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

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.

Atreus hugging Kratos in God of War Ragnarok
Everyone Thinks the Next Game After God of War Ragnarok Will Go to Egypt, But I'm Not Convinced

It's not exactly uncommon to assume that God of War will center on Egyptian mythology in its next chapter, but I'm not so sure.

2
Protagonist of Exit 8 Movie
The Best Debut Horror Game Of 2023 Is Getting a Movie Next Year

An avant-garde Japanese indie horror project surprised the industry in 2023; it's now gotten a film adaptation, which releases worldwide next year.

1
Heavenly Sword Key Art featuring Nariko
PlayStation 3’s Forgotten 2007 Action Game Remains One of Its Best—and Most Surprising—Single-Player Games
PS3

Ninja Theory released a boundary-pushing action game in 2007, and while the IP's future may have been killed, its memory lives on.

hollow-knight-game-awards-game-rant-feature (2)
Every Award Hollow Knight: Silksong Won At The Game Awards 2025

Hollow Knight Silksong had great representation at The Game Awards 2025, nominated for five honors, but took home only a fraction.

No Law Reveal Trailer Man Eating Ice Cream
New Open World FPS RPG Looks Like Cyberpunk Meets GTA and It's Coming to PS5

Krafton unveils its next game at The Game Awards 2025, and it seems to be channeling some serious Cyberpunk 2077 and Grand Theft Auto vibes.

1
Gordon Freeman Being Attacked by a Monster in Half-Life 2 Key Art
Half Life 3's Recent No Show May Not Be the Final Nail in the Coffin for Its Reveal

The Game Awards 2025 ends without a proper look at Half-Life 3, disappointing rumor hounds and excited fans across the globe.

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 The Game Awards 2025 Maelle Gustave
A Generational Run - Every Award Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Won At The Game Awards 2025

Breakout indie RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 was nominated for a whopping 12 awards at TGA 2025, including the coveted GOTY spot, and won most.

Phantom Blade Zero Protagonist Soul Facing a Chinese Ceremonial Dragon
Stylish PS5 Console Exclusive's New Release Date Makes It One of the Most Anticipated Games for 2026

A highly anticipated PlayStation 5 exclusive finally gets a firm release date at The Game Awards 2025, coupled with a fancy new trailer.

Reveal Trailer for Ontos at the 2025 Game Awards
Legendary Horror Game Developer Frictional Games Reveal Soma Spiritual Successor

Frictional Games, the developer behind the groundbreaking sci-fi adventure game Soma, reveal their next project at the 2025 Game Awards

Cyberpunk 2077 Ending First-Person Locket
You Won't See a Cyberpunk 2 Trailer for 5 Years If You're Lucky

Cyberpunk 2077's sequel, Project Orion, probably won't be getting a proper reveal for another several years, for a few reasons.

konami-ps2-mgs2-game-rant-feature
Konami Went Supernova in 2001: The Greatest One-Year Run In PS2 History

In the world of gaming, some years are better than others, but for Konami in particular, 2001 will always be its most exceptional era.

the-witcher-the-blood-of-dawnwalker-game-rant-feature
What is The Blood of Dawnwalker, the Upcoming RPG Developed By Witcher Devs?

Key figures that worked on The Witcher 3 and Cyberpunk 2077 started their own studio, and 2026's The Blood of Dawnwalker is slated as its debut.

Azmodon speaking to Diablo through Leah in Diablo 3
Diablo 4 Season 11: Who is Azmodan?

Diablo 4 Season 11 is bringing back Azmodan, an extremely powerful demon that will be more than familiar to many franchise fans.

The Van der Linde Gang Posing for a Black and White Photo in Red Dead Redemption 2
Why There Will Never Be a Replacement for Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 isn't just another big open-world game, which is why its specific successes and strengths have yet to be replicated.

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bauldurs-gate-3-disco-elysium-game-rant
Baldur’s Gate 3 Fans Must Play 2019’s Dark Detective CRPG With a 92 on OpenCritic

If you're a fan of Baldur's Gate 3 and itching for something similar, there's a groundbreaking CRPG from 2019 that you need to try.

Two-player PvE co-op in The Duskbloods
What is The Duskbloods, the Next Soulsborne Game From Bloodborne, Elden Ring Devs?

The Duskbloods is FromSoftware's big 2026 release, and while it boasts some serious Bloodborne vibes, it's shaping up to be quite unique overall.

Marvel Cosmic Invasion Key Art
Marvel Cosmic Invasion Review: A Superhero Beat-em-up at Its Finest

Marvel Cosmic Invasion soars with stunning visuals, slick beat-em-up gameplay, and an inventive lineup of diverse comic book characters.

Best Cozy Games in 2026
Best Stardew Valley-Like Games to Watch Out For in 2026

If you've played Stardew Valley to death already and are looking for something new, the upcoming year has some pleasant surprises in store for you.

1
Basic Blueprint Illustration of Valve's New Steam Controller
Is the New Steam Controller Just One Big Compromise?

Valve's upcoming Steam Machine will come with a Steam Controller, though whether it's better than its Sony or Microsoft counterparts is hard to say.