Game Rant

Nick Rodriguez-Contributor

Nick Rodriguez

Contributor

August, 2023
Bachelor's Degree in Creative Writing, University of Illinois
Action RPG, From Software, Mass Effect
  • 1066
    articles
  • 58
    News
  • 996
    Features
  • 12
    Reviews

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 Game Rant 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

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.

2
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.

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

Game Rant 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"

Game Rant 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 Game Rant, Eriksholm developer Anders Hejdenberg pulled back the curtain on the game's setting, gameplay, and immersive narrative.

Skyrim Giant Close-Up
Why Skyrim's Giants Deserve a Deep Dive in The Elder Scrolls 6

Giants have long been underexplored in The Elder Scrolls, and The Elder Scrolls 6 could be the first in the series to change that.

Fallout 76 Playable Ghouls
Fallout 76 Could Go Full Cyberpunk 2077 with One Playable Race After Ghouls

Fallout 76's playable ghouls are right around the corner, and they could pave the way for another, potentially more interesting playable race.

Star Wars Empire at War
It's Time for Star Wars to Return to a Neglected Genre

As the Star Wars IP continues to grow its footprint in gaming, it ought to circle back to a long-forgotten genre that gels with the source material.

4
Hogwarts Legacy House Cup Scene
If Hogwarts Legacy 2 Embraces Multiplayer, It Already Has the Perfect Stand-In For a Classic Mechanic

There have been rumblings about Hogwarts Legacy 2 incorporating some form of multiplayer, and there's one clever way it could do that.

1
The Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess Hero Fight
The Nintendo Switch 2 Keeps the Door Open for One Small Zelda Tradition

As the Legend of Zelda series moves into the Switch 2 era, it will likely retain one long-running tradition, at least for the 3D releases.