Even if you open your map to try and figure out what lies ahead, there’s no telling what awaits in any given area. In Elden Ring, few icons appear on the map, preserving the sense of mystery of nearly every area you encounter. Though Elden Ring’s map does feature icons for Sites of Grace and other buildings, most of its contents remain mysterious, which is part of the allure. The checkmark also tells you there isn’t anything left to discover. That doesn’t mean completing each objective is dull - but the sense of mystery is completely stripped away since the icon tells you exactly what to expect from any given area. Once you visit a particular area and complete whatever objective awaits, you get a little checkmark, telling you it’s finished.
But when you open up the map, what do you see? Dozens of icons, each telling you exactly what to expect. In fact, the recent installments are some of the best in the series, with interesting environments to explore.
Show, don’t tellįranchises like Assassin’s Creed aren’t bad. Given its success, we hope to see fewer open-world games packed with icons going forward, with a greater emphasis on mystery and wonder instead. That’s one reason Elden Ring is so remarkable, as it completely bucks this trend while still offering a detailed map to help you on your way. While it’s satisfying to check things off a to-do list, the sense of wonder and organic discovery is often compromised by a busy map and UI. Is this immersion? Or is this a chore simulator? Think Assassin’s Creed or Far Cry.
A lot of games present vast open worlds littered with icons and an endless to-do list. For the past 15 years or so, the “map game” has been popular.