Dev Ashford
Senior Editor
Dev came to mobile gaming from a background in economics, which makes him unusually good at unpacking F2P systems. He covers gacha RPGs, hero collectors, and comparison pieces — the kind of writing where understanding the math matters as much as knowing the meta. He's written extensively on Idle Heroes, Raid Shadow Legends, and Mythic Heroes, and he takes a hard line on predatory monetization.
14 Articles
Brawl Stars Still Has the Best Mobile PvP Loop and Nobody Talks About It
Four years in, Brawl Stars runs better than most games that launched this year. Worth acknowledging.
Backpack Battles Is Not a Normal Auto-Battler
Most auto-battlers ask you to pick units. Backpack Battles asks you to think about a bag.
Archero 2 Has a Monetization Problem
Archero 2 is a good game with an IAP wall that's getting harder to ignore. Here's what's happening and where the player frustration is coming from.
Is Legend of Mushroom Pay to Win? The Honest Answer.
The short answer is yes. The longer answer is that it depends entirely on what you're actually playing it for.
Legend of Slime Hides Behind Its Aesthetic. That's Your Mistake, Not Its.
Everyone skips Legend of Slime because it looks like a kids game. The upgrade loop inside it is as clean as anything in the idle RPG genre.
Most Mobile Roguelite Games Are Not Actually Roguelites
Raid Shadow Legends: At What Point Does Free-to-Play Stop Being Free?
Dev Ashford breaks down exactly where Raid Shadow Legends' F2P ceiling hits and what it costs to push past it.
Vampire Survivors Is the Best Mobile Idle Game Most Players Don't Know Is Idle
Dev Ashford on why Vampire Survivors is secretly one of the best idle games on mobile — and the weapon evolution tier list that proves it.
Legend of Slime Doesn't Get Enough Credit
The idle RPG everyone scrolls past has been quietly building one of the genre's most consistent player bases. Here's why that matters.
Idle Heroes Free-to-Play: What You Get, What You Don't, and Whether It's Worth It
Idle Heroes has one of the longer-running F2P debates in mobile idle RPGs. Here's what the free path actually delivers in 2026 and where it runs out.
RAID: Shadow Legends Without the Grind — What's Actually Worth Your Time
RAID has a reputation for demanding everything. It doesn't have to. A guide to the parts of RAID worth engaging with as a casual or returning player in 2025.
Mythic Heroes Makes the Roster Feel Fresh — Here's Why
Mythic Heroes pulls from Greek, Norse, Egyptian, and Chinese mythology to build a hero roster that feels genuinely different from other idle RPGs. An honest look.
How to Actually Enjoy Honkai: Star Rail Without Spending
Honkai: Star Rail is one of the best free mobile RPGs — if you know which parts to engage with. A practical guide for free-to-play players in 2025.
Games Like Idle Heroes: What to Play After Nine Years
Games like Idle Heroes are rare — few match the depth. Here's what actually does, and what's worth the fresh start after nine years.