baldur’s Gate 3 Players on a ‘No Illithid Powers’ Run Can’t Recruit This Character

While the No Illithid Powers run adds a fun twist to Baldur's Gate 3 playthroughs, players will have to miss out on one of the game's best characters.

4
I Would Be Devastated if Haunted Chocolatier Made This Change From Stardew Valley
I Would Be Devastated if Haunted Chocolatier Made This Change From Stardew Valley

As Haunted Chocolatier shifts its focus to combat, I worry it will abandon a feature that makes Stardew Valley and other cozy games so personal.

Baldur’s Gate 3 I Still Regret Recruiting This Party Member
After 392 Hours in Baldur’s Gate 3, I Still Regret Recruiting This Party Member

While I initially liked this character and their story, I ultimately regretted adding them to my party in Baldur's Gate 3, and here's why.

26
I Think This is The Best Thing to do With Mayor Lewis' Shorts
After 105 Hours in Stardew Valley, I Think This is The Best Thing to do With Mayor Lewis' Shorts

I've played Stardew Valley for over 105 hours, and I've found that this is the best thing to do with Mayor Lewis' lucky purple shorts.

Xbox Game Pass Games September 14 to September 20
3 Xbox Game Pass Games to Play This Week (September 14 - September 20)

From epic sci-fi RPGs to challenging survival platformers, these recommendations for Xbox Game Pass have you covered this week.

1
The 'Main Event' of the Super Mario 40th Anniversary Being a Movie is an Absolute Travesty
The 'Main Event' of the Super Mario 40th Anniversary Being a Movie is an Absolute Travesty

Super Mario's 40th anniversary deserved to be celebrated with a new 3D Mario title for the Switch 2, but it was overshadowed by a movie sequel.

Xbox Games to Play This Weekend September 12 September 14
3 Xbox Series X/S Games to Play This Weekend (September 12 - September 14)

From the mean streets of post-WWII Los Angeles to the wastelands of a major city, these Xbox Series X/S games are perfect for a weekend binge.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Moment Hit Me Like a Truck, But I Always Find Myself Coming Back to It Astarion Cazador Boss Fight
This Baldur’s Gate 3 Moment Hit Me Like a Truck, But I Always Find Myself Coming Back to It

Baldur's Gate 3 is full of memorable moments, but the one I still think about ended up ripping my heart out into a million little pieces.

Stardew Valley’s Family Tree is a Ceiling It May Never Shatter Children
Stardew Valley’s Family Tree is a Ceiling It May Never Shatter

Fans are hoping for expanded family features in Stardew Valley's 1.7 update, but is it too late to introduce such a fundamental change?

1
Baldur's Gate 3 Moment Pressing 'Nuke Button' Divine Intervention Shadowheart
I Still Think About This Baldur's Gate 3 Moment After Pressing My 'Nuke Button'

The Divine Intervention spell that clerics have at their disposal in Baldur's Gate 3 is my favorite nuke, and I still remember when and how I used it.

The Best Way to Handle the Owlbear Egg Baldur's Gate 3
After Three Baldur's Gate 3 Playthroughs, I Think This is The Best Way to Handle the Owlbear Egg

From one experienced player to another, here's the best way to handle the Owlbear egg in Baldur's Gate 3.

2
xbox-game-pass-best-games-to-play-september-7-september-13-week-free-silksong-way-out-control-stardew-valley
4 Xbox Game Pass Games to Play This Week (September 7 - September 13)

This week's Xbox Game Pass lineup offers something for every mood, from an epic, long-awaited sequel to a fan-favorite farming sim.

Baldur's Gate 3 Players Shouldn't Jump to Conclusions About This Difficult Challenge
Baldur's Gate 3 Players Shouldn't Jump to Conclusions About This Difficult Challenge

While one particular Baldur's Gate 3 achievement may be difficult to accomplish, most players should simply think outside the box.

Xbox Series X/S Games to Play This Weekend (September 5 - September 7)Games to play this weekend
3 Xbox Series X/S Games to Play This Weekend (September 5 - September 7)

These weekend selections for Xbox Series X/S players highlight a strong start to the month of September.

1
If Any Baldur’s Gate 3 Character Deserves to Be a Camp Follower, It's This Act 3 NPC Nocturne BG3  (1)
If Any Baldur’s Gate 3 Character Deserves to Be a Camp Follower, It's This Act 3 NPC

Baldur's Gate 3's camp companions and followers are a highlight, but one NPC stands out because of her absence.

1
PS5 is Delivering a One-Two Punch For Stardew Valley Fans in 2025
PS5 is Delivering a One-Two Punch For Stardew Valley Fans in 2025

PlayStation players who love cozy farming sims are getting spoiled in 2025, with Stardew Valley's recent launch on PS Plus along an upcoming life sim.

6
The Sims 4 May Be Ending 2025 With a Whimper, Not a Bang Leak Roadmap
The Sims 4 May Be Ending 2025 With a Whimper, Not a Bang

2025 has been an interesting year for The Sims 4, but it may be fizzling out at the end of the year instead of finishing strong.

3
Baldur's Gate 3: Why Minthara is a Great Role Model for All Paladin Players
Baldur's Gate 3: Why Minthara is a Great Role Model for All Paladin Players

Minthara from Baldur's Gate 3 breaks the mold of traditional Paladins, embodying discipline and complexity rather than just Lawful Good morality.

2
Stardew Valley Update 1.7 Wish List
Stardew Valley 1.7 Update Wish List

With the 1.7 Update for Stardew Valley approaching, this wish list compiles some of the most requested improvements from fans.