Robin Valentine
Formerly the editor of PC Gamer magazine (and the dearly departed GamesMaster), Robin combines years of experience in games journalism with a lifelong love of PC gaming. First hypnotised by the light of the monitor as he muddled through Simon the Sorcerer on his uncle’s machine, he’s been a devotee ever since, devouring any RPG or strategy game to stumble into his path. Now he's channelling that devotion into filling this lovely website with features, news, reviews, and all of his hottest takes.
Latest articles by Robin Valentine
![Borderlands movie characters sitting in a car](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qkzAU46AwxwQdwkoNCGSCB-320-80.jpg)
A final Borderlands film trailer is giving fans one last opportunity to dunk on it before it comes out: 'The first movie in 20 years to go straight to VHS'
By Robin Valentine published
NEWS Let's just say it's not turning the mood around.
![An airship battling a flying monster.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/6vDjYGZUTHpfeBRtaA2cJi-320-80.jpg)
Swap D&D for grimdarkness with these 9 Warhammer tabletop RPGs
By Robin Valentine published
Trenches & Tyranids There are a lot more ways to have fun with Games Workshop's iconic settings than you realise.
![A woman high-kicking a man in Space: 1999.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9UM3HieGGVnTRYtCDSaeGE-320-80.jpg)
Modiphius has announced the year's most obscure tabletop RPG adaptation
By Robin Valentine published
NEWS I'm not sure who was asking to adventure in the world of 1970s UK sci-fi series Space: 1999, but here we are.
![Heimerdinger and Ekko sneaking into the University of Piltover.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/jYNWKuYNPC4uU4MMcyuYAS-320-80.png)
Heads up, Arcane fans: Riot's released a new season two teaser, and preorders are up for the fancy Blu-ray of season one
By Robin Valentine published
NEWS 50 seconds of Heimerdinger and Ekko in an air vent? I'll take it.
![Dragon Age Dreadwolf antogonist, Solas the elf, with a huge wolf walking next to him through smoke](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tqHimdDBFdCdoXbuQW6raU-320-80.jpg)
According to BioWare, Dragon Age: The Veilguard is the first entry in the series where 'the combat's actually fun' and where characters are 'intentionally' the focus of the storytelling, which seems pretty unfair on the first three games
By Robin Valentine published
EN GUARD Apparently your favourite characters' designs were also limited by a desire to appeal to cosplayers?
![Artwork of the companions from Baldur's Gate 3.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dqoyXBbSZYB6SdNND2nni8-320-80.jpeg)
The best RPGs on PC
By Robin Valentine last updated
Updated! Looking for a world to get lost in? Here are the most essential RPGs you can play on PC right now.
![The boxes for board games 7 Wonders Duel, Marvel Champions, and Mysterium.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uQ2iXC3s4Dh3KDwYyFEcjT-320-80.jpg)
As an unrepentant tabletop obsessive, I reckon these are the 5 coolest board game deals in this year's Prime Day sale
By Robin Valentine published
Prime Day From heavyweight dungeon crawling to life-consuming deckbuilding, these picks will spice up your collection on the cheap.
![A Big Daddy and a Little Sister in BioShock 2.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/GLGGpeTsnCNghw6SQ8n6oA-320-80.jpg)
This leaked screenshot may be our first glimpse of BioShock 4, and it sure looks like a BioShock game
By Robin Valentine published
NEWS Though I suspect the final game will be very different.
![Wind Rose performing to a crowd of Deep Rock Galactic dwarves in the music video for Rock and Stone.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eCLnHuio58eaw5mn3GHNL6-320-80.png)
Deep Rock Galactic now has its own official heavy metal song, called—you guessed it—Rock and Stone
By Robin Valentine published
NEWS Italian band Wind Rose apparently specialise in dwarf songs.
![Royal Mail stamps depicting various iconic monsters from Dungeons & Dragons.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/44bBeE4GvNyjHehEpJ5W2b-320-80.jpg)
To celebrate 50 years of D&D, Royal Mail is selling monster stamps you can keep in a mimic's mouth
By Robin Valentine published
NEWS Featuring great new art from veteran fantasy artist Wayne Reynolds.
![A tech priest in Warhammer 40,000: Darktide.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3nMPVgTwhY46exKZpLDUZ4-320-80.jpg)
Darktide's next update promises a complete overhaul of weapon progression: 'We took the philosophy with this game to not be afraid of doing quite massive changes'
By Robin Valentine published
NEWS The new system should introduce more player agency, clearer progression, and less reliance on luck.
![Ermac rising into the air in Mortal Kombat 1.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/T62xcohjteyFrLpTEGAXDd-320-80.png)
Mortal Kombat player wins $565, celebrates by breaking a light fixture worth $3,000
By Robin Valentine published
NEWS Dyloch's bone-headed "pop-off" may have cost him dearly.
![The home village in Into the Emberlands.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EN9H8qGxLze7LiGu4SMUsQ-320-80.jpg)
I keep getting lost on my way home from trading wood to trolls and giving crystals to chickens in this strange but cosy survival game
By Robin Valentine published
CRYSTAL MAZE Into the Emberlands has me sounding like I'm not fit to operate heavy machinery.
![Counter-Strike 2 header image](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xz2HxeuCGUzmZKoWCdp8JV-320-80.jpg)
The best free PC games
By Shaun Prescott last updated
Freebies Forever Our frequently updated selection of the best free games right now.
![An old man with a fearful look in ProgCore Fantasy: Dark Age of Theer.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JGuCe4NtRd8dEUQakJVn4g-320-80.jpg)
This bizarre, vague Kickstarter promises a "multimedia fantasy RPG experience" including a D&D-compatible sourcebook, an actual play series, an animated short film, a vinyl soundtrack, a scented candle, and (somehow) more
By Robin Valentine published
NEWS ProgCore Fantasy: Dark Age of Theer offers everything except any solid idea of what it's actually about.
![Geralt of Rivia from The Witcher 3.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/H9KNfpwbcwTaGWLsXrchwL-320-80.jpg)
The 10 defining events of PC gaming's golden decade
By Robin Valentine published
PAST TALK In 2024, PC is king—but how did we get here?
![A Tarnished grovelling for mercy in Elden Ring.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rNyyDhcPqXbXxPFSdAKsDj-320-80.jpg)
Spare a thought for the 60% of us who can't join you all in Shadow of the Erdtree because we never beat Mohg
By Robin Valentine published
Mohgless Stop telling me it's like Elden Ring 2, I can't handle the FOMO.
![A squad of soldiers walking through the control room in XCOM: Enemy Unknown.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/KoigWSRVjm68fYXC3yWDU4-320-80.jpg)
Bit Reactor has a Star Wars tactical strategy game in the works, 15 XCOM veterans on its team, and an ambitious vision for the future of the genre
By Robin Valentine published
A new hope
![A group of adventurers being attacked by skeletons in the 2024 Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CAdsgyP9DkGSvXtoDDHcxJ-320-80.png)
The new D&D core books feature nearly 400 spells and over 500 monsters, but disappointingly few new ideas
By Robin Valentine published
Scrolls of power An advance look at the 2024 Player's Handbook, Dungeon Master's Guide, and Monster Manual leaves me concerned that the game's future is still stuck in the past.
![Oghren from Dragon Age: Origins](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/pZwF86hgY3MGMxNFe7JcEc-320-80.jpg)
Great moments in PC gaming: Choosing your origin in Dragon Age Origins
By Robin Valentine published
Slay Warden Which one did you pick?
![Tyler spreading his arms and closing his eyes in Tell Me Why.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ccrTpxko9GRXWJcu6LBjtf-320-80.jpg)
Tell Me Why, a narrative adventure from the creators of Life Is Strange, is free to keep on Steam right now to celebrate Pride month, and… hold on, haven't we done this before?
By Robin Valentine published
NEWS Make sure to add it to your account before July 1.
![A group of duck soldiers posing in DUCKSIDE.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/K7g6xMEzokMNQnFV69a426-320-80.jpg)
Steam Next Fest's 10 most played demos of June 2024 include an adorable building game, a surprising turn-based strategy spin-off, and a survival shooter where everyone's a duck
By Robin Valentine published
NEWS How many have you tried?
![null](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/z4m4dgvrrZnpgEXjb2sJiV-320-80.jpg)
Let's pour one out for these no-shows we were desperate to see during Summer Game Fest
By Kara Phillips published
Maybe next time Maybe in the next life.