Hardcore Gamer

Monica Phillips-Staff Writer

Monica Phillips

May, 2024
I've been playing video games my whole life, and writing about them for over a year, making sure to comb through every detail I can.
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About Monica Phillips

Monica is a writer, artist, YouTuber, modder, musician, and general doer of all things related to video games. She’s a trans woman with a bit of experience and love for every game genre. From her first experience with Kirby to loving Sonic, then adoring Celeste, and going through the life-changing Outer Wilds, all types of games have become a big thing she’s grown to love and care about. They’re all about finding new games to fall in love with, new genres to dive into thoroughly, and new experiences to attach to forever. She’s usually drawing characters from games, making videos about playing them, or writing about every little detail within them. She’s also interested in cooking and music outside of gaming and enjoys making the most out of every art form she can get her hands on. She’s always making different things that will pay tribute to the games that made her who she is, and trying new and exciting things is never a challenge and always an opportunity.

Industry Focus

I'm a writer for Hardcore Gamer, focusing on lists and guides, which fits in with my extensive experience making guides for indie games like Cocoon, Terraria, and Celeste, though I'm not unfamiliar with the AAA+ space either.

Favorite Console

If it counts, I'd go with the Steam Deck, but that feels a bit cheaty, so in terms of consoles that aren't a PC in a cool form factor, I'm pretty partial to the Nintendo Switch. The library of games they've built over the years has been incredible, and the console itself feels great to use. Though I primarily prefer PC, I'll still happily play games on Switch or PS4.

Favorite Games

Choosing my favorite games is always tricky because I know many games that have irrevocably changed my life, I usually go with the ones that had the biggest impact on me. That said, those would be Outer Wilds, Celeste, Undertale, Terraria, and Super Mario Galaxy.

Latest

Minecraft Updates Thumbnail
10 Best Minecraft Updates of All Time

Minecraft has had some great updates over its decade-and-a-half-long run, and these are the absolute best of the best.

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10 Best Steam Next Fest Demos Worth Trying

Next Fest is back for October 2024, and these are some of the most outstanding games to come from it.

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10 Best AFK Farms in Minecraft

Farms in Minecraft go beyond just crops, and the best ones on this list give you the best resources for no work.

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10 Best Browser Games

The World Wide Web has an unending amount of games you can play right in your browser, so I've compiled the 10 best ones.

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10 Games To Play If You Love Core Keeper

Core Keeper is an excellent little indie sandbox game, and if you're looking for something similar, these games have got you covered for a while.

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10 Best Versions of Tetris, Ranked

Tetris has had a ton of different incarnations with various features, so this list compiles the top hits of the franchise.

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10 Best Sonic the Hedgehog Games

Sonic's been a rather controversial series, so if you're looking for the best games to get into the series, this list should help.

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10 Best Shadow the Hedgehog Appearances in Sonic Games

Shadow is everyone's favorite edgy hedgehog from the Sonic series, and this list shows off the best appearances he's had.

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10 Best Villains in the Sonic the Hedgehog Franchise

Sonic's had a bunch of villains, and while Eggman is the antagonist a lot of the time, there are still quite a few unique ones to appreciate.

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10 Most Iconic Sonic the Hedgehog Characters

The Sonic franchise has some iconic and memorable characters, and these are the most notable of them all.

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Every Game Represented in Sonic X Shadow Generations

Sonic X Shadow Generations is an anniversary celebration for the Sonic series, and this list shows off each game that gets represented in it.

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10 Most Useful Items In Stardew Valley

When you're making up some long-term goals in Stardew Valley, you've got quite a few items to consider, and these should be your priorities.

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10 Most Important Tool Upgrades In Stardew Valley

Most tools in Stardew Valley can be upgraded, but each one is quite costly, so this list shows what to prioritize first.

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10 Iconic Tracks From The Mario Kart Series

Mario Kart's had some really great courses across the whole series, but which are the most iconic of them all? This list seeks to answer that.

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10 Best Super Mario Power-Ups Across The Series

Mario's got a whole array of power-ups across the whole series that are iconic, fun, and unique, and these are the best.

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10 Games To Play If You Love Astro Bot

If you're a big fan of Astro Bot's fun and creative 3D platforming, there's a ton of games out there to try and scratch that itch too.

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10 Things Every Good Roguelike Game Needs

Roguelikes are a complex genre that have to balance skill with randomness, and this list boils down the ways to make the best roguelike possible.

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10 Best Non-Steam Games on the Steam Deck

The Steam Deck, being a full on computer, can play much more than just games on Steam, and these are the best ways to do it.

Thumbnail for the Best Cozy Games on Steam Deck article, featuring A Short Hike and Unpacking.
10 Coziest Steam Deck Games

If you're looking to your Steam Deck to unwind and want a comfy game to help you relax after a long day, these are the best.

Thumbnail for the best Steam Deck Roguelikes article, featuring Dead Cells, Risk of Rain 2, and Balatro.
10 Best Roguelikes on the Steam Deck

Roguelikes are perhaps at their best on Steam, and the Steam Deck is the ideal place to play the best of the best.

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