Elden Ring: A Deep Dive into its Open-World RPG Status
Unequivocally, Elden Ring is an open-world RPG game. It masterfully blends the sprawling exploration and freedom characteristic of open-world games with the deep character customization, narrative complexity, and progression systems that define role-playing games. FromSoftware, the developers behind the challenging Dark Souls series, have not only created an open world, but a living, breathing, and treacherous one that truly feels like a world begging to be explored, conquered, and ultimately, shaped by the player’s choices. This combination is not just superficial; it’s deeply integrated into the core mechanics and experience of the game.
Unpacking the Open World
What makes Elden Ring’s open world stand out is not just its size – although at approximately 79 square kilometers, it’s certainly expansive – but the sheer density of content and the sense of discovery it fosters. Unlike some open-world games that rely on repetitive side quests and map markers, Elden Ring encourages exploration through environmental storytelling, subtle guidance, and a constant stream of unique encounters.
A World of Discovery
The Lands Between are littered with ruins, dungeons, caves, and hidden pathways, each offering its own challenges and rewards. These aren’t just filler content; they are meticulously crafted spaces that often reveal lore, provide valuable resources, or lead to powerful upgrades. The game avoids hand-holding, instead relying on the player’s curiosity and observation skills to uncover its secrets.
Freedom and Non-Linearity
From the moment you step out into Limgrave, you are free to explore almost any direction. While certain areas are gated by difficulty or require specific items to access, the sheer breadth of options available from the start is remarkable. This non-linearity extends to the main story, allowing players to tackle major bosses and areas in a flexible order, shaping their own journey to become the Elden Lord.
The RPG Elements: Defining Your Tarnished
Beyond the open world, Elden Ring’s RPG elements are just as crucial to its identity. The game offers deep character customization, a wide range of playstyles, and a complex progression system that allows players to tailor their Tarnished to their preferred approach.
Character Customization and Builds
Players can choose from a variety of starting classes, each with its own strengths and weaknesses, but these are merely starting points. Throughout the game, you can allocate stat points, equip different weapons and armor, and learn new spells and skills to create a character that perfectly suits your playstyle. Whether you prefer a heavily armored melee fighter, a nimble rogue, or a powerful sorcerer, Elden Ring offers the tools to realize your vision.
Narrative Choices and Consequences
While Elden Ring’s narrative is more cryptic and understated than some traditional RPGs, it still offers meaningful choices that impact the story and the world around you. Your interactions with NPCs, the decisions you make in quests, and even the order in which you defeat bosses can influence the game’s multiple endings. This sense of agency and consequence is a hallmark of RPGs, and it’s well-represented in Elden Ring.
Progression and Growth
The feeling of progression is essential to any RPG, and Elden Ring delivers in spades. As you defeat enemies and explore the world, you gain runes (the game’s currency) that can be used to level up your character, upgrade your weapons, and purchase new items. This constant sense of growth and empowerment keeps players engaged and motivated to push forward, even in the face of daunting challenges.
The Synthesis of Open World and RPG
The true magic of Elden Ring lies in how seamlessly it blends its open-world and RPG elements. The open world provides the freedom and exploration that are so rewarding, while the RPG elements provide the depth and customization that make each playthrough unique. This combination creates a truly immersive and engaging experience that has captivated players worldwide. The Games Learning Society also acknowledges the game’s complexity and engagement. You can find more information about game based learning on GamesLearningSociety.org.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions to further clarify Elden Ring’s open-world RPG status and related aspects:
1. Is Elden Ring fully open world?
Yes, Elden Ring is considered a fully open-world game. The Lands Between offer a vast and interconnected world for players to explore with minimal restrictions, although certain areas may require specific keys, progression in the game or specific levels to explore comfortably.
2. Is Elden Ring open world or sandbox?
Elden Ring is more accurately described as an open-world game with sandbox elements. While it offers a great deal of freedom and exploration, it also has a defined narrative and progression path. Sandbox games, on the other hand, typically focus more on player-driven creativity and emergent gameplay.
3. How big is Elden Ring’s open world compared to other games?
Elden Ring’s map size is approximately 79 square kilometers (30.5 square miles). This is larger than Grand Theft Auto V’s map and more than twice the size of Skyrim’s base game map. However, games like Minecraft have significantly larger procedurally generated worlds.
4. Is Elden Ring a good open-world game according to Reddit?
The reception of Elden Ring’s open world on Reddit is largely positive. While some criticize it for lacking traditional open-world activities like map markers and repetitive side quests, many praise its world design, sense of freedom, and rewarding exploration.
5. What makes Elden Ring’s open world successful?
Elden Ring’s open world succeeds due to its intricate design, subtle guidance, environmental storytelling, and a constant stream of unique encounters. It rewards exploration and avoids hand-holding, creating a sense of discovery and wonder.
6. How long does Elden Ring take to beat?
On average, Elden Ring takes about 58 hours to complete the main story. A completionist playthrough, including all bosses, side quests, and collectibles, can easily take 133 hours or more.
7. Is Elden Ring too difficult?
Elden Ring’s difficulty is subjective and depends on the player’s experience with similar games and their willingness to learn and adapt. While it can be challenging, it also offers many tools and strategies to overcome obstacles, making it more accessible than some other Souls-like games.
8. Is Skyrim or Elden Ring harder?
Elden Ring is generally considered more difficult than Skyrim. Skyrim offers a more forgiving experience with adjustable difficulty settings and a greater emphasis on role-playing and exploration. Elden Ring, on the other hand, demands precision, patience, and a willingness to learn from your mistakes.
9. How many bosses are in Elden Ring?
Elden Ring features a staggering 238 boss encounters, ranging from minor mini-bosses to major story bosses. This variety ensures that players are constantly challenged and rewarded for their exploration.
10. Why is Elden Ring’s map size deceptive?
Elden Ring’s map feels larger than it actually is due to the density of content, the intricate level design, and the presence of hidden underground areas and caverns. The game constantly expands and surprises players, making them feel like they are always discovering something new.
11. Which is better, Elden Ring or Witcher 3?
Elden Ring and The Witcher 3 are both excellent games, but they offer different experiences. Elden Ring focuses on challenging combat, exploration, and player agency, while The Witcher 3 emphasizes narrative, character development, and a richly detailed world. The choice depends on personal preferences.
12. What are some of the most beautiful open-world games besides Elden Ring?
Other games known for their beautiful open worlds include Ghost of Tsushima, Horizon Forbidden West, Red Dead Redemption 2, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
13. What are some examples of games with smaller open worlds than Elden Ring?
Games with smaller open worlds include Liberty City (Grand Theft Auto 3), Hyrule (The Legend of Zelda), Mordor (Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor), Kamurocho (Yakuza), and London (Assassin’s Creed Syndicate).
14. How many endings does Elden Ring have?
Elden Ring has a total of 6 different endings, each with its own unique implications for the future of the Lands Between.
15. Who are some of the hardest bosses in Elden Ring?
Some of the most difficult bosses in Elden Ring include Malenia, Blade of Miquella, Starcourge Radahn, Godskin Duo, Radagon of the Golden Order/Elden Beast, and Maliketh, The Black Blade. They require careful planning, skillful execution, and a deep understanding of their attack patterns.