Nick Rodriguez-Contributor

Staff Writer

Contributor

August, 2023
Bachelor's Degree in Creative Writing, University of Illinois
Action RPG, From Software, Mass Effect
  • 1157
    articles
  • 61
    News
  • 1066
    Features
  • 1
    Lists
  • 27
    Reviews
  • 2
    Other

Page 2

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

Final Fantasy 7 Remake PlayStation Logo
Two Beloved PS4/PS5 Game Are Losing Their Console Exclusivity Status in 2026, and That's for the Best

One heavy-hitting PlayStation exclusive is headed to Xbox and Switch 2 this year, which is a good portent for things to come.

The Expanse Osiris Reborn Key Art
What Is The Expanse: Osiris Reborn, the Upcoming Game that Has Major Mass Effect Vibes?

The Expanse: Osiris Reborn will bring the famed sci-fi series into the action-RPG realm, prompting comparisons to the Mass Effect series.

A Robot in MIO Memories in Orbit
What Is MIO: Memories in Orbit, the Hollow Knight-Like Game Coming to Xbox Game Pass Soon?

A new Hollow Knight-esque metroidvania called MIO: Memories in Orbit is landing on Game Pass soon, and there's reason to believe it'll make a splash.

1
Characters Around a Magic Circle in Witchbrook
New Cozy RPG on Steam Takes the Best of Stardew Valley's Presentation and Puts It Into a Magical Setting Like Hogwarts Legacy

Stardew Valley's art style has been much-imitated, but one upcoming indie adds an alluring magical spin akin to the Harry Potter franchise.

4
Flower Creature Gameplay Aniimo
Brand New Creature Collector on Steam Feels Like Pokemon & Palworld Finally Agreed to Get Along

Creature collecting games are having a major moment right now, but one upcoming title feels especially promising in the wake of Palworld.

8
Screenshot of an interior with purple light in Lunacid
Two Soulslike Games on Steam Are Strong Replacements for FromSoftware's Officially Dead IP

FromSoftware has more or less abandoned one of its older IP, but its spirit lives on in two modern, first-person adventure games.

A foggy swamp featuring a character in a swamp
What is Beast of Reincarnation, the New IP Coming From Pokemon Developer Game Freak?

Game Freak, a company historically associated exclusively with the Pokemon franchise, is stepping out of its niche with Beast of Reincarnation.

First-Person View of Xen in Black Mesa
The Best Game to Play Before Half-Life 3 Isn’t Made By Valve at All

Half-Life 3 was a no-show in 2025, but there's another project, made sans Valve's involvement, that might help tide fans over.

Who's Lila Tanya
The Steam-Only Masterpiece That’s Still Scarier Than Anything On PlayStation Or Xbox

Console gamers have plenty of flashy horror games to sink their teeth into, but some creepy tales are restricted to the PC realm.

Overhead view of a PC gamer with an RGB setup
Soaring RAM and SSD Prices Could Keep the Current PC and Console Generation Alive Longer—and That’s a Good Thing

Costs of gaming-related electronic components are rising, which could result in a prolonged life cycle for the current hardware generation.

best-games-of-ps-plus-2025-cyberpunk-2077-indika-sword-of-the-sea-game-rant
The 15 Best PS Plus Games Added in 2025

2025 has been a landmark year for games and the games industry, and that was reflected by a surprisingly busy PS Plus lineup.

2
Shot of a marked hand in The Duskbloods Trailer
Duskbloods is Something Completely Different for FromSoft, But It Keeps the Most Iconic Soulslike Feature (Not Combat!)

For as different as it is from its predecessors, The Duskbloods will retain at least one major FromSoftware staple—and it's not what you think.

The Witcher 4 Ciri
The New Witcher Trilogy is Setting Itself Up for Controversy, but More Games Should Follow Suit

The next Witcher saga has ambitious plans for its release cycle, but this may not be as risky as you think, and could be a smart development strategy.

2
starfinder-afterlight-baldurs-gate-3-game-rant
What is Starfinder: Afterlight, the Upcoming Baldur's Gate 3-Like CRPG?

Starfinder: Afterlight is set to be the first CRPG in the Starfinder franchise, and naturally, it's pulling quite a bit from Baldur's Gate 3.

Rockstar logo overlaid on The Warriors key art
Rockstar’s Forgotten 2005 Action Game Remains One of the Best—and Most Surprising—New York City Games

Rockstar has spawned several classic games, but one 2005 New York City brawler is still one of the developer's best takes on the big city.

divinity-larian-studios-game-rant
Which Divinity Games Do You Need to Play Before Larian's New Game Comes Out?

Divinity will be the next major project from CRPG leader Larian Studios, but contrary to its simple title, it's not the first of its kind.

Shot of a pilot flying a spaceship in Star Citizen
$900 million Raised. 12 Years in Development. So Why Isn’t Star Citizen Done Yet?

Star Citizen will go down in history as having one of the most interesting development stories ever—and the game might not even come out.

1
clair-obscur-expedition-33-hades-2-hollowknight-silksong-game-rant
What Even Is an Indie Game?

We all know that indie games have been on a tear these past few years, but defining something as "indie" isn't as simple as it once was.

2
Command and Conquer Remastered Collection Key Art
What happened to the Command & Conquer Franchise, and Will We Ever See Red Alert 4?

The Command & Conquer series was once at the forefront of the real-time strategy genre, but it's now mostly faded into irrelevance.

1
A Shot of a Crown Celestial from Exodus
Exodus' Greatest Weakness Means Mass Effect 5 Needs to Strike While the Iron is Hot

Archetype Entertainment offered another look at Exodus at TGA 2025, but one major element may have left some viewers feeling cold.