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
Die in the Dungeon Dice Tier List: Best Dice Ranked
Die in the Dungeon dice tier list: S to D ranking of all dice types, from Grow and Mirror at the top to Eternal and Pierce at the bottom. 2026 guide.
· 10 min read
Windrose Combat Guide: Fighting Tips, Builds & Gear 2026
Windrose combat guide covering weapon choices, gear builds, consumable prep, and fighting tips for every biome tier in the April 2026 Early Access build.
· 9 min read
LegionBound Synergy Guide: All 30 Classes & Groups (2026)
LegionBound synergy guide: 30 classes across 3 circular groups. Which subclasses unlock synergies, and the fastest first cluster to build in 2026.
· 12 min read
Windrose Bosses: Loot Tables, Weak Spots & Named Attacks
Windrose bosses full breakdown: Richards, Israel Hands, High Priestess, Ghost Captain. Weak spots, named attacks, and loot tables for all biomes.
· 16 min read
Kristala Endgame Guide: What to Do After the Story
Beat Elder Satine and hit 'To be continued'? Kristala endgame means 6 clans, 50 achievements, and 60-80 hours of replayability: here's where to start.
· 10 min read
Far Far West Boss Guide: All Four Bosses and Strategies
Far far west boss guide: all four Cryptic bosses with attack patterns, weak points, best spells, and the infinite wave rule most players learn too late.
· 11 min read
Legionbound Tips: Best Builds and Synergies for Beginners
Legionbound tips for the indie autobattler: how Ascensions work, synergy clusters to stack, row positioning, and skill tree priorities to unlock.
· 7 min read
Kristala Best Weapons Guide 2026: All Three Weapon Types
Kristala best weapons guide 2026: greatsword, sword & shield, and claws compared. Forge upgrade path, Mezuzot costs, and which weapon fits your build.
· 10 min read
ARC Raiders Crafting Guide: Workbenches, Recipes, Materials
ARC raiders crafting guide: workbench recipes, the Ferro stack, how to level vendor relationships, and which materials to hoard for the next session.
· 11 min read
Alabaster Dawn Early Access: CrossCode Fans Need to Know
Alabaster Dawn early access opens May 7: Radical Fish cuts CrossCode's puzzle dungeons, adds a hint companion, and delivers 10 hours at launch.
· 8 min read
Die in the Dungeon Relic Tier List: Best Picks & Synergies
Die in the Dungeon relic tier list: all 142 relics ranked, the categories to prioritize per character, and the synergy patterns that win late floors.
· 14 min read
SimplePlanes 2 Guide: First Build, NACA Wings, Multiplayer
SimplePlanes 2 guide for beginners: first build tips, how NACA wings work, multiplayer setup, and whether mobile is coming. PC-only Early Access.
· 7 min read