Editorial Team
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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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
8 Best Games With Hand-Crafted Open Worlds
Creating a satisfying open world that keeps bringing players back for more is no small undertaking.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.