Mark Smith-Contributor

Staff Writer

Contributor

May, 2023
Creative Writing (BA)
RPG, The Elder Scrolls, Final Fantasy
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Page 11

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

Forgotten Video Game Studios That Helped Shape The Industry
6 Defunct Video Game Studios That Helped Shape The Industry

The video game studios of today stand on the shoulders of giants, even if some of them have been largely forgotten by modern audiences.

EarthBound, Knuckle Sandwich, Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne
6 Best Games To Play If You Love Undertale

Undertale may be one-of-a-kind, but there have been game studios before and since that set out to capture the same kind of offbeat magic.

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5 Best RPGs With Detective Protagonists, Ranked

Role playing games let players be anyone they can imagine, and these detective RPGs give gamers the tools and skills needed to solve any case.

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5 Best MMOs With The Best Cooking Mechanics

Cooking has become a staple crafting system for many MMOs, but which one uses the secret sauce that keeps players coming back for seconds?

final fantasy 15 kingdom come cooking mechanics
5 Best RPGs With Cooking Mechanics

RPGs can be some of the best comfort foods for gamers, but these games also offer robust cooking mechanics for players to sink their teeth into.

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The Elder Scrolls: 6 Oldest Dragons, Ranked

While the dragons of The Elder Scrolls are known to be eternal, some are more eternal than others, so which dovah of Skyrim and beyond are the eldest?

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Final Fantasy: 6 Best Endings In The Series, Ranked

The Final Fantasy series has told some exceptional stories, but which one wraps things up in the most beautiful way?

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5 Genres Perfect For A Jak & Daxter Revival

The Jak series has been dormant for some time, but these genres might be the perfect platform to reignite the franchise.

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6 Video Game Protagonists With Iconic Scars

Scars are mysterious, badass, and sexy, and these video game protagonists use theirs to great effect.

video games as works of art header
The 5 Best Candidates For Games As Works Of Art

The debate surrounding video games as art continues, but these titles have the best chance of turning the tide and changing critics' minds.

Video Game Genres That Defined The 2000s
6 Video Game Genres That Defined The 2000s

The turn of the millennium saw perhaps gaming's biggest evolutionary leaps and shifts, producing some surprising genres and trends.

Adventure Games Set In Abandoned Worlds Reclaimed By Nature
6 Adventure Games Set In Abandoned Worlds Reclaimed By Nature

The end of the world may be scary, but the apocalypse can also be beautiful if Mother Nature takes over, as demonstrated by these adventure games.

Best First Person Open World Life Simulators
5 Best First Person Open World Life Simulators

Gamers yearn to experience other lives, and while few offer both realistic first-person perspectives and wide-open worlds, these life sims do it all.

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5 Most Innovative Character Progression Systems In RPGs

RPGs depend on progression and leveling to engage players, but games like Final Fantasy and Skyrim have mastered the art of character advancement.

the elder scrolls best leveling progression system skyrim oblivion daggerfall
The Elder Scrolls: Every Leveling System In The Series, Ranked

From Arena to Skyrim, the series' approach to level progression has evolved with time, but which of The Elder Scrolls systems is the best?

strong female protagonist post apocalypse
5 Post-Apocalyptic Games With Strong Female Protagonists

As the post apocalyptic survival genre continues to enjoy popularity, gamers are finally seeing strong, independent women in leading roles.

skyrim worst weapons ranked
Skyrim: 5 Worst Weapons, Ranked

Some powerful weapons in Skyrim can slay dragons and Daedra alike, but which are the worst weapons to carry into battle?

GTA biggest innovations feature
4 Ways GTA 6 Can Stand Apart From Previous Games

Rockstar's GTA has always set the bar for quality, but what kind of innovations will Grand Theft Auto 6 bring to set it apart from previous games?

shadow of mordor cyberpunk 2077 prototype open world power fantasy video games
The 7 Best Power Fantasy Games Set In Open Worlds

Go anywhere, do anything, fight anyone, and win: the open world power fantasy might be the most opulent gaming genre, but which games can pull it off?

god sim games feature
Play God: 12 Best God Sim Games, Ranked

These god simulator games let players live out their dreams of being an omnipotent deity; good, evil, or something in-between.