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
![The Sims 4 - a sim with purple hair wearing a cardigan hunches over a kitchen stove looking nervous](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7TRgyMew2futfPn8SHVV87-320-80.png)
The Sims 4 has just launched a battle pass-like 'events' system to reward players with new items for logging in regularly
By Lauren Morton last updated
News It's yet another feature getting slapped on the main menu, but at least this one's free.
![Life By You - a character with long dark hair, glasses, and a green shirt stands on a suburban street](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3bhdGu7tuDE2b24ynVsXsa-320-80.jpg)
Just 2 weeks before its early access release, Life By You is delayed again, this time without a new date
By Lauren Morton published
News The Sims-style life sim from Paradox Tectonic is no longer launching in June.
![A vector silhouette illustration of a multi-coloured crowd of people including young adults, teenagers, mature adults, and children.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nKzBAfamVPLyZTSUbW99pP-320-80.jpg)
Jake Solomon's upcoming life sim will create a cast of characters for you in a way that almost sounds like Dwarf Fortress
By Lauren Morton published
News "We are pre-seeding the town with relationships" each time you start a new game, he says.
![Several Sims wearing modded footbal jerseys wave while stranded in a pool](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BEd3Mp9Tt87qD5ZY2KvUf8-320-80.jpg)
NFL team channels the true Sims player experience of stranding its rivals in a pool
By Lauren Morton published
News The LA Chargers made an entire video in The Sims 2 for its schedule announcement video this year.
![Fields of Mistria animated trailer - a blonde girl in anime style wearing a cloak looks to the camera surprised in front of an idyllic meadow and mountain landscape](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/N9XGWQPBu6Zyh3CSEDdAfF-320-80.jpg)
Magical girl farm sim Fields of Mistria is bringing '90s anime sparkle to early access in August
By Lauren Morton published
News Early access will have plenty of farming to do, you just can't get married yet.
![The Sims 4](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hp4hWnDXiCTRjPcBasKEpE-320-80.jpg)
The Sims 4's new roadmap details the 'Season of Love' with two build kits and a romantic expansion
By Lauren Morton published
News The next season of Sims 4 DLCs is going to be a scorcher.
![Jake Solomon smiles for a company headshot](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/5pFV9RTcSBv9zE9Diu33AL-320-80.jpg)
XCOM designer Jake Solomon is done with turn-based strategy and is now making a life sim inspired by small town dramas like Gilmore Girls
By Lauren Morton published
Small Town Sims Midsummer Studios CEO Jake Solomon lays out plans for a Sims-style life sim that pats you on the back for engineering drama.
![The Sims 4 - Eliza Pancakes sits at her computer playing Sims Forever](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7QjSuB7W5JP7fMg6gBS95E-320-80.png)
The Sims 4 cheats: Every cheat code and life hack you need
By Lauren Morton last updated
Updated! All of the Sims 4 cheats for each expansion, all in one convenient place.
![Browser games — Townscaper's lovely towers.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VDh7cxqjzNgjYDBhKiGntY-320-80.jpg)
The best browser games
By Jupiter Hadley last updated
Browse the best A collection of great games you can play right in your browser.
![Tiny Glade](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xkzQsvGRy4xpLFDNfKAqyE-320-80.jpg)
Gorgeous cozy castle doodling game Tiny Glade is launching a demo this month
By Lauren Morton published
News We're finally getting our hands on Tiny Glade, at least for a tiny while.
![Mirthwood - a split screen of two different players, one at night in a cloak on a black horse and the other during the day riding a unicorn in autumn](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/rYasnw9zPSM5FpLxnx8zUe-320-80.jpg)
Sandbox farm sim Mirthwood will let you bring your pets into battle with you
By Lauren Morton published
News Mirthwood revealed more of its sandbox-y features in a new trailer this week.
![Inzoi - two characters pose for a selfie together in front of a blue convertible car](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TVgSQcVZ765BJUdT4Q8zUn-320-80.jpg)
Beautiful upcoming Sims competitor Inzoi reveals tons of weird features like sleepwalking, custom crime rates, and relationship hard mode
By Lauren Morton published
News Inzoi's developers have shared another deep dive video on features in the upcoming life sim.
![Echoes of the Plum Grove - several characters fish from a pool in a town market](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JqXKan87BZC6RRJNfsmfWN-320-80.jpg)
'Cozy game with consequences' Echoes of the Plum Grove is constantly threatening me with death, taxes, and mean neighbors
By Lauren Morton published
Death and Taxes This farm sim is cozy, right up until you catch consumption.
![Palworld - four new pals revealed side by side](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/677Zuqh5gsEwQY5DGEr6d5-320-80.jpg)
Palworld reveals 4 of the 'many more' new Pals coming in its summer update
By Lauren Morton published
News Palworld's summer update is bringing new Pals and technology.
![Manor Lords families - A town from above](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eDBB8veDDaWRpc8Rn92MLA-320-80.jpg)
Manor Lords release date and launch times: here's when the medieval city building gates open
By Lauren Morton published
News Here's when the highly anticipated medieval city strategy game launches.
![Minecraft - two armadillos stand inthe badlands together](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/egHdrEJbWeaWRBpzqtc52W-320-80.jpg)
Surprise! Minecraft's brand new mob has rolled out months before the update we expected it would be in
By Lauren Morton published
News Minecraft update 1.20.8 just arrived with extra armadillo.
![Fallout 76 - a player in a vault suit gives a thumbs up](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/BoJ4MDGsBmW9SJHpZEHRk7-320-80.jpg)
How to unlock your framerate in Fallout 76
By Jarred Walton last updated
Free Frames You'll need to manually change this important setting to get a better Fallout 76 experience.
![Fallout TV show - The Ghoul](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oA2HBpX5b4HVdCTJDRuMEB-320-80.jpg)
Of course Fallout fans are thirsty for The Ghoul—this isn't the first time everyone's fallen for an irradiated guy
By Lauren Morton published
Rad Lad If you've accepted yourself as a ghoul lover, let me introduce you to John Hancock.
![Fallout characters](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/PBauoMowBZqfxZLoc5WJ88-320-80.jpg)
What we want to see in Fallout season 2: Deathclaw fights, aliens and a lot more Norm
By Fraser Brown published
Back to the Wasteland Our hopes and dreams for the second season.
![Stardew Valley mods - Flower Valley - A player stands outside a farmhouse that has been redesigned to be covered in flowers.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eEW8dHS8qJpMhn47rGaqCQ-320-80.jpg)
The best Stardew Valley mods
By Lauren Morton last updated
Updated! All the best Stardew Valley mods, from flowery retextures to easier fishing.
![Life By You screenshot](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kLA8dFtYACJKHZgsfw9ubf-320-80.jpg)
Life By You director says modders are welcome to monetize creations however they want: 'Go for it—you don't need our permission'
By Lauren Morton published
News Rod Humble describes Life By You not just as a game but as a toolset for creators.
![null](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nyrdUJAVuDizvJXv5ZVUhX-320-80.jpg)
The best games like Stardew Valley on PC
By Lauren Morton last updated
Farm Life Games like Stardew Valley have taken root on PC and now you have your choice of farms and towns to revitalize.
![Fallout TV series - Squire Thaddeus wears a dopey grin in the wasteland](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8KjJ3CWey39NXZbVVss4AD-320-80.jpg)
The Fallout show's loser Squire Thaddeus is the most quintessential game sidequest character
By Lauren Morton published
World on Squire The Brotherhood of Steel is a total joke and Thaddeus is the punchline.