CCG writes – “Its fair to say that Elden Ring has changed the rules of what an open world game can be. Favoring exploration to tedious quest logs, the player is free (and fully expected) to roam the different areas of the game in search of unique landmarks. This landmark may be a long-fallen city, a small settlement, a cave, or something more impressive such as a stronghold or castle. Exploring these areas will always be rewarding, and will generally grant treasure in the form of a new weapon, armor, or spell.”
source: gamezpot.com