Mark Smith-Contributor

Editorial Team

Contributor

May, 2023
Creative Writing (BA)
RPG, The Elder Scrolls, Final Fantasy
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  • 310
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Page 9

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 Games Made With The Shortest Development Time new vegas crash bandicoot warped majoras mask-1
9 Best Games Made With The Shortest Development Time

Games like Crash Bandicoot Warped and Majora's Mask may have sections about fighting time, but these games were made with barely any time at all.

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Spiritfarer Stella, Celeste Madeline, Gris
5 Indie Games With Strong Female Leads

From Gris to Spiritfarer, female heroes are leading the charge in the indie scene with a variety of beautiful, touching, and vivacious games.

best castles in final fantasy
5 Best Castles In Final Fantasy, Ranked

Castles have been a traditional fixture in the Final Fantasy series, from Castle Baron to Edgar's steampunk Castle Figaro, but which is the best?

best dark fantasy stealth games
5 Best Dark Fantasy Stealth Games, Ranked

Dark fantasy games like Gloomwood, Thief 2, and Dishonored allow players to explore magical and dark worlds from a stealthy, low-down perspective.

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most realistic archery horizon breath of the wild wii sports resort
5 Games With Realistic Archery Mechanics

From The Legend Of Zelda to The Elder Scrolls, bows have always been popular in video games, but these games truly hit the mark for archery realism.

final fantasy biggest dragons ranked
5 Biggest Dragons In Final Fantasy Games, Ranked

Final Fantasy takes inspiration from all kinds of fantasy concepts, and there isn't a more iconic trope than the big dragon, but how big can they get?

final fantasy largest summons in the series
6 Biggest Summons In Final Fantasy, Ranked

Gaining a new summon in Final Fantasy is always a big deal, but which altruistic supernatural entity is the largest in the series?

crash bandicoot best design in series
Crash Bandicoot: All Of Crash's Designs In The Games, Ranked

Crash Bandicoot has always had style, but which design best captures the essence of the orange marsupial?

best gorons in the legend of zelda
6 Best Goron Characters In Zelda Games, Ranked

Gorons in The Legend of Zelda have generally been pretty rock and roll, but which goron buries the competition?

final fantasy Characters Who Appear In The Most Games
Final Fantasy: 6 Characters Who Appear In The Most Games

From summonable monsters to classic comedy duos, these Final Fantasy characters have dominated the rest when it comes to making a comeback.

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final fantasy most divisive love or hate games
6 Most Polarizing Final Fantasy Games You Either Love Or Hate

While the Final Fantasy series has broad appeal, its experimental streaks have created games that fans either love or hate.

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best difficulty types super mario world dark souls resident evil
5 Best Difficulty Types In Video Games, Ranked

The debate about difficulty in games like Dark Souls has been burning for a long time, but some difficulty types have distinct advantages over others.

RPGs that let players make choices
6 RPGs With The Most Player Freedom, Choice, And Consequence

Western RPGs often aim to be a blend of power fantasy with life simulation, but few, like Fallout: New Vegas and BG3, have offered true freedom.

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weird video game genres not for broadcast banana the graveyard
5 Weirdest Video Game Genres

Video games can be pretty wacky sometimes, but titles from off-beat genres like Banana and Not For Broadcast are bound to raise eyebrows.

stealth games that allow non lethal runs clandestine dishonored
5 Stealth Games That Allow Non-Lethal Runs

Shadowy backstabbing can be fun, but many stealth games force the player's hand to kill. Games like Dishonored and Clandestine let the player choose.

abraham lincoln in civ 4, the boss in saints row 4, king washington in assassin's creed 3 the tyranny of king washington
10 Games That Let You Play as the President of the United States

These games provide players with the opportunity and the challenge to be the President of the United States, whether it's against aliens or taxes.

final fantasy best male character squall cloud and auron feature
Final Fantasy: Best Male Characters, Ranked

From the relatable to the role model, the boys and men of Final Fantasy have inspired fans over the series' long history, but these guys are the best.

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5:06
best-open-world-games-no-sequel
6 of the Best Open World Games That Didn't Get a Sequel

Typically, when a game is super successful, a sequel tends to follow. However, sometimes even the most lucrative and critically acclaimed games are standalone adventures.

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assassin's creed best gadgets in the series
Assassin's Creed: The 7 Best Gadgets In The Series, Ranked

Assassins are masters of weapons and movement, but the Brotherhood has also developed some impressive gadgets to fight Templars throughout history.

5:06
open world games that didn't get a sequel the saboteur mad max and days gone-1
6 Best Open-World Games That Never Received A Sequel

Open-world games like Days Gone and L.A. Noire aren't easy or cheap to make. Although these games were great, sadly, they didn't get a follow-up.

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