Lauren has been writing for PC Gamer since she went hunting for the cryptid Dark Souls fashion police in 2017. She joined the PCG staff in 2021, now serving as self-appointed chief cozy games and farmlife sim enjoyer. Her career originally began in game development and she remains fascinated by how games tick in the modding and speedrunning scenes. She likes long fantasy books, longer RPGs, can't stop playing co-op survival crafting games, and has spent a number of hours she refuses to count building houses in The Sims games for over 20 years.
Latest articles by Lauren Morton

Summer Game Fest 2026 schedule and all the other summer showcases full of gaming announcements you won't want to miss
By Lauren Morton last updated
Showcase Season Keep up with when to watch this summer's lineup of major gaming announcements.

Now that we have Paralives, Inzoi, and The Sims 4, life simmers finally have the variety we've been begging for
By Lauren Morton published
Manifesting With Paralives joining the party, I finally feel like there's a real buffet of choice for life sim players.

Paralives players are getting jumpscared by a naked chap called Charlie glitching into their games and now I too have been Charlie'd
By Lauren Morton last updated
This unsettling, naked para is bodysnatching our characters and honestly, I want to keep them.

How to solve the fireplace puzzle while investigating the dining room in 007 First Light
By Lauren Morton published
Chimera'd Your first major mission in First Light stops your chase sequence short to solve a quick animal-based symbol puzzle.

Yes, 007 First Light's tutorial really is a whole 3 hours of training montage and agent bonding time
By Lauren Morton published
Boot Camp By hour two James wasn't the only one chafing at yet another training exercise in Malta.

How to infiltrate the hotel in 007 First Light by finding the press badge or stealthing through the window
By Lauren Morton published
Entry Point Your first test of true spycraft in First Light gives you a few different ways to enter the Carpathian Hotel.

How to try for a baby in Paralives and get pregnant
By Lauren Morton published
Baby Fever Here's how to navigate your paramour paras into the world of parenthood.

Paralives has done the one exact thing I was begging life sims for
By Lauren Morton published
I was on my knees pleading for a scrap of strategy gameplay and Paralives has laid me a feast of fun simulation effects.

Is Paralives worth playing in early access for life sim fans?
By Lauren Morton published
Parasocial After a lot of hours spent in Paralives, here's my breakdown on how you can decide whether it's your type of life sim or not.

Paralives launch times and release date
By Lauren Morton published
Friend Date Here's when we can finally get our hands on the latest life sim.

Haunted Chocolatier: all the key details on the followup to Stardew Valley
By Lauren Morton last updated
Sweets Science Stardew Valley's creator is working on another life sim, and it looks just as sweet as his first.

Witchbrook: Everything we know so far about the witchy life sim
By Russell Adderson last updated
Spelled out Chucklefish's cozy magical college sim is coming this year.

A human overview of Paralives: what you need to know about the upcoming indie life sim
By Lauren Morton last updated
Life Plan The next life sim to watch is hyper-stylized with an impressive build mode and lots of plans for Live Mode in early access.

This vampire farm sim has Real Housewives of Stardew energy
By Lauren Morton published
Farm Sins Moonlight Peaks is brave enough to ask: What if Stardew Valley were more toxic?

The Sims 3 review: 'a joyful simulation, and celebration, of life and all its dramas'
By Graham Smith published
Life affirming Love, work and kleptomania return in The Sims 3, Electronic Arts' enormous life-controlling sequel to the bestselling PC game of all time.

Discussion time: Are classic tab-target MMOs with loads of keybinds going out of style?
By Harvey Randall published
CLOSE THE TAB I can feel my inner old man weeping, but the times, they are a-changing.

Cozy games in May: Our release calendar and staff picks
By Lauren Morton published
Cozy calendar From Paralives to Thrifty Business, this month is going to be all about life sims and shop sims in the cozy game corner.

Full list of The Sims 4 Life & Death cheats for becoming a Reaper or maxing out your Ghost Mastery
By Lauren Morton published
Cheating Death Here's your full reference list for cheats in the afterlife expansion with skill cheats, career cheats, and tons of unlockable ghost abilities.

Full list of The Sims 4 Businesses & Hobbies cheats with skills, perks, and hidden reward traits
By Lauren Morton published
Business Hacks Here's your full reference list for cheats in the small businesses expansion to change your renown, alignment, and skill levels.

The best possible fantasy author is writing a dark, tragic prequel novel for our beloved Baldur's Gate 3 boy Astarion
By Lauren Morton published
News Wildly prolific fantasy and horror author T. Kingfisher just got announced as the writer of an Astarion backstory novel coming this year.

The best co-op games to drag your pals into
By Harvey Randall last updated
Updated! The best co-op games around whether you want a co-op campaign or a hang space for your group chat.

The 20 best cozy games on PC that aren't farm sims
By Lauren Morton last updated
Cozy Games If you need more chill in your game library, these are the best cozy games you can play on PC.

Everything you need to know about the Assassin's Creed Black Flag remake
By Lauren Morton published
Back in Black Ubisoft has rebuilt Black Flag "from the ground up" with a combat overhaul and stealth improvements but the same classic story.
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