Niko Balkaran-Contributor

Staff Writer

Contributor

Contributor Since August, 2023
Qualifications Bachelor's Degree in Journalism
Expertise
PS5, Destiny 2, Pokemon
  • 97
    articles
  • 97
    News
The Best War Games logo Profile

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About Niko Balkaran

Niko Balkaran is a freelance writer from the USA who currently contributes to the news section of The Best War Games. He has always been interested in covering video games and the entertainment industry and was inspired by Superman and Lois Lane to join the ranks. Niko has experience writing long and short-form features, reviews, and news. He also has written and produced audio and video broadcast pieces that were reported on air.  

Niko is an avid Destiny 2 player, having over 1900 hours in the game. He is drawn to this franchise because he loves Bungie's worldbuilding and storytelling. He has also yet to find another FPS game where shooting guns feels so good. His other video game franchise of choice is Pokemon. Some of his fondest memories include spending hours training his Pokemon to take on Winona in Pokemon Emerald and hunting for Suicune in Pokemon Crystal.

Favorite Games

Niko tends to try a variety of games across genres and platforms. Some of his recent favorites include Destiny 2, Hades, Final Fantasy 16, Diablo 4, Persona 5, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Tales of Arise, Kena: Bridge of Spirits, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Baldur's Gate 3, and Bloodborne.

Favorite Console

Niko's favorite console is the Game Boy Advance SP—specifically, the Groudon Red edition. Niko spent many nights avoiding his homework and studying for various exams as he explored the expansive worlds in Pokemon Emerald, Castlevania: Circle of the Moon, Golden Sun, and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. 

Proudest Gaming Achievement

Over the years, Niko has racked up several gaming achievements that he is proud of. However, none comes close to one of his very first, which involves defeating Whitney's Miltank in Pokemon Crystal. After progressing through the game easily, for the most part, using correct typing, Niko encountered that behemoth of a Pokemon that required several batteries to conquer. 

Latest

Palworld Zoe and Grizzbolt
Palworld Player Catches Zoe and Grizzbolt
Palworld

A Palworld player discovers a handy method for capturing Zoe and Grizzbolt, the first boss that most will encounter early on in the game.

Sony and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth team up
Sony Is Releasing a Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth TV
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Sony Electronics and Square Enix announce the official gaming television for the highly anticipated Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, releasing next month.

Palworld Pokemon Ash Ketchum Pikachu and Anubis
Palworld Mod Adds Pokemon, Ash Ketchum
Palworld

A Palworld mod introduces various characters from the Pokemon franchise, such as Ash and Pikachu, to the game.

Palworld flying-1
Palworld Passes Impressive Steam Concurrent Player Milestone, Beats Cyberpunk and Elden Ring
Palworld

Pocket Pair’s Palworld has achieved yet another milestone, surpassing two popular games on Steam, Elden Ring and Cyberpunk 2077.

Destiny 2 The Relic for weapon crafting
Destiny 2 Players Point Out Problem With Weapon Crafting
Destiny 2

With Season of the Wish underway, a keen-eyed Destiny 2 player discovers a significant issue with weapon crafting in the looter shooter.

Granblue Fantasy Relink main characters
Granblue Fantasy: Relink is Getting a Demo Very Soon
Granblue Fantasy: Relink

Game developer Cygames is releasing a demo soon for the action RPG Granblue Fantasy: Relink, one of 2024’s highly anticipated titles.

Elden Ring and Sekiro
Elden Ring Player Creates Awesome Sekiro-Inspired Build
Elden Ring

A creative Elden Ring player shows off an amazing build inspired by a boss in Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, another FromSoftware title.

LEGO and Super Mario logos
New LEGO Super Mario Bowser Expansion Set is Releasing Soon
Super Mario

Nintendo and LEGO are teaming up once again to release a brand new Super Mario expansion set featuring Mario’s arch-nemesis, Bowser.

Lollipop Chainsaw RePop with Juliet and Zombies
Lollipop Chainsaw Has Good News for Fans
Lollipop Chainsaw

Yoshimi Yasuda, the producer of Lollipop Chainsaw: RePOP, gives fans an update on when the remaster of the 2012 cult classic will be released.

Pokemon Go Gyms and Pokestops
Pokemon GO Player Has 2 Pokemon Trapped in Gyms for Over 180 Days
Pokémon GO

One Team Mystic player shows off two of their loyal companions defending two separate gyms for over 180 days in Niantic’s popular AR game, Pokemon GO.

Pokemon Empoleon
Pokemon Fan Paints Empoleon as Napoleon
Pokemon

A talented Pokemon artist paints the unique Generation IV Emperor Pokemon, Empoleon, as the French Emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte.

Nintendo Switch console
Switch Game Collection Getting Delisted Soon
Switch

Gamers have one last chance to grab a retro video game collection that is soon going to be delisted from digital storefronts.

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