Nick Rodriguez-Contributor

Staff Writer

Contributor

August, 2023
Bachelor's Degree in Creative Writing, University of Illinois
Action RPG, From Software, Mass Effect
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About Nick Rodriguez

Nick is a freelance writer from Chicago, IL, with a BA in Creative Writing from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. His lifelong belief in the artistic power of video games led him to contribute to The Best War Games and Screen Rant, platforms where he has managed to share helpful news content, thoughtful opinion pieces, and more than a few hot takes.

While he believes all gaming genres and categories have worth, Nick's interests lie primarily in the realm of single-player experiences, with hand-crafted stories, tight and challenging gameplay, and emotive, unique visual and audio design. On the industry side of things, he is committed to supporting creators, identifying and criticizing exploitation, and combating negativity and toxicity.

Aside from gaming, he enjoys long-distance running, reading, contributing to his blog, working on his Honda CX650C, writing fiction, and having a beer or two.

Favorite Games

- Bloodborne
- Disco Elysium
- Death Stranding
- Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
- Mass Effect 2
- Red Dead Redemption 2
- Dead Space
- Signalis
- Hades
- BioShock
- Super Mario Galaxy
- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

Industry Focus

A bit of everything, but with a particular affinity for indie games, industry news, gaming events, and new technology.

Favorite Console

Easy win for the PS2.

Latest

The Alters Jan Dolski
The Alters: Why Tabula Rasa Poses an Impossible Decision

The Tabula Rasa choice is a pivotal one in The Alters, and it's no surprise why it's caused so much indecisiveness from players.

The Alters Act 1
The Alters Doesn't Need New Game Plus, But It Could Use Another Common Game Mode

Regrettably, The Alters didn't launch with new game plus, but that doesn't mean that another, even more fitting game mode is off the table.

The Alters Jan Shrink
The Alters Made Me Feel Like I Was Talking To Myself

The Alters is a fun game, to be sure, but it's also a deeply personal and moving one, and I'm glad that I experienced its intimate themes firsthand.

1
The Alters Key Art(1)
You Can Play with All Jans in The Alters, but with an Asterisk Attached

The Alters players can actually bypass the six-Alter requirement imposed by the game, but only after some unconventional tweaks.

The Alters Dialogue Choices
How The Alters Makes You Care About Dialogue Choices

A lot of games put stock in choosing the right dialogue, but The Alters is a masterclass in how to make those choices feel meaningful.

Ea Sports FC Rematch
Rematch Puts the Ball in EA Sports' Court

Sloclap's Rematch is finally here, and its growing success should make companies like EA and Konami look at their sports games differently.

Jordan Peele Hideo Kojima OD
Should Horror Game OD Be More Kojima or Jordan Peele?

Hideo Kojima and Jordan Peele are teaming up for horror game OD, but should the game have more influence from the former, or the latter?

The Alters How To Survive Magnetic Storm Full Guide
The Alters: Why You Should Consider Playing On the Highest Difficulty Setting

The Alters isn't exactly a walk in the park on normal difficulty, but for a true nail-biting experience, players should consider cranking things up.

Greek God of War Delay Blessing
Why the New Greek God of War Game's Supposed Delay May Be a Blessing in Disguise

The long-rumored Greek God of War game has allegedly been pushed back to 2026, which might actually be a good thing for the series.

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Fallout Shelter Fans Check Out The Alters
Why Fallout Shelter Fans Should Check Out The Alters

Fans of Fallout Shelter will probably find a lot to love in the recently released The Alters, which has some surprisingly similar mechanics.

The Alters Cardinal Sins Explained
The Cardinal Sins of The Alters Explained

While The Alters is more forgiving than 11 Bit Studios' previous works, there are still plenty of opportunities for crushing mistakes.

The Alters Unwritten Rules Explained
The Unwritten Rules of The Alters Explained

The Alters is defined by flexibility, freedom, and player expression, but all the same, there are some guidelines players should follow.

a-6
The Alters' Terrence Maxwell Perfectly Captures Its Philosophical Themes

The Alters is an ideologically dense narrative experience, and Ally Corp Mining Head Terrence Maxwell represents one of its key pillars.

RAIDOU Remastered The Mystery of the Soulless Army Press Image 2
RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army Review

RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is a fantastic revamping of the 2006 classic, putting it in conversation with contemporary ARPGs.

transistor-hades-2-game-rant
After Hades 2, It May Be Time for Supergiant to Revisit Another Genre

Supergiant Games has made an indelible mark with the Hades duology, but it may be time to try out a different strategy with its next outing.

Mafia the Old Country Enzo
Mafia: The Old Country Could Fill the Void That GTA 6 Left Behind

With Grand Theft Auto 6 getting pushed back to 2026, Hangar 13's Mafia: The Old Country might have to step up to the proverbial plate.

red-dead-redemption-2-sad-gta-6-grand-theft-auto-game-happy-game-rant
Why Red Dead Redemption May Never Have the Same Growth Potential as Grand Theft Auto

Red Dead Redemption seems like the second pillar of Rockstar's development alongside GTA, but it might never be as flexible or rich with potential.

Fable Reboot Protagonist
Fable Should Nip One Meme in The Bud

Audiences have poked fun at the upcoming Fable reboot for an obvious reason, and it's time Playground Games changed the narrative.

The Alters Band Scene
The Alters Proves That the Survival and Social Sim Genres Are a Match Made in Heaven

The Alters is a survival game first and foremost, but its unique social-sim framework makes for a surprisingly effective complement.

The Alters Mobile Base
How The Alters' Base-Building Mechanics Complement Its Social Simulation

Building the perfect base in The Alters is about more than just survival, as the game offers from Sims-like social mechanics and personalization too.