Nick Rodriguez-Contributor

Editorial Team

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

Gears of War Reloaded Xbox and PS5
Gears of War: Reloaded Is a Rare Moment of Console War Peace

Gears of War: Reloaded is an historic moment in the gaming industry, if for no other reason than that it unites PlayStation and Xbox fans.

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The Knightling Key Art
The Knightling Review

Indie action-adventure game The Knightling soars with its traversal and vibes, but sinks with its combat and narrative design.

Lost Soul Aside Clair Obscur Gustave
Lost Soul Aside Probably Should Have Followed Clair Obscur's Lead in One Respect

Though they couldn't be more different, Clair Obscur executed a smart release strategy that could have benefited Lost Soul Aside.

Risk of Rain 2 PlayStation Plus Logo
3 PlayStation Plus Games to Play This Week (9/1 - 9/8)

PlayStation Plus can be a little overwhelming at times, so check out some of these suggestions to make your game search a little easier.

Gears of War Horde Silverback
After Skipping Gears of War: Reloaded, One Classic Mode Is a Must-Have for the Next Remaster

Gears of War: Reloaded features a glaring omission, and if there's ever a follow-up, it would be wise to keep this axed game mode in mind.

Gears of War Reloaded Dom and Marcus
Gears of War Reloaded Makes a Case for the Return of the 2000s Most Controversial Gaming Trend

Gears of War: Reloaded is a blast from the past, and proves that even the most maligned gaming trends can have a second life.

Lost Soul Aside Cutscene
I'm Loving Lost Soul Aside's Story for All the Wrong Reasons

Lost Soul Aside's narrative is poorly presented, written, and acted, at least in the conventional sense, but I adore it anyway.

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Flower-1
5 Short Games To Play This Weekend (8/29 - 8/31)

Gamers looking for a relaxed fit, meditative gameplay experience, or quick-and-dirty puzzle game should check out the games on this list.

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Centum Cat Clock
Weirdest Horror Games You've Never Heard Of

Big-budget, high-octane horror is great and all, but there should always be room in a gamer's schedule for titles of a weirder sort.

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No Man's Sky Voyagers update
Every Feature Confirmed for No Man's Sky's Voyagers Update

No Man's Sky's Voyagers update is here, and it has expanded the ever-improving game with a number of major new mechanics and features.

ss_5a4647ded4675a87f66aa640959ec2aece4cb810.1920x1080
New Cozy Game is Basically Horror Stardew Valley Meets Unpacking

A recently released Steam game blends Stardew Valley and Unpacking in a way that might be a perfect fit for fans of cozy games and horror media alike.

Call of Duty Warzone Terrifier Clown
Call of Duty Made Its Bed, Now It Has to Lie In It

Call of Duty has made some controversial decisions over the years, and now it'll have to live with the consequences of those choices.

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Minecraft Vibrant Visuals
Steam's Upcoming 'Realistic Minecraft' Game May Be Forced to Walk on Eggshells It Didn't See Coming

An upcoming indie game taking clear inspiration from Minecraft may run into some unexpected turbulence with its core design conceit.

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John Carpenter's Toxic Commando Gunfight
John Carpenter's Toxic Commando Preview: Blasting from the Past

At this stage, John Carpenter's Toxic Commander isn't even close to being perfect, but it's hard to deny that it's a great time.

Tetris Effect PS Plus
4 PlayStation Plus Games to Play This Week (8/25 - 8/31)

PS Plus is a great deal, but it can be hard to know exactly where to begin with so many options, which is why you should read these recommendations.

Bo Path of the Teal Lotus
5 Short Games to Play This Weekend (August 22 - August 24)

Grand, multi-month-spanning adventures are great, but sometimes you're just in the mood for something sweet, straightforward, and hard-hitting..

House Flipper Dirty House
Great Lesser-Known Games About Working a Job

Some games are about playing, others are about slaying, but some are about old-fashioned, honest work, and these are more than worth your time.

Elden Ring Nintendo Switch 2
Elden Ring's Messy Switch 2 Port Opens a Pandora's Box FromSoftware Desperately Needs to Close

Elden Ring is apparently having a rough time on the Nintendo Switch 2, which is something FromSoftware really needs to nip in the bud.

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little-witch-in-the-woods-pokemon-stardew-game-rant-feature
This Cozy Game is Stardew Valley With a Pinch of Pokemon, and It's Just Around the Corner

Another adorable indie life-sim is on its way, taking a crack at Stardew Valley's now-ubiquitous formula, but with a splash of much-needed ingenuity.

Sekiro Anime Flip the Script Game Weakest Feature
Sekiro's Anime Has a Chance to Flip the Script on the Game's Weakest Feature

Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice is getting an anime adaptation, which will hopefully lead to certain in-game aspects being a bit more compelling.