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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
The Sims Legacy Collection: Best Paying Career Tracks
From slacker to hacker, The Sims Legacy Collection has a lot of careers for Sims to choose from, but these are the highest-paying.
14 Best Modern Turn-Based RPGs, Ranked
Turn-based systems in games like Dragon Quest and Persona were once seen as outdated, but have since made a strong comeback in modern RPGs.
The Sims 2: Best Skills To Master
Mastering the right skills in The Sims 2 can shape a Sim’s success, from career growth to social life.
Final Fantasy: Oldest Villains In The Games, Ranked
From Exdeath to Yu Yevon, these ancient Final Fantasy villains have shaped worlds for centuries, wielding godlike power and timeless hatred.
7 Oldest Playable Characters In Rockstar's Games, Ranked
From GTA and Red Dead, Rockstar's oldest stars range from aging outlaws to seasoned criminals, proving how experience can be as dangerous as youth.
The Sims 2: Highest Paying Careers
The Sims 2 offers high-paying careers like natural science, education, and intelligence. These top-tier jobs bring the biggest paychecks and rewards.
Final Fantasy: 7 Races That Have Never Been Playable
Final Fantasy’s unplayable races, including Tonberries and PuPu, could bring fresh adventures to future games... if they could only join the party.
The Sims 2: Best Neighborhoods, Ranked
The Sims 2 neighborhoods offer unique aesthetics, lore, and drama, but from suburban Pleasantview to eerie Strangetown, which world is the best?
17 Best Political Sim Games, Ranked
Gamers who are interested in politics should check out these politically-fueled simulation games.
The Elder Scrolls: Most Ambitious Content Mods In The Series
These ambitious Elder Scrolls mods add new lands, quests, and adventures to Morrowind, Oblivion, and Skyrim, ever-expanding the playtime for fans.
7 Best Games Involving The Occult
From Cult of the Lamb's cult-building to grand conspiracies in The Council, these games explore forbidden lore, secret societies, and dark rituals.
Final Fantasy: 6 Best Sci-Fi Games In The Franchise, Ranked
From dystopian cities in Final Fantasy 13 to the magitek utopia of Final Fantasy 8, Final Fantasy often explores sci-fi, despite its namesake.
Final Fantasy: 7 Most Underused Jobs In The Series
Rare Final Fantasy jobs like the geomancer and necromancer offer appeal and unique mechanics yet remain underused and overshadowed by series staples.
6 Games That Are Technically RPGs But Don’t Feel Like It
From Dark Souls' action-heavy gameplay to Pokémon's strategic battles, these RPGs challenge traditional definitions of the genre in surprising ways.
The Elder Scrolls: 7 Most Controversial Changes In The Series
From lore retcons in Oblivion to controversial creations in Skyrim, The Elder Scrolls series has brought its share of divisive changes.
The Elder Scrolls: 9 Things In The Oblivion Remake That Shouldn't Be Changed
The Oblivion remake has the potential to honor its legacy by refining important, classic features while embracing modern enhancements.
9 Things The Oblivion Remake Should Change From The Original Game
From combat modernizations to progression and level scaling, here’s what fans are hoping to see in the rumored Elder Scrolls 4 Oblivion remake.
7 Best RPGs With Blood Magic
RPGs like Dragon Age and Guild Wars imbue players with dark powers of blood magic, blending vampire tropes, ritual sacrifice, and visceral gameplay.
Disco Elysium: Best Tips For A Sensitive Archetype Build
These tips will help Disco Elysium's sensitive cop navigate his case and help the player get the most out of this lurid and deeply soulful RPG.
Disco Elysium: Best Tips For A Thinker Archetype Build
Choosing the thinker archetype in Disco Elysium is smart since the game is about solving a complex crime; these tips will smooth that investigation.