Ghost of Tsushimaĭoesn’t matter if you want to hunt. The freedom to explore, however, removes the grind of more linear games like the Dark Souls series - letting you wander off and explore, levelling up at a more leisurely pace and adjusting to the challenges ahead.

I won't say it's more accessible because there are still hard to beat bosses and high level areas that will hand what's left of your ass back to you in seconds. The open world structure has also softened From's usual style of game design.

Every door or new location is as much a thrill as a threat, and the lack of obvious references or origins to its world often mean that even when you can see something, you're still not sure what to expect. FromSoftware's location gives little away and adds a genuine thrill to its exploration. That's assuming it hasn't been marked on the map for the last few hours you've been playing. Good open world games thrive on their power to make you wonder 'what's over there?', and all too often repeating mechanics like towers to climb and enemy bases to clear mean you already know. Perhaps one of Elden Ring's greatest assets as an open world is the air of mystery that shrouds almost everything in it. Assassin’s Creed: ValhallaĪvailable on: PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PC It’s hard to overestimate the impact Skyrim has had on the lives of gamers everywhere, but to get a good idea of its effect and just what Elder Scrolls 6 (opens in new tab) has to live up to, you’re best off jumping in and starting your new life in its world. Even after playing it for a casual 100 hours (those are rookie numbers) there are still quests that you won’t have found, and hidden bosses waiting to be slayed. The map is just filled with stuff to do, bizarre things to see, creatures to impale with sharp implements, NPCs to pickpocket, creepy Dwemer ruins to explore.oh, and dragons to fight. Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim (opens in new tab) is made for stories, and it’s so eager for you to sample its delights that even if you were to avoid every major settlement you’d still run into 30% of its quests out in the wild. At the same time during the day you’ll find a pack of bandits taking on a giant (R.I.P.), or wander into a nearby village only to have a dragon attack it when you’re stumbling out of the inn. Somewhere in the wilds there’s a necromancer trying to animate a skeleton. Skyrim’s world doesn’t revolve around you. Available on: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X

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