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Tomas Franzese

Tomas Franzese

Former Digital Trends Contributor
Author/Co-Author of 1406 articles

A former Gaming Staff Writer at Digital Trends, Tomas Franzese now reports on and reviews the latest releases and exciting developments within the video game industry in a freelance capacity. Tomas is passionate about sharing game developers' stories, analyzing video game history, and contextualizing those things within the modern video game industry. He attends industry events like Summer Game Fest and appears on podcasts like ComicBook Nation’s Quick Save. Tomas' byline also appears on GameSpot.

Before Digital Trends, he was a Video Game News Writer at Inverse for two years. Prior to that, Tomas honed his skills at DualShockers for nearly four years, working his way up from Staff Writer to News Editor. As News Editor at DualShockers, he supervised and edited the website’s news coverage, and that experience still comes in handy at Digital Trends today. His favorite games include Star Wars: Battlefront II (2005) and Batman: Arkham City.

Based in Virginia, Tomas graduated from Old Dominion University in 2020 with a B.A. in Intercultural & International Communication. He returned to Old Dominion University in 2024 to pursue an M.A. in Lifespan & Digital Communication. Through his communication and media-related research, Tomas can better understand how video games and culture intertwine.

lost records bloom and rage episodic structure opinion lrbr part 2 screenshot 4

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is great, but shouldn’t have been two parts

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is a fantastic narrative adventure game, but the way it was released did it a disservice.
Gaming Features
Key art for Sunderfolk

Sunderfolk redefines how to play a strategy game by taking cues from Jackbox

Sunderfolk is redefining how to play a strategy RPG game in the same way that the Jackbox Party Pack games redefined what a party game could be. Ever since it was announced last fall, Sunderfolk’s creative approach to this genre has garnered my attention. It’s a cooperative strategy RPG inspired by tabletop games, but it’s […]
Gaming Features
A official image for the PlayStation 2 by Sony.

10 video game anniversaries worth celebrating in 2025

Several games and consoles are celebrating big birthdays in 2025. Here are 10 you don't want to miss.
Gaming Features
Key art for Dynasty Warriors: Origins.

What’s new in January 2025: 7 upcoming games worth checking out

From Dynasty Warriors: Origins to Sniper Elite Resistance, these are the games that you should check out to kick off the new year.
Gaming Features
Key art for Star Wars: Tales from Galaxy's Edge - Enhanced Edition.

3 new PS Plus games that you should play this weekend (December 27-29)

If you need something to play on your brand new PS5 or PSVR2 this holiday weekend, try out these three PS Plus games.
Gaming Features
A cast of Blazblue Cross Tag Battle pose together.

3 games leaving Xbox Game Pass you should play this weekend (December 27-29)

A bunch of games are leaving Xbox Game Pass at the end of 2024, so this is your last weekend to check them out.
Gaming Features
Nintendo Switch OLED and Joy-Con.

The Nintendo Switch 2 rumor mill was a comedy of errors in 2024

While Nintendo Switch 2 did not end up launching in 2024, rumors surrounding Nintendo's Switch successor dominated gaming discourse this year.
Gaming Features
The Mental Wellness Awareness Xbox design.

At the end of 2024, Xbox finds itself as a crossroads

Xbox finally delivered the strong games it needed this year, but its mixed messaging left Microsoft's vision for the future unclear.
Gaming Features
Key art of Okami HD.

This Capcom bundle is the best deal of the Steam Winter Sale

Okami + Kunitsu-Gami Bundle offers up a pair of amazing, innovative games for an inexpensive price during 2024's Steam Winter Sale.
Gaming Features
Key art for LOK Digital.

If you need a relaxing holiday vacation game, download this one

LOK Digital is a genius word search puzzle game that I will find myself playing for years to come.
Gaming Features
Frey in Square Enix's Forspoken.

3 new PS Plus games that you should play this weekend (December 20-22)

Get ready for the holidays by playing Forspoken, Rabbids: Party of Legends, or PHOGS! on PS Plus this weekend.
Gaming Features
A custom car built drives around Lego 2K Drive.

3 games leaving Xbox Game Pass you should play this weekend (December 20-22)

Make sure you play Lego 2K Drive, Humankind, and Party Animals before they leave Xbox Game pass at the end of the month.
Gaming Features
Key art for The Rouge Prince of Persia Update 10.

In 2024, early access video games went mainstream

Between Palworld, Hades 2, and Path of Exile 2, early access became more mainstream than ever in 2024.
Gaming Features
Key art for the Surtur season of Marvel Snap.

Marvel Snap devs vow to fix one of its biggest problems in 2025

Acquiring every new Marvel Snap card has become a nearly impossible task for players, but Second Dinner plans on addressing this issue in 2025.
Gaming News
A pilot standing in front of a titan with a sword in the ground.

The annual Steam Winter Sale is back with some deep discounts

2024's Steam Winter Sale is now live, bringing deep discounts to tons of beloved PC games.
Gaming News
Promotional Image for Save State with the NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound key art.

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound led a new kind of retro revival wave at The Game Awards

Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound and other retro revivals announced at The Game Awards 2024 understand what's required to bring a classic back.
Gaming Features
Key art for Alien: Rogue Incursion

This new Alien game will tide you over until Alien: Isolation 2

Alien: Isolation's sequel is still years away at this point, so fans should check out the new VR game Alien: Rogue Incursion for a similar experience.
Gaming Features
A team of heroes in Marvel Rivals.

Marvel Rivals review: So what if it’s an Overwatch clone? It’s still a blast

Marvel Rivals pairs what worked well for Overwatch Marvel universe to create one of the most entertaining hero shooters in years.
Gaming Reviews
Best XBOX Games of 2024

The best Xbox games of 2024: Indiana Jones, Hellblade 2, and more

While 2024 has been a year full of ups and downs for Xbox, it delivered with games like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Senua's Saga: Hellblade 2.
Gaming Features
Ciri in The Witcher 4.

The best trailers from The Game Awards 2024: Witcher 4, Intergalactic, and more

From The Witcher IV to Project Century to Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, these are some of the can't-miss trailers from The Game Awards 2024.
Gaming Features
Key art for Sly 2: Band of Thieves.

3 you PS Plus games that you need to check out this weekend (December 13-15)

Sly 2: Band of Thieves, Temtem, and Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy are worth checking out on PS Plus this weekend.
Gaming Features
Indiana jones buried in the sand.

3 new Xbox Game Pass games that you should play this weekend (December 13-15)

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, Wildfrost, and Overthrown are the last new Xbox Game Pass games of 2024, so you should check them out this weekend.
Gaming Features
Best PS5 Games of 2024

The best PlayStation 5 games of 2024: Astro Bot, Helldivers 2, and more

Sony may have whiffed with Concord, but the PS5 had a surprisingly fantastic year otherwise.
Gaming Features
A whitewalker in Game of Thrones: Kingsroad

Ambitious mobile game Game of Thrones: Kingsroad is set during show’s 4th season

Game of Thrones: Kingsroad is new mobile game set during the events of the HBO show that's launching sometime next year.
Gaming News
Key art for Mecha Break's The Game Awards 2024 announcement.

Mecha Break finally takes to the skies next spring with a clear post-launch plan

Mecha Break finally received a confirmed spring 2025 release window at The Game Awards 2024, and Amazing Seasun teased some of its post-launch plans.
Gaming News
A screenshot of players celebrating in Rematch.

Sifu developer’s next game is absolutely not what you’re expecting

Rematch is the next game from Sifu developer Sloclap, and it's a multiplayer-focused soccer game.
Gaming Features
A robot hand holding a borderlands psycho mask in front of a dark blue screen.

Everything announced at The Game Awards 2024

We've rounded up every announcement from The Game Awards 2024, including Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, Borderlands 4, and The Witcher IV.
Gaming Features
Key art for Forspoken.

Underrated PS5 exclusive Forspoken is coming to PlayStation Plus this month

Forspoken headlines the final batch of new PlayStation Plus Premium and Extra game catalog additions for December 2024.
Gaming News
Demon Tides key art

Day of the Devs reveals 3 surprise sequels ahead of The Game Awards

Day of the Devs 2024: The Game Awards Edition was full of eye-catching indie games, including sequels to Ultimate Chicken Horse, Demon Turf, and more.
Gaming News
Pac-Man in Secret Level.

Secret Level creators explain its horrifying Pac-Man episode

Pac-Man: Circle is the most shocking episode of animated gaming anthology Secret Level. Its creators explain how the subversive episode came to be.
Gaming Features
Key art for The Game Awards 2024.

The Game Awards 2024: How to watch and what to expect

This year's Game Awards show is happening on December 12 and it'll feature fresh looks at Borderlands 3, Mafia: The Old Country and more.
Gaming News
Key art for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita's Rewind.

Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind shows there’s still space for retro originality

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind shows there's room left for innovation in the retro beat 'em up genre.
Gaming Features
Key art for Fortnite's new first person shooter mode Ballistic.

Fortnite is finally getting a first-person mode next week

Ballistic is the long-awaited first-person shooter mode for Fortnite, and it's out next week.
Gaming News
It Takes Two's main characters ride frog taxis.

3 new PS Plus games you should play this weekend (December 6-8)

This weekend, PS Plus subscribers should check out It Takes Two, Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, and Blood Omen 2.
Gaming Features
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