FromSoftware didn’t just create another soulslike game with Elden Ring—they changed the way we think about open-world design. While plenty of games boast sprawling maps, few manage to make exploration feel as rewarding, organic, and downright epic as Elden Ring does.
Every hidden cave, towering castle, and eerie ruin tells a story without shoving it in your face. There are no checklists, no waypoints pulling you along like a dog on a leash—just pure, unfiltered discovery.
With millions of Elden Ring Steam key copies sold, the game proved that players were craving a fresh take on open-world exploration
Unlike traditional open-world games that bombard you with map markers and constant hand-holding, Elden Ring embraces the joy of getting lost. You don’t stumble upon quests—you uncover them. NPCs don’t always make things easy for you, and sometimes, the most fascinating stories aren’t spoon-fed through cutscenes but are instead buried in item descriptions or hinted at through cryptic dialogue.
Exploration Feels Like Discovery, Not a Chore
Most open-world games follow a predictable formula: see a point of interest, check your map, go there, and repeat. Elden Ring breaks this cycle by making its world feel like an actual place rather than a theme park of content.
You might be heading to a distant castle when suddenly, a hidden catacomb entrance catches your eye. Instead of just adding it to your to-do list, you drop everything to see what’s inside. Maybe you find a legendary weapon—or maybe you awaken something you wish you hadn’t. The beauty lies in the unpredictability.
No Hand-Holding, No Problem
Some games are terrified of letting players figure things out on their own. They bombard you with tutorials, quest markers, and pop-up messages telling you what to do next. Elden Ring respects your intelligence. It hands you a world, gives you a gentle push, and says, “Good luck.”
There’s a thrill in figuring out mechanics, uncovering secrets, and realizing—maybe hours later—that an area you struggled with could’ve been tackled differently.
This design philosophy forces you to pay attention. You start noticing small details in the environment, interpreting vague hints from NPCs, and piecing together lore on your own. When you finally defeat a boss or solve a puzzle, the sense of accomplishment feels earned—not handed to you.
Challenging, But Never Unfair
A common misconception about FromSoftware games is that they’re punishingly difficult just for the sake of it. That’s not true. Elden Ring gives you all the tools you need to succeed—you just have to figure out how to use them.
If a boss is too tough, maybe you need a different strategy, a weapon upgrade, or even an entirely different path. Unlike other open-world games where higher-level areas are blocked by artificial barriers, Elden Ring lets you attempt anything at any time. Whether that’s wise or not is a different story.
What Other Games Should Steal From Elden Ring
More games need to trust their players. Hand-holding, excessive UI elements, and rigid quest structures make worlds feel less immersive. Instead of bombarding players with information, developers should create environments that encourage organic discovery. Reward curiosity. Make exploration meaningful. Give players the freedom to carve their own paths instead of forcing them down pre-planned routes.
If you haven’t experienced Elden Ring yet, now’s the perfect time to grab an Elden Ring Steam key and dive into one of the most brilliantly designed worlds gaming has ever seen. And if you’re looking for a deal, digital marketplaces like Eneba offer fantastic discounts on all things gaming.
