Lauren Morton
Lauren started writing for PC Gamer as a freelancer in 2017 while chasing the Dark Souls fashion police and accepted her role as Associate Editor in 2021, now serving as the self-appointed chief cozy games enjoyer. She originally started her career in game development and is still fascinated by how games tick in the modding and speedrunning scenes. She likes long books, longer RPGs, has strong feelings about farmlife sims, and can't stop playing co-op crafting games.
Latest articles by Lauren Morton
![Lightyear Frontier - a players stands in a farm plot of berries near a red mech](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PqrrhAeqnRQkgyppBf9HzR-320-80.jpg)
Lightyear Frontier makes mechs cozy with its low-stress approach to alien planet environmentalism
By Lauren Morton published
Final Frontier This colorful open world makes farming a well-oiled endeavor.
![Paralives - Two characters laugh together in a garden of roses](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Fi7NFSzwx7pRDMaJorjHmT-320-80.jpg)
Paralives will enter early access in 2025 and will never have paid DLCs, only free expansions
By Lauren Morton published
News Paralives shows off its live mode features with group activities and "together cards."
![A cyberpunk city skyline](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AWqk4nG9WD9KsebhhKW35d-320-80.jpg)
This Townscaper-like building game on 'the dark side of cozy' is the perfect lock screen photo designer
By Lauren Morton published
News Dystopika's new demo in the Steam Next Fest is photo mode gold.
![A person cooking in a kitchen](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/9Wr2wafYu9MMNMjZUBen8N-320-80.jpg)
This cozy cooking platformer is so sweet that I went back for seconds of the demo
By Lauren Morton published
News After snacking on this cooking game I'm totally hungry for a full plate.
![Life By You - A a character with dreadlocks wearing a yellow shirt in a conversation](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eRFJVEXmcELnxFVwi5oAiR-320-80.jpg)
Sims competitor Life By You delayed to June to refine gameplay and 'add more life' to character faces
By Lauren Morton published
News Paradox Tectonic outlines a list of improvements and player feedback it wants to spend time addressing.
![Willem, a Nosferatu vampire in Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UVXWDDMKazsYdM8a6bupuK-320-80.jpg)
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2: Everything we know
By Lincoln Carpenter, Lauren Morton last updated
Smile, Jack Everything about Bloodlines 2's development, setting, clans, dancing, and more.
![Palworld - a player kneels, peting a Kitsun with a flaming blue mane](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cJuryae3xjmgqtxCvmza2n-320-80.jpg)
I accidentally bred one of the rarest Palworld pals, but they have the most ridiculous stats
By Lauren Morton published
News I found a shockingly easy way to breed a Kitsun, but now he's just stuck manning my kitchen.
![Immortal Life - Several characters sit around a stone table outdoors in a lush forest](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EDZX3Q7kxPqHesjaBAvppN-320-80.jpg)
I wish I could stomach Immortal Life's clunky controls long enough to fall in love with a cultivation fantasy farm sim
By Lauren Morton published
Spiritual Struggles After almost two years in early access, Immortal Life still isn't sleek enough to set the standard for cultivation farm sims.
![The Sims 4 build tips -](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4H6hivx64PoR3av97UcK8E-320-80.jpg)
Sims 4 build tips: 7 tricks for less boring builds
By Lauren Morton published
Build Tips Start making the most of build mode with this list of beginner tricks.
![Palworld - A lucky Hootcrates with sparkling effects stands in a grassy area in front of a player](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/tdThzp3LMrHuHMiRiUUHfh-320-80.jpg)
Lucky Pals: how 'shiny pals' work in Palworld
By Lauren Morton published
Lucky Buddies The rare Lucky Pals are a little harder to catch, but they come with stat buffs.
![Palworld - a player and their pal workr together to water a berry plantation](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hePFfciB3xBq4QnKPu7UJX-320-80.jpg)
How to find Palworld kindling and other work suitabilities
By Lauren Morton published
Work Bestie Here's what "needs kindling" means and all the other work suitabilities that your pals need to help around the base.
![Palworld - a player pets their flying blue manta Pal](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DNHMFfw6cK7PtTnTtZKtZR-320-80.jpg)
I hope Palworld inspires a vibrant new survival crafting subgenre: Little base buddies management
By Lauren Morton published
Creature Crafting Kelvin walked so that Palworld could jog so that all little crafting game helpers can run.
![Palworld - A player stands in front of Zoe & Grizzbolt in their party](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bNP4EUfLJbdaWgX7N2NvUQ-320-80.jpg)
Palworld players discovered an exploit for capturing bosses and turning them into party members
By Lauren Morton published
New Management With a bit of cheesing the boss fight, you too can add the big bads to your party.
![Palworld - two players ride on the backs of giant Pals together](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/o9Smymnpu6ipC9QLwe9BiX-320-80.jpg)
Palworld multiplayer: how to join your friends online
By Lauren Morton published
Online Pals Join your pals in Palworld multiplayer to build bases and catch critters together.
![Townscaper - a seaside collection of stone houses and towers at sunset](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uk2BCBeu8RuUbcWizENxxH-320-80.jpg)
Townscaper's developer on how its 'radically casual' design is inspiring a new wave of low-stress builders to adapt the blueprint
By Lauren Morton published
New landscape Oskar Stålberg contemplates Townscaper's surprise success and the proliferation of other low stress building games.
![Avowed game wizard](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/QAcx48xBe6WkmLxViySLyh-320-80.jpg)
How to watch the Xbox Direct livestream for January 2024
By Lauren Morton published
Direct X The first Xbox showcase of the year is set to share gameplay for Indiana Jones, Avowed, and Hellblade 2.
![Minecraft mods - Terralith shows off one of its biomes](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CBdTMenRsk3zZ8QgBX3LuH-320-80.jpg)
The best Minecraft mods for glorious new worlds
By Lauren Morton, Philip Palmer last updated
Updated! Searching for the best Minecraft mods in 2024? This guide has you covered.
![The Sims 4 - Three sims in black clothes and leather stand together chatting](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kRmEoL3Nt8pqtyTZHcEbhB-320-80.jpg)
The Sims 4 is granting my castle build wishes, and goths to live in them, with 2 new DLC kits this week
By Lauren Morton published
news The castles are rad but goths may be going home sad.
![A Diablo 4 barbarian points at an unclaimed Altar of Lilith.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fX4oLiGmhJFUsnY9sT3FDi-320-80.jpg)
Every Altar of Lilith location in Diablo 4
By Lauren Morton last updated
Looking for Lilith There are 160 statues to collect across Diablo 4's map, so here's where to find them.
![The Sims 4 - a man Sim in a blue suit walks fearfully through an underground city](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LcLKzHUdFXxpxWGCwJyLPS-320-80.jpg)
Unhinged Sims 4 player keeps building hidden village bunkers 'for capturing and storing men'
By Lauren Morton published
News Live Mode players scare me.
![Unnamed life sim working title "Apollo City" - a character on the roof of an apartment building in a pixellated city waters vegetables in garden boxes and jars pickles](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2zkKfDXFbKuKkzN6jkZHPM-320-80.jpg)
Former Stardew Valley contributor is making a new life sim set in a city, and it's already packed with little features new to the genre
By Lauren Morton published
News Any life sim where sleeping and recycling are levelable skills has my attention.
![](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wakcwjaSaYU2GUYnke77KN-320-80.png)
11 upcoming RPGs that might finally pull me away from Baldur's Gate 3
By Tyler Wilde published
New Rolls There are tons of exciting, ambitious RPGs in development, and lots of them are releasing this year.
![Bugaboo Pocket - a virtual pet showing a purple and yellow rubber ducky isopod wearing a blue flower hat](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/riZyYmsiCiYdMCGwGrcMs4-320-80.jpg)
Thanks to this Tamagotchi-like critter care game I now believe that bugs can be cute too
By Lauren Morton published
Bug features All it took was bug fashion, den decor, and minigames to win my heart.