Author Profile
Stephen has been part of the Push Square team for over six years, bringing boundless enthusiasm and a deep knowledge of video games to his role as Assistant Editor. Having grown up playing every PlayStation console to date, he's developed an eclectic taste, with particular passion for indie games, arcade racers, and puzzlers. He's also our go-to guy for Sonic-related matters, much to his delight/chagrin.
I've been playing games for as long as I can remember, and growing up I always loved reading about them in magazines. I hoped one day I'd be able to write about them myself, and Hookshot gave me that chance, for which I'm very grateful. I have a very eclectic taste (and particularly love the diverse and innovative realm of indie games), but I’m always interested in the next big thing as well.
Experience
Stephen got his start in 2015 writing reviews - and occasional news - for Push Square.
This eventually led to a full-time role as Senior Staff Writer in 2018, while in 2019 he became Assistant Editor for the site.
I really enjoy reviews in particular. I feel as though I've built up enough skill and knowledge that I can critique games fairly, and it's always good to exercise that muscle.
There's also something very satisfying about drawing up a guide campaign. Initially it can feel disjointed and haphazard, but when it all eventually comes together you feel like you've really created something.
Features are harder to nail but can be as rewarding as anything else - if not more so. Interviewing developers you admire, gaining first-hand access, creating something truly unique. There's a lot to love about them, and they allow you to really put your stamp on the site.
Timeline
- 2015: Begins his career with Push Square as a reviewer
- 2018: Joins the site full-time as Senior Staff Writer
- 2019: Becomes Assistant Editor at Push Square
Expertise
Stephen’s first console was the mighty Sega Mega Drive. From there he owned every PlayStation, both PlayStation handhelds, and a selection of Nintendo’s finest hardware to boot.
Although he finds it hard to pick a favourite, he’d choose the PlayStation 2 if he had to! This was the era where he really started getting into games properly, and it was the first console he personally owned too - it felt like a proper step up. Oh, and it has some of his favourite games too, which always helps.
My favourite genre will change every day of the week, but right now I'll say puzzle games. The genre is incredibly broad and there's little more satisfying than being presented with a problem and finding the solution yourself.
Many games have puzzles in them of course, but the ones that hone in on the concept are some of my favourites: Portal 2 (and 1), Return of the Obra Dinn, and Arranger from this year.
The puzzle genre also includes stuff like Tetris and Lumines, which are just endlessly enjoyable for me.
Stephen’s Favourite Games
From the Archive
We asked Stephen to pick out his three favourite pieces of work from across his personal archive, and tell us why he picked them!
Feature: Serving Up Aloy of Food with the Official Horizon Cookbook
“I was super pleased with how this feature turned out. We were offered a copy of the book for review, but Sammy and I decided to make it a more original piece by having me make a selection of the recipes myself. It was hard work but a really rewarding experience that resulted in one of my best features.”
Best Dreams Games to Play While It's on PS Plus
“This is the culmination of all my work covering Dreams. I've been one of the games media's biggest advocates for this game, and have tried to draw attention to it since before its launch. This feature brings together my coverage of Tren, numerous recommendations of other Dreams games, and lots more - there's loads to dig into here.”
Gallery: Here's What Our Community Thinks PS5 Will Look Like
“This remains one of my favourite features I've ever done. Before we knew what the PS5 looked like, I challenged our community to come up with their own PS5 designs, and it got a great response, making for a silly, fun piece that’s totally unique to Push Square.”
Latest Reviews
Rose's arm's red, violence ensues
Like Dracula himself, Konami has risen from a lengthy slumber and has spent the last few years reviving its most popular series, like Metal Gear Solid and Silent Hill. Now, it's Castlevania's turn. Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, developed by Evil Empire, is the first new 2D game in the historic franchise since...
Review Order of the Sinking Star (PS5) - Jon Blow's Huge Sokoban Design Mixtape Made Me Weary
Block it out
Order of the Sinking Star is a very tricky game to review. The latest effort from Jonathan Blow and his team at Thekla, it's an absolute beast with nearly a thousand puzzles to solve and multiple endings to discover. It's impressive on paper, but to be completely honest, I grew quite weary of the whole thing as I delved deeper into...
Review Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve (PS5) - The Series Lands Its Most Confident Entry Yet
Rex machina
Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve launches into a reality where its predecessor, Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown, became easily the most successful entry in the series. That puts it in an odd spot; there's a pressure on the follow-up to outdo what came before, but it's that success that provides Bandai Namco Aces the means to do so...
Review Hot Wheels: Infinite Rush (PS5) - A Solid Arcade Racer with an Open World It Doesn't Need
Pump the brakes
After two successful and highly regarded arcade racing games in the Hot Wheels Unleashed series, developer Milestone has taken that same formula and applied it across an open world structure in Hot Wheels: Infinite Rush — an addition that feels unnecessary. I really enjoyed the simpler, circuit-based approach of the earlier games;...
Review Star Wars Zero Company (PS5) - A Perfect Pairing of Licence and Genre Imperfectly Executed
May the Hawks be with you
It's almost impossible not to mention XCOM when talking about Star Wars Zero Company, as the similarities are clear and manifold. What developer Bit Reactor has done is apply a Star Wars veneer on top of the robust turn-based tactical gameplay from Firaxis' beloved series, and the result is a game that feels like a perfect...
Review Beast of Reincarnation (PS5) - Pokémon Dev's Flower Power Action RPG Is Nearly in Full Bloom
Plantses with wolves
Beast of Reincarnation presents itself like a Souls-like action RPG, and it definitely shares some traits with games of that ilk, but I think labelling it that way isn't quite accurate. It is an action RPG, but it's not as intimidatingly difficult as FromSoftware's efforts, and it's doing enough stuff of its own that makes it...
Review Denshattack (PS5) - This Ridiculous Train Game Is Off the Rails in the Best Ways
The little game that could
Denshattack is exactly the sort of bold, unique, over-the-top nonsense that was rife in the PS2, Dreamcast era, and I love it for that alone. This silly arcade action title revels in its bonkers premise and frenetic style, and it's impossible not to get caught up in the fun. How could anyone resist a game in which you...
Review 007 First Light (PS5) - James Bond Returns in a Strong, Confident Origin Adventure
The game's Bond, James Bond
James Bond is undoubtedly one of the most famous names in all of fiction, which is a pretty funny thing to be able to say for a secret agent. With a multitude of books, movies, games, magazines, and countless items of merchandise, the character, and the version of the world he inhabits, is so familiar to so many. IO...
Review Bubsy 4D (PS5) - The Best of a Bad Bunch
Woolie or won't he
It's pretty remarkable how Bubsy has bounced back time and time again, despite numerous games that, by rights, ought to have seen him never return. However, cats are said to have nine lives, and with Bubsy 4D — game number seven — he may have finally landed on his feet. Well, sort of. It's complicated. I think this is almost...
Round Up Saros PS5 Reviews Rate It as One of the Best Games of 2026
Come back stronger
It looks like Housemarque has done it again, as its latest game Saros is a smash hit with critics. The PS5 exclusive shooter has attracted near-unanimous praise, with reviews that are practically glowing pretty much everywhere you look. The reviews are strong enough to put it comfortably among the top-rated games of 2026 so far...
Latest Feature Articles
Poll Are You Taking Time Off for GTA 6?
USA set for a massive financial hit on 19th November
We're now less than a month away from the arrival of GTA 6, and according to recent reporting, its launch day alone may cost America $1 billion. That's because an estimated 1.5 million workers are planning to take 19th November 2026 as a day off, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in Jason...
Guide Stage Tour Setlist: All Confirmed Songs and Artists
Every song revealed so far
Stage Tour is basically Guitar Hero and Rock Band reborn on PS5, complete with a brand new set of plastic instrument peripherals and a giant setlist of songs to play. Set for release on 10th December, 2026, you might be wondering which tunes you'll be able to jam along to, and in this guide, we've listed every artist and...
Hands On BeamNG.drive's Insanely Ambitious Simulation Sandbox Is a Minor Miracle on PS5
Will it blend?
BeamNG.drive makes its debut on PS5 today, 19th October 2026, and it's unlike anything else available on the console. Squeezing this vehicular physics simulation onto the six-year-old machine is a feat that fans of driving games shouldn't ignore. This is a truly unique offering that packs in a surprising amount of stuff to do — so...
Feature Going Platinum: Stray Is Probably the Only Game I've Speedran for a Trophy
Speed of the puma
Platinum Trophy #39: Stray Date Earned: 23rd July 2022 Dopamine Index: stars:4 I'm very fond of Stray. As a game, it's pretty simple, and isn't doing anything especially groundbreaking, but it was a real moment when this released, I think. Not just because of the game itself, but because it sparked a massive love-in for cats...
Feature Going Platinum: Sonic Origins Sends Me Back to the Genesis of My Own Gaming History
Old frontiers
Platinum Trophy #38: Sonic Origins Date Earned: 18th June 2022 Dopamine Index: stars:3 I don't remember the name of the earliest game I played, but it was on a floppy disk, and it was a compilation of a few short games. One involved a maze of doors for which you had to find matching keys; another involved a large machine covered in...
Guide These 26+ PS5 and PS Plus Games Are Coming Out This Week (21st - 27th September)
Silent Hill! Control Resonant! Dune!
September continues to be ridiculous; this week sees the arrival of another 26 games on PS5 and PS4. As we often say in our staff chat, there are simply too many games. Among the chaos are a handful of bigger titles to look out for. They include the likes of Control Resonant, Silent Hill: Townfall, and Dune:...
Feature Going Platinum: Unpacking's Obsession with Possessions Makes Me Think of All My Random Stuff
There arose such a clutter
Platinum Trophy #37: Unpacking Date Earned: 14th May 2022 Dopamine Index: stars:3 I'm sure I can't be alone in this, but my family is exceedingly good at holding onto things. I think we grow quite attached to objects. Growing up, there was always stuff everywhere, piled on top of other stuff, and it's something I've...
Preview Crazy Taxi: World Tour's Beta Test Transported Me Back to a Bygone Era of Online Multiplayer
It's a fare cop
This past weekend, SEGA hosted a closed network test for its upcoming arcade driving game, Crazy Taxi: World Tour. This was my first opportunity to get my hands on it — a revival of a true arcade classic, and exactly the kind of game I want to see making a return. As a big fan of the original, I couldn't resist taking the network...
Guide These 35+ PS5 and PS Plus Games Are Coming Out This Week (14th-20th September)
Wolverine! RuneScape! Trails!
We're properly in the thick of the September madness now. Next week on PS Store sees the release of another 25 or so games, coming off the back of last week's list of 20-odd titles. There are a couple of big ones in the crowd to watch out for, most notably Marvel's Wolverine, but there's also the likes of RuneScape:...
Feature Going Platinum: I've Still Not Played Anything Else Quite Like Paradise Killer
A unique case
Platinum Trophy #36: Paradise Killer Date Earned: 22nd March 2022 Dopamine Index: stars:4 I feel like I use the word "unique" far too much when covering games; the honest truth is many of them simply are not. However, one game that really was unique when it launched, and remains so today, is the brilliant Paradise Killer. It comes...
Latest News Articles
News 'What a Loss for All of Us': Boss of Baldur's Gate 3 Maker Reacts to BioWare Closure
Larian Studios CEO shares his thoughts
Publisher EA shocked fans and industry veterans alike earlier this week with its 400-person layoff, notably including the closure of the legendary RPG studio, BioWare. Many people have shared their thoughts on the matter, with almost everybody lamenting the move from EA, but it's worth highlighting this...
News Nearly 12 Million Capcom ID Accounts Affected in Huge Data Breach
"Capcom sincerely apologizes"
Japanese publisher Capcom has released a statement regarding a recent data breach, which has resulted in the unauthorised access to nearly 12 million Capcom ID accounts. Capcom ID is a free unified account system that grants access to online play in certain Capcom games, enables cross-platform play, and more. If you've...
News Helldivers 3? Not Unless It's Very Different from Helldivers 2, Says Arrowhead
Players are "keeping the game alive"
One of the more successful recent attempts at a live service game is Helldivers 2, published by Sony and developed by Arrowhead Studios. It seems the latter is in no rush to follow it up with a Helldivers 3. Speaking to Rock Paper Shotgun, chief creative officer Johan Pilestedt says a third game in the co-op...
News Hellraiser 'Performing Extremely Well' Says Saber Boss in Bid for Return of AA Games
Calls them "the future to maintaining growth and momentum"
Saber Interactive's CEO, Matthew Karch, believes the double-A game space, which has long been absent in the push towards major triple-A productions, is key to survival in a turbulent industry. He has pointed to the recent release of Hellraiser: Revival as evidence that mid-budget titles can...
News Star Wars: Galactic Racer Doubles Online Party Size in First Major PS5 Update
Even more friendly
Developer Fuse Games has pushed a new game update for Star Wars: Galactic Racer, and it makes a much-requested improvement to the game's online multiplayer. As promised a while ago, the studio has doubled the size of parties you can form with friends; with this new update installed, you're able to party up with groups of up to...
News PS5 Exclusive Marvel's Wolverine Is Sony's Biggest Launch Since Helldivers 2
Gone berserk
Marvel's Wolverine has clearly done well for itself in terms of sales, with new data from PS Store charts as well as Circana painting a very positive picture. The recent superhero action title from Insomniac Games launched last month exclusively for PS5, and in terms of the PS Store, it was September's number one game in North America,...
News Despite BioWare Closure, Mass Effect TV Series Is Reportedly Still in Development
The show must go on
In a bombshell announcement, publisher EA confirmed it's closing the celebrated RPG developer BioWare amid an eye-watering 400-person layoff. The studio's next game, a fourth Mass Effect entry, has been cancelled as a result — but it seems we haven't seen the last of the franchise just yet. According to a new report from IGN,...
Reminder Pre-Orders Go Live Today for Gran Turismo's Gorgeous PS5 Controller
New model
In case you missed it, Sony announced a special, limited edition DualSense PS5 controller that celebrates the Gran Turismo series' 30th anniversary. It's a really nice-looking controller, with go-faster stripes on the touchpad, carbon fibre-like detailing, and a bunch of racing-inspired decals. Pre-orders for the pad begin today, 22nd...
News Peak Isn't the Only 'Friendslop' Game Coming Soon to PS5
Peak-aboo
In case you missed it, one of 2025's biggest hits — Peak — is heading onto PS5 at last. As it turns out, this isn't the only so-called "friendslop" game bound for Sony's console in the near future. Friendslop is a term coined to describe a particular brand of online co-op games, with Peak being a great example. Others might include...
News You've Not Seen Anything Like This Bizarre PS5 Open World RPG, Ordinary Oddness
Extraordinary
I wasn't sure what to expect going into the announcement trailer for Ordinary Oddness, and it's left me with more questions than answers, but I think that's sort of the point. This is a new open world RPG from publisher Tencent and developer COSMICPUP, and its 22-minute debut video is quite something: Ordinary Oddness is calling...
