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
255 articles by Marcus Vasquez
Dark Scrolls Review: 9 Heroes, One Sharp Roguelite
Dark Scrolls review: doinksoft's co-op roguelite delivers 9 distinct heroes, a Shoppe system with real synergy depth, and Devolver polish on every screen.
· 14 min read
Voidling Bound Gene Splice Guide: When and What to Splice
Voidling Bound gene splice guide: when it unlocks, 5 Polychrome Mutagen cost, best donor species, and the irreversible mistake most players make first.
· 18 min read
Dark Scrolls Dungeon Guide: Routes and Shoppe 2026
Dark Scrolls dungeon guide: the three official route sequences, branching screens, Shoppe choices, and cautious survival tips for all 9 heroes.
· 10 min read
Frog Sqwad Advanced Guide: Scoring, Combos & Extraction
Frog Sqwad advanced guide: tongue combo chains, Megafrog timing, and quota math for squads ready to move past the basics and hit consistent high runs.
· 10 min read
Valheim Deep North Biome Guide: Enemies and Gear 2026
Valheim deep north biome enemies, gear tiers, and dungeons, now live in 1.0. How to enter safely with Mistlands gear and beat Kall Fimbulbringer.
· 10 min read
Alabaster Dawn Skill Tree: Best Builds and Tips 2026
Alabaster Dawn skill tree guide for all 8 weapons and 4 elements. Covers mastery tiers, 3 recommended build paths, and which skills to prioritize first.
· 10 min read
Dark Scrolls Best Builds: All 9 Heroes Ranked 2026
Dark Scrolls best builds guide: all 9 official heroes, their verified specials, and Shoppe priorities for solo and co-op, from Axe Nova to Saturn's Abduct.
· 11 min read
Blood West Scavengers Guide: How the Roguelite Loop Works
Blood West Scavengers guide: current roguelite loop, 31-day progression, Demonic Sun, contracts, scavenger starts, and the Watch artifact in 2026.
· 9 min read
Fatekeeper Archetypes Guide: 5 Build Paths Explained
Fatekeeper archetypes guide: 5 community build paths, official build examples, honest caveats, and what Paraglacial hasn't actually named yet.
· 16 min read
Subnautica 2 Co-op Tips: Advanced Squad Strategies
Subnautica 2 co-op tips for advanced players: biomod role builds, relay outpost networks, biome coordination, and 4-player Leviathan tactics.
· 17 min read
Voidling Bound Builds: Top Gene Combos and Splices 2026
Voidling Bound builds guide: top-tier Nimiod, Plasma roster, and Cyber splice setups. Attribute allocation, splicing costs, and Abyss run strategies.
· 9 min read
Romestead Trading Post: Logistics and Routes Guide 2026
Romestead trading post unlocks via the University. Here is how to set up routes, avoid the batch-size jam bug, and automate goods between settlements.
· 9 min read