About Stan Hogeweg
Stan owes their love of turn-based RPGs and all other things gaming to a second-hand Game Boy Advance SP and Wario Land 3. Persona, Zelda, and Pokemon rank among their all-time franchises, but they can be caught playing Dungeons & Dragons on a weekly basis too. Stan has a BA in English from California State University, San Bernardino.
Favorite Games
Persona 5 Royal handily takes the crown in Stan's gaming library, although that love extends to various other RPGs, especially TTRPGs like Dungeons & Dragons 5e. Other winners include The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Horizon Forbidden West, League of Legends, and Pokemon Black and White.
Favorite Console
The PS5 is Stan's most-used console and hub for games right now, although the Switch, 3DS, and Wii all hold special places in their heart as well. Stan also makes frequent use of a custom-built PC.
Industry Focus
Stan handles Game Rant features throughout the week, with a particular affection for lore dives as well as analysis of stories and characters in gaming. They're always striving to expand their knowledge of Nintendo games and RPGs.
Latest Articles
Persona 5 Tactica's Story is Unlike Any Other P5 Spinoffs, and That's Great
Not satisfied to simply break mechanical conventions for Phantom Thieves adventures, Persona 5 Tactica also innovates in the story department.
How Persona 5 Tactica's Damage Types Could Fit Into Persona 6's Combat
Persona 5 Tactica has a very different approach to damage types from most other Persona games, which could be worth something to Persona 6.
One D&D's New Bastion System Explained
Dungeons and Dragons' One D&D playtest materials have largely focused on classes so far, but a recent document adds a compelling new mechanic.
How a Potential Persona 4 Golden Remake Could Differ From the Original
Based on Atlus' approach to Persona 3 Reload, a theoretical Persona 4 Golden remake could grow beyond the original game in some great ways.
How Persona 5 Royal's Very Last Battle Drives Home the Themes of the Franchise
The end of Persona 5 Royal's final boss battle makes great use of that last antagonist to send a message about agency, community, and hope.
Persona 5 Royal's Yoshizawa and Akechi Offer a Key Lesson for P6's Playable Party
Persona 5 Royal uses its party members in some unique ways narratively, but it has some consequences that Persona 6 should keep in mind.
Persona 3 Reload's Treatment of Strega is a Great Sign for Future Remakes
Persona 3 Reload includes new story content for the antagonistic group Strega, which has ramifications for any other remakes of Persona games.
Persona 5 Strikers Can't Be Sophia and Zenkichi's Only Vehicle
Persona 5 Strikers is the home of Sophia and Zenkichi Hasegawa, two Phantom Thieves who have a lot left to offer the franchise in other games.
Why a Persona Party Game Spin-Off Before Persona 6 Would Make Perfect Sense
Some leaks claim a party game spin-off will release before Persona 6, and while nothing is confirmed, a Persona party game could be great.
How League of Legends' New Champion Briar Combines Many of Noxus' Characters in Gameplay and Lore
League of Legends' frenzied new champion Briar adds to the list of playable Noxians, where she fits into a web of gameplay and story connections.
New League of Legends Champion Briar Abilities Explained
League of Legends' latest champion Briar is on the way, and she puts a new twist on the game's high-sustain bruisers with her frenzied playstyle.
One Persona 3 Reload Combat Upgrade Says a Lot About Persona 6's Design
Persona 3 Reload doesn't confine itself to the combat mechanics from the original Persona 3, which could contribute to Persona 6's design.
A Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Sequel Shouldn't Follow One Story Trend in MultiVersus, NASB2
MultiVersus and NASB2 encourage a Super Smash Bros. Ultimate sequel to emphasize story more, but a Smash campaign should forge its own path.
Why Super Mario Bros. Wonder is the Perfect Game to Revive Old Power-Ups
Super Mario Bros. Wonder seems set on moving the franchise forward in a few ways, but it's actually ideal for a little mechanical nostalgia.
Persona 6 Needs to Preserve One Combat and Dungeon Upgrade in Persona 5 Royal
Persona 5 and Persona 5 Royal revolutionized the franchise's dungeon design, and a particular dungeon-crawling skill needs to be in Persona 6.
Why A Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Sequel Needs to Respect the Legacy of Zonai Devices
If The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom gets a sequel one day, it'll have to pay off the Zonai Survey Team's efforts in one way or another.
Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom's Story Role for Princess Zelda is a Double Edged Sword
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom does some unique things with Princess Zelda, but she doesn't totally escape an unfortunate pattern.
Persona 5 Royal's My Palace Feature is a Gem Worth Polishing
Persona 5 Royal's My Palace mode is a charming addition that deserves to get its training weights taken off in a future Persona game.
Hades 2: Melinoe Already Seems Like a Big Change From Zagreus in One Way
Hades 2 switches to a new protagonist from deep Greek mythology, and Melinoe already seems like she could differ from Zagreus quite a lot.
How Horizon Forbidden West Lays the Groundwork For a Possible Red Raids Game
The Horizon franchise has little spin-off content so far, but Horizon Forbidden West provides good material for a game about the Red Raids.