Mark Smith-Contributor

Staff Writer

Contributor

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

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best modern turn based rpgs persona pathfinder octopath traveler
14 Best Modern Turn-Based RPGs, Ranked
RPG

Turn-based systems in games like Dragon Quest and Persona were once seen as outdated, but have since made a strong comeback in modern RPGs.

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The Sims 2 Best Skills To Master
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
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.

Oldest Playable Characters In Rockstar's Games, Ranked
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: 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 Races That Have Never Been Playable-1
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.

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The Sims 2 Best Neighborhoods
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?

Democracy 4 Tropico 6 Rogue State Revolution
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
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.

Best Games Involving The Occult cultist simulator gabriel knight
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 Best Sci-Fi Games In The Franchise, Ranked
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.

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Final Fantasy Most Underused Jobs In The Series
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.

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Games That Are Technically RPGs But Don’t Feel Like It
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 Most Controversial Changes In The Series
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 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.

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Things The Oblivion Remake Should Change From The Original Game cover
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.

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7 Best RPGs With Blood Magic
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
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
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.