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.”
