Mark Smith-Contributor

Editorial Team

Contributor

May, 2023
Creative Writing (BA)
RPG, The Elder Scrolls, Final Fantasy
  • 311
    articles
  • 310
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About Mark Smith

Mark has been thinking and writing about games since a Gameboy Pocket and a copy of Link's Awakening was first placed into his tender, seven-year-old hands.

Since then, he snagged a creative writing (BA) degree, roleplayed as a banker, an English teacher, and finally, a games writer – all while pursuing his true passion: inhabiting and creating virtual worlds.

As well as writing about, reading about, thinking about, talking about, dreaming about, and generally fantasizing about video games, Mark also dabbles with game development.

Proudest Gaming Achievement

I make my own video games (achievement unlocked!), which you can check out (and play for free) here:

https://markgsmith.itch.io/

Favorite Games

Mark's favorite game worlds are found in titles such as the Elder Scrolls, Metal Gear Solid, Jak and Daxter, and Guild Wars.

Favorite Console

The PS2 had all the bangers, but who can deny the divine right of PC gaming?

Latest

Best Open-World Games That Let You Reshape The World With Creativity, Ranked fixed
9 Best Open-World Games That Let You Reshape The World With Creativity, Ranked

From Valheim to Fallout, these open-world games give players the power to reshape terrain, build from scratch, and leave creative marks on worlds.

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Best RPGs That Let You Live A Normal Life, Ranked
6 Best RPGs That Let You Live A Normal Life, Ranked

These RPGs let you enjoy the joy of everyday life as you form relationships, hold jobs, and build new routines, without having to save the world.

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7 Worst Ways Players Ruin Their Own Fun In Video Games, Ranked
7 Worst Ways Players Ruin Their Own Fun In Video Games, Ranked

Even in great games like Destiny 2 and Fallout, many players ruin their own gaming experience with these bad habits, often without realizing it.

Best Open-World Games About Being An Assassin, Ranked
6 Best Open-World Games About Being An Assassin, Ranked

From hacking and slashing in Cyberpunk 2077 to sandbox sneaking in MGS5, these open-world games turn contract killing into an art form.

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Why There Are Almost No Games Like The Sims
Why There Are Almost No Games Like The Sims

Why has no game rivaled The Sims? From complex systems to cultural dominance, here's why no true Sims alternative exists, yet.

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Best Open-World Games That Will Change Your Worldview, Ranked
7 Best Open-World Games That Will Change Your Worldview, Ranked

These open-world games, like Minecraft, Eco, and New Vegas, do more than entertain; they challenge how you see the world with gameplay and story.

6 Best Open-World Games That Let You Live A Normal Life, Ranked-1
7 Best Open-World Games That Let You Live A Normal Life, Ranked

These open-world games let you take a break from heroics to cook, farm, fish, and live a surprisingly fulfilling ordinary life, if only for a while.

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Best Open-World Games About Being A Bounty Hunter
6 Best Open-World Games About Being A Bounty Hunter

From Red Dead to Starfield and Elite Dangerous, these open-world games put bounty hunting front and center, tracking, chasing, and cashing in.

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Quality Of Life Features Every Open-World Game Should Have, Ranked
6 Quality Of Life Features Every Open-World Game Should Have, Ranked

Open-world games like Elden Ring and GTA shine thanks to essential quality-of-life features that enhance exploration, immersion, and player freedom.

Open-World Games That Parody American Culture, Ranked
6 Open-World Games That Parody American Culture, Ranked

From Fallout's nuclear wastelands to Saints Row's alien invasions, these open-world games hold a wacky mirror up to the United States.

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RPGs That Let You Create Companions From Scratch
8 RPGs That Let You Create Companions From Scratch

Unleash your creativity and build the perfect party to tackle any challenge in these customizable RPGs.

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8 Best Open-World Games That Feel Hand-Crafted
8 Best Games With Hand-Crafted Open Worlds

Creating a satisfying open world that keeps bringing players back for more is no small undertaking.

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Best Open-World Games That Feel Hand-Crafted
8 Best Open-World Games That Feel Hand-Crafted

Open-world games with stunningly handcrafted worlds like Morrowind or Elden Ring weren’t auto-generated but built with care, story, and soul.

Best Open-World Games With Recruitable Party Members
6 Best Open-World Games With Recruitable Party Members

From Assassin's Creed to Saints Row, experience the strength of numbers with recruitable party members in these action-packed open-world titles.

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Game Mechanics Every Good Open-World Game Should Have
8 Game Mechanics Every Good Open-World Game Should Have

Discover the secret ingredients that make open-world games like Skyrim, Marvel's Spider-Man, and Minecraft truly immersive and engaging.

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PlayStation Games That Changed Gaming Forever
7 PlayStation Games That Changed Gaming Forever

From Final Fantasy 7 to Resident Evil and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2, these PlayStation legends reshaped entire genres and redefined gaming.

Best RPGs With The Most Build Diversity, Ranked
7 Best RPGs With The Most Build Diversity, Ranked

From Baldur’s Gate 3 to Path of Exile 2, these RPGs offer deep multiclassing, sprawling skill trees, and endless buildcraft possibilities.

Classic PC Games That Changed Gaming Forever
10 Classic PC Games That Changed Gaming Forever

From The Sims and Diablo to Deus Ex and Elite, these classic PC games changed video games forever, one genre-defining step at a time.

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Best RPGs With Non-Combat Magic featured image
6 Best RPGs With Non-Combat Magic

From classics like Arcanum to modern masterworks like Baldur's Gate, these RPGs feature non-combat magic for exploration, manipulation, and discovery.

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2D Games That Let You Shape The World With Creativity, Ranked
2D Games That Let You Shape The World With Creativity, Ranked

From Starbound's alien terraforming to WorldBox's god-sim chaos, these 2D sandbox games are ideal for players craving creative control.

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