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Sam Hill

Sam Hill

Former Gaming Guides Editor
Author/Co-Author of 141 articles

As Digital Trends' Gaming evergreen lead, Sam Hill is here to help you find your new favorite game and dive right in. The team he oversees covers everything from Fortnite skin suggestions and Call of Duty perk tips to complex Baldur's Gate 3 builds and starting a fox farm in Minecraft. You can often find him losing all of his hard-earned loot in Rust or spamming the "Nice shot!" quick chat option in Rocket League (in a toxic way).

Before he came on full-time with Digital Trends, Sam spent a few years as a freelancer, writing tech guides for Input and writing for publications like Outside Magazine, Serious Eats, the Outline, Boston Magazine, and more. He also occasionally writes for The Manual about his outdoor adventures in the Pacific Northwest.

He got his start in journalism at the University of Southern Maine where he joined the Free Press, the student newspaper, after figuring out he didn't want to hang out with the serious English majors who genuinely enjoyed reading James Joyce.

Sam currently lives in Portland, Oregon, where he pretends to be a Trailblazers fan until the legendary Boston Celtics come to town.

A painting of three new Pokemon from Pokemon Scarlet and Violet..

All Pokémon games in order: chronologically and by release date

Jumping into the wonderful world of Pokémon and unsure where you should start? Here are some suggestions on how you can play all of the games in order.
Gaming Guides
The Elder Scrolls

The Elder Scrolls 6: everything we know so far

While The Elder Scrolls 6 is in active development, you won't get to play it for quite some time. Here's everything we know about the follow-up to Skyrim.
Gaming News
New York Times Crossword logo.

NYT Crossword: answers for Sunday, February 2

The New York Times crossword puzzle can be tough, even if it isn't the Sunday issue! If you're stuck, we're here to help you out with today's clues and answers.
Gaming News
Razer Wolverine V2 Chroma controller for PC and Xbox Series X.

The best PC controllers for 2025

There are more choices than ever for PC gamers who want console controls. We tested some everything, from budget gamepads to the high-end to list the best.
Gaming Best-Ofs
A team groups up in Counter-Strike 2.

The best free games on Steam

Steam has become the defacto PC gaming client, regularly offering discounts and promotions. However, many of its best titles are of the free-to-play variety.
Gaming Guides
A person holds up a PS5 controller.

How to sync a PS5 controller to your PS5

A PS5 controller is an innovative piece of tech. In this guide, we'll walk you through how to sync a PS5 controller to your PS5 system through a few steps.
Gaming Guides
Fortnite Chapter 2

How to change your Fortnite name on desktop and console

The name that you display in Fortnite is just as important as the skins you wear. We'll teach you how -- and how often -- you can switch up your username.
Gaming Guides
Discord

How to report someone on Discord

Discord users can violate the chatting app's guidelines, and you can make sure that disciplinary action is taken. Here is how to report someone on Discord.
Gaming Guides
Character running past a chocolate factory in Haunted Chocolatier.

Haunted Chocolatier: everything we know so far

Want to make chocolate in a haunted castle? The developer of Stardew Valley is working on a new game where you do just that. Here's what we know so far.
Gaming News
Horizon Call of the Mountain key art.

The best PSVR2 games

Playstation VR2 already has a fantastic lineup of VR titles, from VR classics rebuilt for the new headset to brand new exclusives.
Gaming Guides
Super Smash Bros Ultimate

The best fighting game on Switch gets a Cyber Week price cut

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate is a Switch classic and one of the best games on the platform. This is a must-see deal if you're looking to bundle a game with a new Switch.
Gaming News
Cal fights and enemy in Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

This Star Wars game is a Cyber Monday must-have

Jedi Cal Kestis might have one of the most interesting journeys in the Star Wars universe — and you can only experience it in this video game series.
Gaming News
Xbox Series X 1TB All-Digital console.

My favorite Xbox Series X model is on sale right now

With one of the newest Xbox Series X models, you'll never have to worry about file sizes or storage issues again.
Gaming News
A red Pikmin looks around in Pikmin 4.

This is my must-buy Nintendo Switch game for Black Friday 2024

Nintendo Switch game deals can be rare — that's why I'm beyond excited for the steep discount Pikmin 4 is getting for Black Friday.
Gaming Deals
A Minecraft warrior riding a horse

How to tame a horse in Minecraft

Adventuring through the Minecraft universe is a lot easier with a trusted steed. This guide will teach you how to find and tame a horse in Minecraft with ease.
Gaming Guides
A PS5 Pro that's floating in front of a gray background. It's turned to the side.

The best video game consoles for 2024

Choosing the right gaming console can be difficult. We compare the Xbox Series X, PS5, Nintendo Switch, and more in terms of games, power, and versatility.
Gaming Best-Ofs
Nikki in blonde hair sitting in a field of flowers in a wedding dress.

All upcoming mobile games: 2024, 2025, and beyond

There are plenty of upcoming iOS and Android games to look forward to, and here we highlight the platform's most anticipated titles.
Gaming Guides
Stardew Valley

Is the Stardew Valley 1.6 update on consoles and mobile? Switch, PS5, Xbox, more

Stardew Valley's 1.6 update has already released for PC, but console players are wondering when they'll get a chance to check out of all of the new changes.
Gaming Guides
e3 2021 missing games call of duty

All Call of Duty games in order, by release date and chronologically

Call of Duty titles have been releasing annually since 2003 and covered military conflicts from 1940 to 2187. Here's what the titles look like in order.
Gaming Guides
A heard of horses in minecraft.

How to breed horses in Minecraft

Breeding horses is fairly simple in Minecraft. Follow this basic guide and you'll have a full-sized horse ranch in no time.
Gaming Guides
A player sprints away from someone shooting at them in Blindfire.

Pitch-black shooter Blindfire is a bright idea that’s still finding its way

Blindfire is a new multiplayer shooter with a twist — players are fighting in complete darkness. We jumped into early access to put it to the test.
Gaming Features
The cast of Super Mario Party Jamboree.

How to unlock everything in Super Mario Party Jamboree: boards, characters, more

Mario Party Jamboree gives you a lot to start but there are a few characters and boards you'll need to unlock to play with. Here's how to unlock it all.
Gaming Guides
pokemon silver gold 24 years final

24 years later, Pokémon Gold and Silver remain unmatched

Pokémon Silver and Gold released in North America 25 years ago today, and no Pokémon game since has nailed its best feature.
Gaming Features
Cat lying on bed in Minecraft

How to tame a cat in Minecraft (and where to find them)

Adventuring and building a dream world is more fun with a feline friend. Here's our guide on how to tame a cat in Minecraft, including where you can find them.
Gaming Guides
A person and two pals in Palworld.

Is Palworld cross-platform?

Pokémon with guns? Palworld has been a viral multiplayer hit, but you should know that there are limitations when it comes to cross-platform support.
Gaming Guides
Three phones running Pokemon TCG Pocket.

Pokémon’s new mobile game will bring out the card collector in you

Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket is the best way to amass a Pokémon card collection without breaking the bank.
Gaming Features
An illustration of a Snorlax and other Pokémon napping from the Pokémon Sleep trailer.

Pokémon Sleep: everything we know so far

Pokémon Sleep is a new mobile spinoff that asks players to help Professor Neroli study Pokémon sleep habits while the players sleep!
Gaming News
A massive undead creature blocks the path of survivors in State of Decay 3,

State of Decay 3: everything we know so far

Undead Labs' third State of Decay game will surely pit survivors against hordes of wandering undead (this time in snow). Here's everything we know so far.
Gaming News
Two vault-dwellers and a helmet from a set of power armor.

Fallout 5: everything we know so far

Ready for another Wasteland adventure? Fallout 5 isn't close to release, but we aren't completely in the dark. Here's what we know about the next Fallout game.
Gaming Guides
Scorpion using his chain in mortal kombat 11.

Mortal Kombat 12: everything we know

Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav casually let it slip that Mortal Kombat 12 could be releasing this year during an earnings call. Here's what we know.
Gaming News
Cortana, the AI NPC from the Halo series.

What is an NPC?

NPC is a gaming term that means non-playable character, but it has taken on a new meaning in real life recently. Here's why someone called you an NPC.
Gaming Guides
Steam library.

How to change your Steam username

Have you outgrown your Steam username? If it's time for a change, you can switch up your username easily in just a few clicks on both desktop and mobile.
Gaming Guides
HyperX Chargeplay Quad charger.

My favorite Switch accessory is on sale for Prime Day

Is there anything more disappointing when playing Nintendo Switch with friends only to discover your Joy-Cons aren't charged? This Prime Day deal will save you.
Gaming Features
A red Pikmin looks around in Pikmin 4.

You can snag a rare discount on one of Nintendo’s best strategy games this week

One of Nintendo's most niche series had its strongest release in 2023, and the game is finally getting a worthwhile sale. Don't miss out!
Gaming Features
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