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Mark Smith-Contributor

Mark Smith

Contributor

Qualifications Creative Writing (BA)
Expertise
RPG, The Elder Scrolls, Final Fantasy
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About Mark Smith

Mark has been thinking and writing about games since a Gameboy Pocket and a copy of Link's Awakening was first placed into his tender, seven-year-old hands.

Since then, he snagged a creative writing (BA) degree, roleplayed as a banker, an English teacher, and finally, a games writer – all while pursuing his true passion: inhabiting and creating virtual worlds.

As well as writing about, reading about, thinking about, talking about, dreaming about, and generally fantasizing about video games, Mark also dabbles with game development.

Proudest Gaming Achievement

I make my own video games (achievement unlocked!), which you can check out (and play for free) here:

https://markgsmith.itch.io/

Favorite Games

Mark's favorite game worlds are found in titles such as the Elder Scrolls, Metal Gear Solid, Jak and Daxter, and Guild Wars.

Favorite Console

The PS2 had all the bangers, but who can deny the divine right of PC gaming?

Latest

Democracy 4 Tropico 6 Rogue State Revolution
13 Best Political Sim Games, Ranked

Gamers who are interested in politics should check out these politically-fueled simulation games.

why Elder Scrolls fans should be excited about The Wayward Realms gameplay trailer
6 Details About The Wayward Realms Gameplay Trailer That Should Excite Elder Scrolls Fans

The Wayward Realms is an ambitious project, and with the gameplay trailer's release, Elder Scrolls fans may have another grand RPG to look forward to.

best open world games assassin's creed origin the witcher 3
8 Best Open-World Video Game Franchises

It takes hundreds of devs and millions of dollars to make the open-worlds of Fallout 4 and The Witcher 3, but which series are surviving and thriving?

5 mechanics open world minecraft far cry 3-2
5 Open-World Games That Introduced Mechanics That Became Standard For The Genre

Open-world games like Far Cry 3 and Minecraft left more than just a cultural impact; they seeded many future games with their trend-setting mechanics.

games with adaptive difficulty metal gear solid 5 chicken hat god hand mario cart 8
5 Best Games With Adaptive Difficulty

Most games' difficulties are set at the start screen, but a few titles such as Mario Kart 8 and The Phantom Pain match theirs to the player's skill.

most useless items legend of zelda
The Legend of Zelda: The Most Useless Items & Equipment In The Series

The Legend of Zelda series has produced some iconic weapons and items throughout its history, but also a few that missed the mark.

zelda useless upgrades deku scrubs link holding a bomb opening a chest
The Legend of Zelda: 6 Most Useless Upgrades Link Has Ever Gained

Regular progression is essential to good game pacing, but as some upgrades in The Legend of Zelda demonstrate, upgrades can be tricky to get right.

arcanum fallout the outer worlds best games by tim cain feature
7 Best Games Worked On By Fallout Creator, Tim Cain

Game developer Tim Cain has some amazing games under his belt, including Fallout, but some are more well-known than others.

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5 RPGs Where You Become A Ruler

RPG protagonists are often leaders, but some RPGs, like Fable 3 and Ni No Kuni 2, see players take the crown as rulers of their own kingdoms.

Pokemon Games Pokemon Sword and Shield, Pokemon FireRed, Pokemon Go
Best Pokemon Game To Start With, Explained

Pokemon is a welcoming series, but some games are more accessible than others, depending on the player. Here are some tips to find a starting point.

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6 Video Games With The Best Hint Systems

There's a fine line between fun and frustration when it comes to adventure games, but these great titles found a way to walk the tightrope with style.

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Best Final Fantasy Games To Start Off With, Explained

With such a long and prestigious history, it can be difficult for newcomers of the Final Fantasy series to decide where to start. Here's how.

most experimental final fantasy square
Final Fantasy: Most Experimental Games In Square Enix's Franchise

The Final Fantasy series remains a cultural cornerstone, perhaps because of its ability to evolve and experiment, even after finding success.

medieval dynasty best items to sell
Medieval Dynasty: Best Items To Sell

In Medieval Dynasty, selling the right items could net players a lot of profit over the long run. These are some great examples.

fallout best game to start with for newcomers
Best Fallout Game To Start With, Explained

Thanks to the success of the Amazon Prime Fallout TV show, new fans are wondering which Fallout game they should start with. Here's how to find out.

final fantasy games with the most jobs-1
6 Final Fantasy Games With The Most Jobs, Ranked

After such a long and illustrious history, Final Fantasy has produced a wide variety of jobs, but which game serves up the most choice in one sitting?

earliest games that used procedural generation daggerfall the sentinel minesweeper
6 Earliest Games That Used Procedural Generation

Procedural generation has been in vogue recently, thanks to titles like Minecraft and Starfield, but few know it was also used in the earliest games.

most influential jrpgs final fantasy chrono trigger persona
6 Most Influential Turn-Based JRPGs, Ranked

Japanese developers have produced some great roleplaying games, such as Persona and Final Fantasy, but which have been the most influential?

RPGs For Roleplaying Low Intelligence Characters
5 Best RPGs For Roleplaying Low Intelligence Characters

Some RPG fans enjoy playing exceptionally sharp characters in their adventures, but others just want to have a little mindless fun.

darkest side missions gta
Grand Theft Auto: 5 Darkest Side Missions In The Series, Ranked

Grand Theft Auto has never been afraid to get a little dark, but these side missions prove that players will go out of their way to play sinister.

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