Heather Wald
I started out writing for the games section of a student-run website as an undergrad, and continued to write about games in my free time during retail and temp jobs for a number of years. Eventually, I earned an MA in magazine journalism at Cardiff University, and soon after got my first official role in the industry as a content editor for Stuff magazine. After writing about all things tech and games-related, I then did a brief stint as a freelancer before I landed my role as a staff writer here at GamesRadar+. Now I get to write features, previews, and reviews, and when I'm not doing that, you can usually find me lost in any one of the Dragon Age or Mass Effect games, tucking into another delightful indie, or drinking far too much tea for my own good.
Latest articles by Heather Wald
![Cyberpunk 2077: Johnny Silverhand leans nearby a satellite receiver on a rooftop overlooking Night City](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bJsEJZNjroRNsXyFyT5ubh-320-80.jpg)
Every time I replay Cyberpunk 2077's most unsettling quest, I'm reminded why it's a firm favorite
By Heather Wald published
Now Playing Now Playing | One of the most disturbing Cyberpunk 2077 quests won't leave my mind
![A screenshot of the Knight from the Metroidvania Hollow Knight](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bnbiMQd8rBdgrhM9TMmp7K-320-80.jpg)
The 25 best Metroidvania games you can explore today
By Austin Wood, Malindy Hetfeld last updated
Best List Jump, slash, and shoot through the best Metroidvanias to play right now
![Star Wars Outlaws: Kay turns to fire her plaster mid-run while Nix follows behind](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JUex4Pgcy6UUJRJJQs5cL7-320-80.jpg)
Star Wars Outlaws: Everything we know so far
By Josh West last updated
Feature Star Wars Outlaws will see us swapping our light sabers for blaster guns in the franchise's first open world game
![Dragon Age: The Veilguard](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6mYytU4J6z7Y8c5Wj8Fq3k-320-80.jpg)
Dragon Age The Veilguard: Everything you need to know
By Heather Wald last updated
Feature BioWare's long-awaited Dragon Age 4, officially titled Dragon Age The Veilguard is finally on the way
![Dustborn](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jY7tZemQYFwGT8p9hDS77K-320-80.jpg)
Upcoming indie games for 2024 and beyond
By Heather Wald last updated
Feature The most exciting upcoming indie games that should be on your radar in 2024 and beyond
![Star Wars Outlaws](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KA2stYb6RxZXkKgmyTpytK-320-80.jpg)
Star Wars Outlaws: The Big Preview
By Heather Wald last updated
Big Preview This month we are diving into Star Wars Outlaws, the highly-anticipated open-world Star Wars game from Massive Entertainment
![Jabba the Hutt in Star Wars Outlaws](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rZyvcNYWXmA4SW46AqTamJ-320-80.jpg)
I weirdly loved Jabba the Hutt as a kid, so I asked the Star Wars Outlaws devs what it was like bringing him to life
By Heather Wald published
Interview Interview | From using casseroles to recreating the throne, here's how Massive made Jabba the Hutt's appearance in Star Wars Outlaws a reality
![Dragon Age: The Veilguard reveal trailer screenshot showing Lace Harding, a dwarven woman with long red hair and a freckled face](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VYgctpPKY4mzu9oph9vWh6-320-80.jpg)
After replaying Dragon Age 2 and Mass Effect 2, Dragon Age: The Veilguard's "mission-based" direction is all the more exciting
By Heather Wald published
Opinion Opinion | Dragon Age: The Veilguard is set to be a mission-based RPG rather than open-world, which is music to my ears
![Best games like Stardew Valley](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ePYYFsL4cXJUPWYmXmTSGc-320-80.jpg)
10 games like Stardew Valley that’ll keep you working on the farm until the cows come home
By Sam Loveridge last updated
Feature There are plenty of games like Stardew Valley if you're craving an immersive farming sim-meets-RPG experience
![Cyberpunk 2077: Panam drives through the badlands](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/r4zUqpFiTzUNJS2CN6UYRM-320-80.jpg)
After 700 hours, Cyberpunk 2077 has unexpectedly become one of my comfort RPGs
By Heather Wald published
Opinion Opinion | I keep on reaching for Cyberpunk 2077 whenever I'm feeling low
![Metroid Prime 4](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nrZidY7bwkhT5Q7NK9C9A8-320-80.jpg)
Metroid Prime 4: Everything we know so far about the return of Samus
By Heather Wald last updated
Feature A brand new Metroid Prime 4: Beyond trailer is finally out in the wild, confirming its 2025 release window
![Star Wars Outlaws Kay and Nix take cover in an Imperial base with stormtroopers patrolling](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CAKZtaMKCyq4EbdNJn8PCQ-320-80.jpg)
The making of Kay's trusty sidearm in Star Wars Outlaws: "We really wanted that iconic blaster, but we also wanted you to have a full fat shooting experience"
By Heather Wald published
Preview Preview | "What would a scoundrel be without a sidearm?"
![Dragon Age Inquisition Solas](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pphZ9z7Sno4u8hJ8ZxeRyC-320-80.jpg)
I can't stop thinking about Dragon Age: The Veilguard, the history of blood magic, and the way BioWare's RPG series handles morality
By Heather Wald published
Opinion Opinion | I've fallen down a rabbit hole of the history of blood magic and morality in the RPG series
![Star Wars Outlaws Trailblazer ship flies through clouds](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Q7uzGmLo8qxtctuMfhtjek-320-80.jpg)
The Trailblazer ship in Star Wars Outlaws drew inspiration from an unlikely place: turtles
By Heather Wald published
Preview Preview | Exploring the creation of the Trailblazer ship with Ubisoft's Massive
![Avowed companion Giatta points a wand emitting a purple glow out towards an unseen danger](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zc5ht4oYhVm7TqPJQfhyqN-320-80.jpg)
Avowed: Everything we know so far
By Jordan Oloman last updated
Feature The very latest Avowed news and updates from developer Obsidian on its upcoming fantasy epic
![Prime Day deals stamp over a Meta Quest 2 and 3 image, on top of a pink background](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/McnSWMhdnqbrsfDfNBmYvS-320-80.jpg)
Prime Day Meta Quest deals 2024: The last remaining offers still available
By Duncan Robertson last updated
Prime Day Prime Day Meta Quest deals are over once again, here are the last remaining offers in this year's sale.
![Star Wars Outlaws concept art showing Kay gesturing for N-D and Nix to follow her](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8UAU9bLSJuRvBRuWTCZdcY-320-80.jpg)
From Kay's wrist tattoo of Nix to ND-5's jacket, Star Wars Outlaws' characters have been designed to be "very authentic" but also "very new"
By Heather Wald published
Preview Preview | A behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Kay, Nix, and ND-5
![Star Wars Outlaws trailer shots](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SJDjibboafuz2pyxWzHVDT-320-80.jpg)
You can "mess with" Star Wars Outlaws' GTA-style wanted system to make the "ultimate open-world playground type of self-imposed challenge"
By Heather Wald published
News Star Wars Outlaws' GTA-like wanted system can become a "toy you can mess with" and "push as far as you want" to increase the difficulty
![Star Wars Outlaws: The Trailblazer ship flies towards a distant city on the planet of Akiva](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Z8NKhaf47GSBaNAe7JNT5a-320-80.jpg)
How Star Wars Outlaws is trying to tackle one of the features I wanted in Starfield: a transition from the open world to space flight
By Heather Wald published
News Star Wars Outlaws technical director breaks how the jump from planets to space works
![Star Wars Outlaws: Kay Vess stands with her hands on her hips, in mid conversation](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3qgRin7Eiq9HmnSex4onj9-320-80.jpg)
How Star Wars Outlaws skips RPG conventions like levels and XP to "reward player curiosity" and turn every skill we learn into "a little adventure in itself"
By Heather Wald published
Preview Preview | Exploring Star Wars Outlaws' progression system with developer Massive Entertainment
![GTA 6: A man and a woman sitting on a car in the poster for Grand Theft Auto 6.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3D9dh6TgNMUXwC7kYD5rP-320-80.jpg)
GTA 6: Everything we know so far
By Sam Loveridge last updated
Feature Here's all the details about the Grand Theft Auto 6 release window, trailer, location, characters, and more
![Best Assassin's Creed games of all time: Alexios kicking Ancient Greek soldiers during Assassin's Creed Odyssey.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/o7tEP5YuJ9fPYytrejRLZD-320-80.jpg)
Best Assassin's Creed games, ranked
By Louise Blain last updated
Feature Whether you're team Ezio or Edward, we can all agree that these are the best Assassin's Creed games
![Star Wars Outlaws: Kay and Nix take cover as an enemy droid approaches](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4XzPdfCs2aaoqBZPdKJ9KE-320-80.jpg)
How Massive crafted Kay and Nix's story in Star Wars Outlaws: "What would it be like for any of us to meet Jabba the Hutt for the first time?"
By Heather Wald published
Preview Preview | Exploring the making of a scoundrel story in Star Wars Outlaws with Massive Entertainment