Marcus Vasquez
Senior Critic & Analyst
Marcus Vasquez spent four years as a game economy analyst before switching to criticism full-time. With 11 years covering indie and mid-tier titles, he brings a data-first lens to reviews — tracking playtime distributions, upgrade path efficiency, and value-per-hour benchmarks that most critics overlook. Based in Austin, Marcus specialises in roguelikes, strategy, and simulation games. His reviews are known for precise numerical claims, dry wit, and an unflinching willingness to say exactly when a game's numbers don't add up.
- 11 years games criticism
- Former game economy analyst
- Roguelike and strategy specialist
194 articles by Marcus Vasquez
All Hail the Orb Alchemy Recipes: Complete List of All 9
All Hail the Orb alchemy recipes: complete list of all 9 discoveries, exact effects, unlock conditions, and priority order for the Grand Opus achievement.
· 10 min read
Crimson Desert Gear Refinement: Upgrade Guide 2026
Crimson Desert gear refinement guide: tiers 0-10, material costs per tier, and how the patch 1.06 Extraction mechanic recovers your investment.
· 12 min read
Windrose Beginner Guide: Tips, Factions, First Hours
Windrose beginner guide: enemy kills give zero XP. Journal quests are the only source. Buccaneers first, clear a biome's Journal quests before sailing on.
· 10 min read
LegionBound Advanced Builds: Late-Game Class Chains (2026)
LegionBound advanced builds: endgame class clusters, stat priorities by Ascension tier, and how to read circular loops to find your strongest chain.
· 9 min read
Farever Class Guide: All 4 Classes and How to Pick
Farever class guide: all 4 classes (Warrior, Cleric, Mage, Rogue) at EA launch, role breakdown, best co-op synergies, and which to pick. 2026 Shiro Games.
· 10 min read
Outbound Review: Van Life Co-op That Actually Delivers
Outbound review: Square Glade's $25 van-life co-op makes shared base building, energy management, and biome exploration work for groups of up to four.
· 8 min read
Subnautica 2 Creature Guide: Shiver Leviathan + All Fauna
Subnautica 2 creature guide: Shiver Leviathan behavior, Collector territory, Great Jaw traps, all EA fauna ranked by threat level and scan priority.
· 18 min read
Pratfall Guide 2026: Max Players, Biomes, Items & Tips
Pratfall guide: 3 biomes, 30+ items, and up to 250 players online. Physics cave co-op where you fall to rescue your dog. $7.99, 90% positive on Steam.
· 13 min read
Dead as Disco Guide: Beat Kune Do, Idols, and My Music
Dead as Disco guide covering Beat Kune Do timing, Idol boss patterns, My Music custom track setup, and progression tips for the 2026 Early Access launch.
· 10 min read
Die in the Dungeon Best Build: Attack, Poison, and Reroll
Die in the dungeon best build: attack concentration, poison DoT, reroll chains. Each character mapped to the build that suits their starting die.
· 8 min read
LegionBound Ascension Guide: How to Merge Heroes (2026)
LegionBound Ascension explained: how to trigger your first merge by wave 5, stack Ascensions with synergy, and protect ascended heroes from permanent loss.
· 9 min read
Outbound Co-op Guide: Roles, Energy, and Van Builds
Outbound co-op guide: how to split roles in 4-player van life, manage shared battery drain, and pick blueprints that complement each other's builds.
· 9 min read