Nick Rodriguez-Contributor

Staff Writer

Contributor

August, 2023
Bachelor's Degree in Creative Writing, University of Illinois
Action RPG, From Software, Mass Effect
  • 1168
    articles
  • 63
    News
  • 1075
    Features
  • 1
    Lists
  • 27
    Reviews
  • 2
    Other

Page 32

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

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Final Fantasy
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Weirdly Proves One Classic Final Fantasy Game Was Ahead of Its Time

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 has a unique leveling system that is oddly reminiscent of a contentious Final Fantasy 2 progression system.

Haunted Chocolatier Combat Teaser Good Omen
Haunted Chocolatier's Latest Combat Teaser is Another Good Omen

While Stardew Valley fans remain starved for Haunted Chocolatier updates, the latter's most recent sneak peek sends a promising message.

Tides of Annihilation Stellar Blade Fans
Tides of Annihilation Looks Like a Fantasy Game for Stellar Blade Fans

Unveiled at Sony's recent State of Play, Tides of Annihilation looks to be serving up action-RPG fundamentals similar to Stellar Blade's.

2
God of War Atreus Series Carried Away
God of War's Atreus is a Great Character, But the Series Shouldn't Get Carried Away

Atreus could very well become God of War's next protagonist, but Santa Monica Studios should be careful not to jump the shark.

1
Skyrim Open-World
The Elder Scrolls 6 Could Learn From The Series' Modding Trends

The Elder Scrolls 6 ought to borrow a bit from its generous modding community, implementing some long-running, unofficial features.

Grand Theft Auto 6 Boat Logo
Cars Aren't the Only Vehicle That GTA 6 Needs to Perfect

For GTA 6, cars are—quite literally—the name of the game, but Rockstar will have to hone in on another, less familiar vehicle as well.

1
Red Dead Redemption 2 Dual-Wield Custom Revolvers
How GTA 6 Can One-Up Red Dead Redemption 2's Gun Customization

Coming off the heels of Red Dead Redemption 2, GTA 6 will be expected to have some gun customization, but it should take steps to innovate here.

Kingdom Come_ Deliverance 2 Henry and Hans at the Pillories
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's Henry and Hans Offer a Great Blueprint for Other Video Game Friendships

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 succeeds on the back of its writing, and the Henry-Hans relationship is a prime example of this strength.

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Dead Horse
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2's Fast Travel System Should Be the New Open-World Standard

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a success on multiple fronts, but the fast-travel system is one of its shining mechanical jewels.

3
BioShock 2 Subject Delta
15 Years Later, BioShock 2 Still Offers the Series' Best Gameplay

BioShock 2 turns 15 years old today, but its stellar gameplay fundamentals have not even been slightly tarnished by the passage of time.

Hollow Knight Queen's Garden
Hollow Knight Hallownest Region Tier List

Hollow Knight has some of the best level and art design the games industry has ever seen, but some of its regions are better than others.

1
Death Stranding Fans Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
Why Death Stranding Fans Should Check Out Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2

Though they are fundamentally different, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 and Death Stranding share a lot of gameplay and exploration systems.

Mass Effect 4 Andromeda Dragon Age Lesson
Mass Effect 4 Should Take One Lesson From Mass Effect: Andromeda, Dragon Age: The Veilguard

Despite their controversial receptions, Mass Effect Andromeda and DA: The Veilguard have at least one mechanical choice that could benefit ME4.

4
Resident Evil 0 Rebecca and Billy
Resident Evil 0 Remake Wish List

Resident Evil 0 is a somewhat contentious entry in the series, which means that its upcoming remake has all the more potential to be great.

Eriksholm the Stolen Dream Key Art
Interview: Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream Developer Talks Stealth, Story, and Scandinavian Influences

The Best War Games sits down with Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream director Anders Hejdenberg to discuss the game's ambitious gameplay and story.

Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Henry Interaction
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Is an Example of Sequel Exposition Done Right

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 does an impressive job of getting players up to speed without boring those who've played the first game.

Henry in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 Bungles Its Clever Twist On a Much-Maligned Game Design Trope

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is a worthy sequel to the 2018 modern classic, though this status comes with one significant design hurdle.

Eriksholm the Stolen Dream Nighttime Stealth
Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream Hands-Off Preview: "Doing for Stealth What Limbo and Inside Did for Platforming"

The Best War Games gets to take a closer look at Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream's stealth puzzle gameplay and stunningly cinematic story.

Keep Driving Key Art
Keep Driving Review

Keep Driving is equal parts charming, compelling, inventive, and emotionally evocative, making it one of 2025's early masterpieces.

Erisksholm the Stolen Dream Alva
How Eriksholm: The Stolen Dream Marries Its Setting, Gameplay, and Story

Speaking with The Best War Games, Eriksholm developer Anders Hejdenberg pulled back the curtain on the game's setting, gameplay, and immersive narrative.