Over 15 years of publishing under our belts. More than thousands of articles written thus far. And a gargantuan project (we’re talking Mount Everest-sized) on the horizon. To say that running Game Rant feels like keeping a small city operating at full capacity is an understatement. Even with the resources of our parent company, Valnet, at our disposal, it’s a huge undertaking. But we wouldn’t be where we are without the team we have.
Valnet, an online media company with a host of successful sites under their umbrella, has a storied history with Game Rant. Initially launched as a video game-focused sister site to Screen Rant in 2009, Game Rant was reunited with the Valnet team in 2019, ten years later. Now, as the flagship site ofValnet’s Odyssey Group(the video game content publishing squad of Valnet, which includes TheGamer, DualShockers, FextaLife, OpenCritic, and Hardcore Gamer), GR is leading the way when it comes to video game coverage.
It takes a village to cover video games in all the ways you may, and we’re going to highlight just a few of the brilliant and creative people on GR’s team. Gaming (and writing about it) is what brought a lot of us together. But it’s our passion for the industry and our commitment to the team that keeps us going. So, without further ado, let’s get to meet the people behind Game Rant!
Greysun Morales: It’s All In The Details
Guiding a game in its entirety is a monumental ask. Not only do you need to have an innate sense of what roadblocks players will encounter, but you need to take into account any side quests, collectibles, challenges, boss fights, puzzles etc. that could be compiled into an article.
Anyone who’s played a FromSoftware game should have a baseline notion of what that can mean in terms of scope.
EnterGreysun Morales, lead guides editor extraordinaire.
Greysun organizes guide coverage on Game Rant, overseeing a large team of writers, delegating game codes, organizing coverage schedules, and writing guides himself. He has a lot on his plate, to say the least.
Guides and walkthroughs were not the siren call to the industry for Greysun when he was a child, though. As with most of us, it was a love of the game.
“I remember dabbling in video games when I was maybe 4–5 years old, trying out my uncle’s Super Nintendo or a cousin’s Game Gear, but I didn’t become a true capital G Gamer until I got my hands on a Game Boy withPokémon Redfor one of my birthdays. I was truly obsessed with every detail, and it would later shape the type of games I play and my love forPokémonas a franchise.”
This obsession with detail translates well when it comes to guides, but Greysun’s journey into professional game coverage was still just starting. “…I started writing as a volunteer for a small site that no longer exists called WTFGamersOnly. It was a small group of friends that covered everything under the gaming sun, and it was how I was able to go to E3 for the first time (in 2015) and watch the reveal trailer in person forFinal Fantasy 7 Remakeat the PlayStation showcase. It was a dream, and from there, I would make my way through the industry as a features editor atTwinfiniteto the lead guides editor of GR.”
This is the type of work that makes me super happy once it’s all out there for people to read and check out.
Despite spending a decent amount of time instructing and editing on Game Rant, Greysun is most proud of a specific game he covered.
“I typically don’t write full walkthroughs for games myself (I can count the number of times on one hand), but the one that I am the most proud of ismy guide forSports Story.”
For those unfamiliar with the game,Sports Storyis the sequel toGolf Story. It was panned by critics and fans alike due to bugs at launch, progression blocks, and troublesome puzzle design.
DespiteSports Story’slackluster reviews, Greysun remembers his time covering the game fondly. “A community of people wanted to play through it, and I was one of those people. Once I started playing, I realized how bad the signposting is, making it the perfect game to write a complete guide for. I knew it would take a long time, but I committed to the journey and ended up finishing it and sharing my updates with the community on the game’s Subreddit. They actually used my guide for help, and it ended up performing pretty well for a little indie game that most people didn’t play. It just felt really good to know my work actually helped people out. Makes the job feel incredible.”
At the end of the day, that’s what the guide’s department’s bottom line is: helping people. Can’t figure out how to get into a secret area? There should be a guide for it. Need help solving a puzzle? There should be a guide for it. Can’t, for the life of you, figure out how to beat this one boss that every single Subreddit thread you can find is complaining about? Therereally should be a guide for it. And that’s what Greysun and his team are here for.
Plus, the work never stops. When asked what he’s currently working on, Greysun is hilariously frank. “This is the worst question to ask the lead guides editor, because of course I am ten spreadsheets into an embargoed game that is coming out in a few weeks. It’s a title I’ve been looking forward to, and getting stuff ready for its launch has been very satisfying and fun. I’m working with one of our writers, William Parks, to get content prepped. The two of us are tracking a ton of collectibles, weapons, and other guide-y things, and it’s been a blast. This is the type of work that makes me super happy once it’s all out there for people to read and check out.”
Patrik Slater: And Thus, The Path To Video Opens Up
Game Rant isn’t all written work, though that does make up the majority of our produced content. The team has dabbled in video creation for a while now, and it’s thanks to the fantastic abilities of onePatrik Slaterthat the road to a better video presence has been solidified. Like Patrik’s sense of humor, his video-editing skills are top-notch. But his journey toward being Game Rant’s video content lead has been less than orthodox.
“My path to getting into video, professionally at least, has been an interesting one. I’ve always enjoyed mediums that allow me to express myself creatively, and when YouTube was on the rise in the early 2000s, it felt like that could be an interesting outlet for me to just create freely. I ended up using my love of LEGOs to create a YouTube channel dedicated to short, stop-motion content. It was just a little thing I did for a couple of years, not thinking much of it, but truthfully, that’s probably what planted the seed.”
But it didn’t stop with LEGOs. “Fast forward a couple years, I was working at Ubisoft as a content assistant, and my team had a need for asset creation work. Having the basic knowledge, I …just told them I could figure out how to do it. After a few months of YouTube tutorials, I had a good enough grasp of the process that they ended up offering me a job as a video editor. And thus, video became my specialty!”
Every time I open the video page to see what we’ve accomplished, I’m filled with pride.
As anyone who browses YouTube or Twitch knows, video creation and video games are two puzzle pieces that fit together perfectly. So it’s fortunate that Patrik had a vested interest in both areas.
“Personally, I think my first experience with gaming wasSuper Mario Worldon the SNES. I didn’t really fully understand what video games were at the time, but as a young boy discovering activities that he liked and didn’t like, I enjoyed pastimes that I felt I was ‘good’ at, and video games ended up being one of those. Then, once my parents bought me an NES (I know, it came before the SNES, but that’s what we had available), my passion really took off. I discovered more than just a means of entertainment, but a medium that fed my desire for competition and good storytelling.”
Speaking of storytelling, if Patrik’s time here at Game Rant were to be compiled into a hero’s journey sort of narrative, the gaping hole that was our lack of video presence served as a clear call to adventure.
“When I joined a little over a year ago, we didn’t have a video section anywhere to be found, but through consistent weekly work, we’ve been able to grow the video initiative into something tangible. Something that can continue to grow as the years go on, and become a true pillar of our brand. Every time I open the video page to see what we’ve accomplished, I’m filled with pride. It’s been a process that has required a lot of hands on deck, and we’ve still got tremendous room to grow, but it’s always amazing to see how far we’ve come in just a year.”
On a more specific (literal) note, the video Patrik is most proud of is How Borderlands Became Gearbox’s Best-Selling Franchise. It is GR’s first ever original video. And it just so happens to be for one of Patrik’s favorite franchises of all-time:Borderlands.
Video is still a growing initiative within Game Rant, one that’s had to adapt in order to succeed. Currently, Patrik is working on a monthlyvideo serieswith our very own Editor in Chief, Anthony Taormina. “Essentially, Anthony goes over the games he was able to play and/or review and give his top picks from the previous month. It’s a really satisfying creative process, as I get to either edit segments on games that I’ve also played and enjoyed, or I get to discover titles I’ve heard very little about (and sometimes, not at all). It ends up being a great mix of creativity and discovery that I look forward to every month.”
Valnet works to develop more engagement with all its sites, including Game Rant, and video is part of the plan. You can read more about how we look to increase reach through different avenues inJames Kosur’s insightful article about our social media strats.
There’s more to look forward to for both our readers/viewers and Patrik’s video career, as GR is working on a new series that goes over classic games, touching on nostalgia and all that jazz. And with Patrik behind the wheel, we’re anticipating a lovely ride.
Joshua Duckworth: A Love Of Teaching, Writing, And Gaming Combined
Sometimes, despite circumstances, the stars align, and our passions become our careers. Nowhere is this more true at Game Rant than in the case of our executive editor for features,Joshua Duckworth. From an incredibly young age, Joshua has had a love of reading and writing, and when these two interests coincide with video games, we get magic. And by magic, we mean one heck of a writing career.
Almost from the word go, Joshua was writing. “I wrote a lot of little short stories when I was a kid, and I believe it was fourth grade when my teacher would encourage me to read them to the class. A lot of my short stories revolved around my hero, my first OC if you would, Leo the Lion Warrior.”
Unlike a lot of us who leave childhood pastimes behind, Joshua persisted. “I went back and forth a little as a teenager, wanting to be a history or English teacher while also considering going into small business to work for myself. As I entered college, it eventually became teaching English at the college level, and just in general, I’ve always wanted to be around writing.”
Growing within Joshua at the same time was a deep-rooted appreciation for video games. However, as most of us know, gaming isn’t always the cheapest of hobbies, and Joshua felt this keenly.
I always found a way to keep games an important part of my life
“Personally, I received my first video game (Pokemon Yellowand a Game Boy) at Christmas when I was around 5 years or so, but I always feel like I have to asterisk that statement. I know it’s a big deal whenever kids receive games for Christmas, but itreallywas for me. My family was incredibly poor, like I’ve often described us as “Bottom 1% Alabama Poor.” To this day, I don’t know how my mom even afforded the game and handheld. But that changed everything for me. I learned how to read through playingPokemon. I would save every dollar I could to buy a game even once or twice a year, often opting for longer RPGs that I could play for extended periods of time. Heck, even when I was working at a gas station, I would go by GameStop and put $5/$10 on a pre-order that I would pay off slowly over months ahead of release. I always found a way to keep games an important part of my life.”
Joshua kept good on his word as the years passed. While attending grad school to get his Master’s degree and also working at a gas station, he stumbled upon a Facebook post stating Game Rant was hiring. “I applied and I did not think I would actually get it, but I did. When editor in Chief Anthony Taormina offered me the job back then, I was a little mind-blown.”
What started as a freelance writing role blossomed into an editing position, and now, years later, Joshua is overseeing this same process with newer writers. “…I saw writers I worked with slowly become editors. Most of the feature editors today are people I’ve worked with and trained, and I’m very proud of the entire team. When you see writers start taking the next step, whether it’s creative, professional, or just learning grammar basics, it’s rewarding. That might still be some of that leftover teacher in me, but seeing writers earn their way through character and the strength of their work is so inspiring.”
This journey from freelance writer to a management position is not uncommon when looking at Game Rant’s editorial.Even among Valnet leadership, this career trajectory can be found.
Joshua’s role here at Game Rant has other perks as well as getting to develop the growth of our team. When asked what he’s currently working on, Joshua casually drops, “Well, I just had an interview with Alix Wilton Regan who played various characters in theDragon Agefranchise (most notably the Inquisitor) and Aya/Amunet in theAssassin’s Creedfranchise. Those weren’t fully the focus of the interview, as obviously she is working on other things now, but it’s kind of a full circle thing for me. I love both franchises dearly. I actually used both franchises as examples of games I love when I applied to Game Rant. I love all games, so it’s a bit like picking a favorite kid…but those are my favorite kids.”
After picking up our collective jaws from the floor, we take the time to appreciate Joshua’s sentiments when it comes to his position and the opportunities he’s afforded here. “Anytime I get to work with people who played some role in bringing those franchises to life, as well as any game, it’s just incredibly exciting. I would do anything in my power for the art of games and, more importantly, the people who brought those worlds into my life. Getting to pay that back every single day, well, it’s why I can’t see myself anywhere but at Game Rant.”
We can’t see Joshua Duckworth anywhere else either. He’s a boon to our team, and someone we feel it’s a privilege to work alongside.
With a gaming event panel on Joshua’s docket for this year, 2025 looks to bring about more chances for him to combine his interests in one place. And if we know anything, it’s that Joshua Duckworth is here to teach us how to superlatively write about games on Game Rant.
Tom Bowen: Getting Stuck On Video Games
There are two meanings to the phrase “getting stuck on.” For anyone who has played a video game, the first is common parlance. We “get stuck on” a hard boss or a tough puzzle. “Getting stuck on” something means you’ve reached a point where you are unable to proceed. You are stuck.
The second phrase is less commonly used these days. To “get stuck on” something can also mean “form an attachment to.” So for example, to say “I’m just absolutely stuck onPowerWash Simulator” can mean “I absolutely adorePowerWash Simulator.”
Tom Bowen, one of Game Rant’s senior evergreen and database editors, is stuck on video games. And we don’t mean the first definition of “stuck on.”
That love of gaming stuck with me right through to adulthood and is ultimately what led to me applying for a position here at Game Rant.
“I first started playing video games when I was four or five years old after my parents bought my older brother an NES for his birthday. For those first few years, I think the thing that I enjoyed most about playing video games was having a chance to bond with my brother. In fact, now that I think about it, a lot of that time was spent just watching him play games rather than actually playing them myself. That all changed though, when I discovered JRPGs and point-and-click adventure games, at which point, video games became a huge part of my life. That love of gaming stuck with me right through to adulthood and is ultimately what led to me applying for a position here at Game Rant.”
Tom’s love for games is apparent in the wide range of titles he has played. FromShenmuetoThe Secret of Monkey IslandtoAssassin’s Creed Shadows, Tom’s played more games than a centipede has legs.
Did we mention he has a particular fondness for point-and-click games?
Tom’s focus on the site has been guides, though he’s dabbled in other article types. Guides have just called to him more, as he’s well-aware of the pain points you’re able to reach while playing through an otherwise beloved game. “I didn’t really have access to the internet when I first started playing video games, so if I got stuck at a particular point in a game, it could sometimes take hours or even days to figure out the intended solution (anybody who’s playedThe Secret of Monkey Islandwill know what I’m talking about here). As a result, I understand the value of a good strategy guide more than most and do my best to provide them to our readers.”
Speaking of our readers (yes, you), Tom’s been absolutely pivotal in the rollout ofGame Rant’s new database pages. “We’re currently in the process of putting together one of the most comprehensive video game databases on the internet, through which our readers will be able to rate, review, and talk about their favorite games. Unfortunately, there’s been a lot of data entry involved to make it all happen, which I’ve found to be incredibly tedious, but I couldn’t be more excited about the end result. We’ve already added a few thousand games, so if you haven’t already, you should check it out for yourselves when you get a chance.”
This database is not only a huge undertaking, it is quite possibly the largest project Game Rant’s tackled to date. Tom is more than aware of this, but despite the avalanche of data and endless streams of maintenance he must wade through, watching GR’s growth is something he takes immense pride in. “Since I first started working at Game Rant, the size and scope of the site has grown dramatically, and the quality of the stuff we publish has improved a lot as well. I’m very proud to have played a part in that, and of some of the talented people that I’ve been lucky enough to work with along the way.”
Game Rant is only getting bigger, and when picking out which of the site’s future projects he’s most excited for, Tom has the best answer. “Over the past few months, a few members of the team have been hard at work bringing interactive maps to the site to help enrich our guide content. These maps are already proving to be very popular with our readers, and I’m looking forward to seeing some of the new features that the team has planned come to fruition over the coming weeks and months.”
We hope these maps will help our readers get less stuck on games and more stuck on Game Rant, if you catch our drift!
Every new day brings about newsworthy stories, whether we’re talking fashion, politics, sports, or science. The same is true when it comes to gaming.
For more on Valnet’s approach to building its portfolio of gaming media sites, do check outOdyssey Group’s General Manager Brad Fleischman’s article.
Here at Game Rant,Dalton Coopermanages our news editorial and all that entails. From big breaking news to rumored leaks to community-interest stories, Dalton covered it all during his prolific career. And how did this all start? WithThe Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, of course.
“Video games have been a part of my life since I can remember. My grandpa was a regular at the arcades, and he built up a massive library of NES games that my mom grew up playing. My dad also played games, so I had access to many of the classics as a kid. There was a time when I was a teenager that I stopped playing games entirely to focus on other things. Then Christmas break came up, and I realized I wasn’t going to have much to do, so on a whim I rentedThe Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princessfor GameCube.Twilight Princessrekindled my love for gaming and I have played games basically every single day since then.”
Prior to landing his first job writing about video games, Dalton just broke the dam when it came to penning his thoughts. “I wrote for the school newspaper for a few years and won some state awards. I landed my first writing job about a year after graduating high school and have been lucky enough to do this for the last 14 years. While Game Rant articles make up the vast majority of my written work, I have also written many short stories in my free time, though have never tried to get them published in any serious way.”
I think I’ve written more articles than anyone else in the history of the site. Maybe in the entirety of video game journalism.
The rest is almost history. “I started writing video game reviews for fun and eventually landed a job at a now-defunct website that was also one of the oldest gaming sites on the web. I was the sole contributor there and worked on guides, reviews, editorials, etc. until it shut down. I stumbled on a job listing for Game Rant in 2015 and have been here ever since. In fact, my 10-year work anniversary was just on April 5!”
Happy work anniversary, Dalton!
Once here at Game Rant, it’s like Dalton went into overdrive, going the extra mile every time, especially when it came to his article count. “…I think I’ve written more articles than anyone else in the history of the site. Maybe in the entirety of video game journalism. I believe my count is north of 12,000 articles.”
As the driving force behind GR’s news, Dalton is immersed in the here-and-now. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t looking forward to a few things in the future. “So, as the head of the news operation, what I’m working on changes from a day-to-day basis and I don’t often work on long-term projects. That being said, there are some reviews on the horizon that I’m very much looking forward to tackling, like the upcoming Switch 2 games andDeath Stranding 2.”
With a mountain of written work at his back and a vast land of opportunity before him, Dalton’s writing career is looking brighter than ever. We can’t wait to read more from him. And knowing Dalton, it will bea lotmore.
Anthony Taormina: One For All
Game Rant wouldn’t be where it is now without the man at the top, our indomitable Editor-in-Chief,Anthony Taormina. Dozens of content decisions pass through his desk first, and he’s at the helm of every department. Yet despite the numerous demands on Anthony’s attention, he still finds time to write. This has been true since the beginning.
“Former Game Rant EiC Rob Keyes posted a call for writers on social media and I applied hoping that I could do this as a fun side project. Like a lot of people, I wasn’t a fan of academic writing, but I found that writing about video games allowed me to discover how writing could be fun. I became very passionate about helping Game Rant grow and wanted to supply the site with as diverse a selection of content as possible. From there, my role grew from editor to eventually Editor-in-Chief.”
A management position comes with its difficulties. Hard choices often have to be made, article ideas scrapped, all the while maintaining team cohesion. The bright side is the pride you can take in the accomplishments of everyone you work with. Of all the things he’s worked on while at Game Rant, it’s the people he’s most proud of.
“It’s challenging to find like-minded people that truly buy into the success of a website and care about all facets of it. I think that we have quite a few people that feel the same way about Game Rant that I do, and I am very proud to have them as leaders. Without them, the site wouldn’t be where it is or what it is today, and that is a credit to them. More than feeling proud, I feel lucky that our paths crossed, and we are now on this amazing journey together.”
As the site gears up for future game launches and events, Anthony is (metaphorically) rubbing his hands together in anticipation of what comes next. “Summer Game Fest is right around the corner and that is always an exciting time of the year.Even though E3 no longer exists, SGF feels like the closest thing to that annual event, an opportunity to play some of the hottest titles in development and talk to the people making them. Having the opportunity to see and play games early is something that always gives me a huge boost leading into the remainder of the year, and so we put a lot of effort into ensuring our Summer Game Fest coverage is as comprehensive and diverse as possible.”
Our parent company, Valnet, and more specifically within it, the Odyssey Group (which focuses on gaming sites), understands and recognizes the need for visibility at events like these. The gaming coverage of Game Rant and our sister sites reaches international levels, and you canread more about our efforts to develop in this space from our very own Odyssey Content Director Raphael Bennett!
In addition to Summer Game Fest, Anthony is looking forward to projects closer to home, as he works with different members of the Game Rant team and Valnet to nurture these new initiatives.
“Game Rant Advance continues to be a key initiative within Game Rant that I am always looking to grow. I hope to expand the program to be bigger and better with each monthly version, incorporating a diverse selection of upcoming games. I’ve also spent the early part of 2025 creating different video projects, like Game Rant Mailbag and Video Previews. I hope to continue to expand the video offerings on Game Rant, so that our audience can better know me as a leader on the site and as a gamer, while also giving them some entertainment along the way.”
Anthony has given us more than entertainment over the years, that’s for sure. He’s given us opportunities, the chance to see our careers grow, and a space to pursue our hobbies to a professional degree. We feel lucky we have the chance to know and work with him.
A Sample Of The Hearts And Minds We Have Behind Game Rant
This is just a snippet of the team we have working here at Game Rant, and it takes all kinds of personalities to keep the site running. To wit, when everyone interviewed was asked what they would pick for the GR logo’s colors (if they could change it to anything), this was the range of answers we got.
Greysun
I think a cool funky purple mixed with black or white would be cool.
Patrik
Make it bright blue and pink. Miami Vice vibes, because why not.
Joshua
I like our orange and black. I’ve never really considered or wanted to change it from that. I feel like orange fits us because orange is such a strong, unique color doing its own thing. I feel we’re at our best when we do our own thing, too.
Tom
I actually really like the orange and black, which is strange, as I’m not normally a big fan of orange. I guess if I had to change it, I’d go with red and black as that’s always been one of my favorite color combinations (I have four or five pairs of red and black Jordans in my shoe cupboard), although, if given the choice, I’d stick with the current logo colors.
Dalton
Black/orange is my favorite color combo because it reminds me of Halloween so it’s already my ideal scenario!
Anthony
I was part of the team that decided on the colors for Game Rant’s current logo, so it’s hard to think of anything I would change. The orange and black have been part of the site’s identity for so long that it’s hard to imagine anything else. Other members of the team might feel differently because they “inherited” the color scheme, whereas I helped choose it way back when.
No matter their picks for logo colors, what games they like, or how they got started with their careers, everyone at Game Rant has contributed to making the site what it is. It takes a village, and this is one hell of a village.
