James Houghton-Contributor

Staff Writer

Contributor

Contributor Since June, 2024
Qualifications BA (Hons) Media & Popular Culture
Expertise
Dark Souls, The Elder Scrolls, RPG
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About James Houghton

James is a writer on The Best War Games. Ever since picking up a Sega Saturn controller at age 4, he's been in love with video games. From raiding tombs to crashing bandicoots, he's done it all for 3 decades and even written a dissertation about video games as an art form. You'll most likely find him scouring the latest FromSoftware release for the tiniest scraps of lore, exploring the furthest reaches of Tamriel, or renovating his castle in Enshrouded.

Favorite Games

I first fell in love with RPGs while playing Diablo 1 in co-op with my little brother on the PS1. From there I've put hundreds of hours into all time classic series like Final Fantasy and The Elder Scrolls, as well as 100% runs and level 1 challenges in all the Souls games. I'm also a massive fan of survival games, with Enshrouded being my top pick for it's unique blend of mechanics - it's everything I've ever wanted in one place.

Proudest Gaming Achievement

Being the last Miqo'te standing and taking down Titan EX in Final Fantasy XIV alone after the rest of my Free Company wiped. One last-ditch Limit Break 3 from my Black Mage put an end to a five straight evenings of attempts. I can still hear the cheers.

Favorite Console

I'm a PC player, but the PS2 will always hold a special place in my heart for the countless hours I poured into top-tier titles like Dragon Quest 8, Champions of Norrath and Final Fantasy XI. And I'll always love Ocarina of Time and Jet Force Gemini on the N64. As a grown-up with kids, the Switch has fast become my go-to console of choice when I'm not at my desktop.

Latest

Soulslike Games With The Best Stories, Ranked
10 Soulslike Games With The Best Stories, Ranked
Lies of P

The thrill of defeating soulslike bosses isn't the only motivator in these games, as they also keep players hooked with great stories.

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Key art showing different characters as various Jobs from Final Fantasy Tactics.
6 Best Tactical JRPGs On The PS1, Ranked
Video Games

These are some of the best tactical JRPGs that launched on the PlayStation 1.

6-Best-RPGs-With-Almost-No-Boss-Fights
6 Best RPGs With Almost No Boss Fights
RPG

Many role-playing games feature climactic moments in their boss battles, but these games forego those moments.

The logo for the Settlers of Kalguur League in Path of Exile.
Path Of Exile: Best Ranger Builds
Path of Exile

There are many different builds for Rangers in Path of Exile, but these are easily the best and most viable of them.

Key art showing multiple Ascendancy classes in Path of Exile.
Path Of Exile: Best Classes For Beginners
Path of Exile

Newcomers to Path of Exile should consider selecting the following classes to begin with, as they are the most beginner-friendly of them all.

best fighting game franchise story street fighter mortal kombat tekken
6 Best Story-Driven Fighting Game Franchises
Video Games

Some of the best fighting game franchises out there also happen to have some of the most compelling storytelling in the genre.

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Lara Croft posing with a gun from Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation.
6 Tomb Raider Games With The Best Stories, Ranked
Tomb Raider

The Tomb Raider franchise and its iconic heroine Lara Croft have given audiences some incredible stories over the years.

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Hestu dancing in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - 5 Hardest Korok Seeds To Get
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

There are plenty of Korok Seeds to hunt down in Breath of the Wild, but these are by far the most difficult to find.

A split image showing steps of Moore's quest in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.
Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree - 5 Side Quests Players Should Not Skip
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree

These side quests in Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree come with certain advantages players should not miss out on by skipping them.

Close-up of the player character in Code Vein.
4 Best Sci-Fi Soulslike Games, Ranked
Remnant 2

Though Soulslikes are often known for grimdark fantasy settings, these titles take the formula into the realm of science fiction.

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Three of the new Spirit Summons from Elden Ring Shadow of The Erdtree.
Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree - 5 Best New Spirit Ashes, Ranked
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree

Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC adds a few new Spirit Ashes players can call upon to aid them in battle. Here are the ones worth getting.

Three images showing new Sorcery spells in Elden Ring Shadow of The Erdtree.
Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree - Best New Sorceries, Ranked
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree

Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC brings with it a range of new Sorceries. Here are the best ones players can get.

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The Dueling Shield from Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.
Elden Ring Shadow Of The Erdtree: Best New Shields, Ranked
Video Games

Elden Ring's Shadow of the Erdtree DLC adds plenty of new shields to protect the Tarnished, and even deal damage in surprising ways.

The Chilling Perfume Bottle from Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree.
Elden Ring: Shadow Of The Erdtree - Best Perfume Bottles, Ranked
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree

The Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree DLC finally lets the Tarnished become a maniacal alchemist with the Perfume Bottle weapons.

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