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
![Avowed game wizard](https://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.
![The Sims 4 - Three sims in black clothes and leather stand together chatting](https://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.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.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.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.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.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.
![Lightyear Frontier](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/cZhyRvmp6b3cswCMBpeDri-320-80.jpg)
One of my most anticipated games of 2024 is the one where mechs do farming
By Lauren Morton published
Crop Bots I'm a sucker for farming and crafting, especially if I get to be an interstellar mech pilot.
![Baldur's Gate 3](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/qkntTaUCuVeSiwKSKGBMj6-320-80.png)
All Baldur's Gate 3 romance options: who you can pursue
By Lauren Morton last updated
Baldur's Date Unlock a romance with any of the main origin characters and some of your other party members, too.
![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)
The 10 cozy games I'm most excited for in 2024
By Lauren Morton published
Getting Cozy Cuddle up with this list of the coziest games scheduled to launch this year.
![Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Ichiban surfs in Honolulu with a smile](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4a3Bi68srHfTAYL2eNL6Fc-320-80.jpg)
Playing Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth feels like walking into a restaurant where the staff already knows my order
By Lauren Morton published
New View After spending just a couple hours in Honolulu City, I already feel at home in the series again.
![A stylised image of the year 2024.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2tf6CKGRuLY4UUhBSRTyJV-320-80.jpg)
What are your 2024 gaming resolutions?
By Robin Valentine published
HI RES Maybe this is the year you clear that backlog...
![Mei, Torbjorn in Christmas outfits.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Q93XymWfaPdhMYBQVzP6En-320-80.jpg)
What games did everyone play over the holidays?
By Mollie Taylor published
happy new year 'Tis the season to be gaming.
![A wizard stares at an orb through a telescope](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/xp5mqXehh68WxNomK3kRCE-320-80.jpg)
Our boldest predictions for PC gaming in 2024
By Jody Macgregor published
Divination We're pondering our orbs again.
![Sky Children of the Light - three characters in bright capes walk together pointing towards a mountain with light shining into the sky](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dXGZ3Zws4a2nhrKyRzBr6U-320-80.png)
Hang on, because the cozy games trend hasn't even peaked yet
By Lauren Morton published
Cozy overload It felt like cozy games exploded in 2023, but next year is definitely going to be bigger.
![Arc Raiders](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TQRUv6mqTZrn3rJLGn4pMo-320-80.jpg)
6 game genre trends that we think are going to define 2024
By Lauren Morton published
Genre Defining The landscapes of FPSes and RPGs and city builders are all right at the edge of some big changes.
![Palia - a player claps their hands while standing in front of a stack of winterlights chests](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/p9RCeUn7wy5ivpM2QAHMwM-320-80.jpg)
Where to find all 7 presents in Palia's Winterlights event
By Lauren Morton published
Winterlights List Here's how to track down all seven presents that Zeki has hidden around the village.
![Baldur's Gate 3 - Astarion wearing an admiral's hate in camp, shirtless](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/LLwPXjS7GcU7ph7Vv52dgb-320-80.jpg)
This year Baldur's Gate 3 finally reawakened the RPG fandom freaks I'd dearly missed
By Lauren Morton published
Baldur's Fate I'm glad to see all my favorite weirdos (affectionate) enjoying the same thing again.
![Palia - Hodari, a pan with purple skin and short hair wearing goggles and a work jacket stands on a paved path through a green meadow](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ytjisCWBwDByiKrG2vy4ua-320-80.jpg)
Where the heck is Hodari in Palia?
By Lauren Morton published
Mine Times Here's where to track down Palia's miner Hodari.
![Chants of Sennaar - A large tower with a terrace where a character stands looking out over a desert landscape. A PC Gamer banner saying "Personal Pick" in the top left corner.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8jCdtzU9349hR3FSMeKKxm-320-80.png)
Chants of Sennaar made me feel like a child in a school computer lab again in the best way
By Lauren Morton published
I may not have learned a real language, but this was still the best learning-adjacent game I've played in years.
![Best stealth game of the year 2023 banner](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/UyWMhnbSVMhRdUSd5fAMz6-320-80.png)
Best Stealth 2023: Shadow Gambit – The Cursed Crew
By Phil Savage published
The Gotys Set sail for the final time with the stealth tactics masters.
![Jusant - a young person with short brown hair and a blue face marking looks upwards while wearing a cloak and a small blue creature companion on their shoulder](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3FuBoy78xTLeiD48rLotah-320-80.jpg)
I played over 30 new cozy games this year and these are the 4 must plays
By Lauren Morton published
Get Cozy Cozy games flooded the PC this year. Don't drown in the choices.
![Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bCTZ45u6ZcWUgQHhno9Lad-320-80.jpg)
Everything we know about Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League
By Lauren Morton last updated
Squad Up Everything we learned about the Warner Bros villain team-up before its release.