I’m not normally a big fan of exploration in computer games. So why am I still having a blast exploring the open world of Elden Ring? A big part of it is down to the map and specifically how the map is populated.
Progression in Elden Ring is gated by challenging Legacy Dungeons. Each of these are unique and packed with visual storytelling, setting the tone for a memorable Boss battle at the end. This is the content that the game is pushing you towards, and for good reason: These sections should seem very familiar to anyone who’s played the Dark Souls games. FromSoftware has a proven track record of getting this stuff right.
But unlike Dark Souls, Elden Ring is open world. Often there is nothing whatsoever preventing you from galloping between Legacy Dungeons. You don’t need to explore the open world, so why bother?
Because the Legacy Dungeons are very difficult and, unless you’re a very skilled player, you’ll need all the help you can get. This is where the exploration element reveals itself as core to the Elden Ring experience. By exploring, your character will become more powerful, you’ll get better gear and that will help you in the Legacy Dungeons. As you explore, you’ll also start to recognise ‘types’ of location, each of which serves a purpose. All of this together elevates the exploration from being a grind or worse, a pointless activity, to being something that sparks imagination and curiosity.
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Let’s look at what sorts of locations you can find in Elden Ring:
Legacy Dungeons are usually huge castles in a prominent location. They’re large and challenging areas culminating in a significant Boss fight. These are your road-block Boss areas discussed above. Certain very powerful Bosses yield a Great Rune on defeat, a fragment of the titular Elden Ring whose power can be unlocked at Divine Towers.
Divine Towers are drawn as star-shaped towers on the map. They have strong connections to The Two Fingers - a major religious presence in the game. Each tower is linked to a Boss whose Great Rune can be unlocked at these locations to gain access to their unique weapons, armour or spells.
Minor Erdtrees show as large stylised trees on the map. They’re lesser versions of the Great Erdtree, that one gold tree that’s so big that you can usually see it if you can see the sky. Each Minor Erdtree is guarded by a stalwart Erdtree Avatar, a mini-boss made of roots. Defeating this guardian grants you a Crystal Tear: Items which you can combine in your Flask of Wondrous Physik to give your character a powerful buff.
Catacombs are not marked on the map but are normally found near Minor Erdtrees, signposted by a statue bearing the message “Guide and gatekeeper for those returning to the roots”. Following the direction indicated by these statues leads to a Catacomb - so maybe the statues are placed there to help lost souls find their way to the afterlife. The Catacombs themselves are tricksy mini-dungeons: Traps and ambushes abound. Usually you have to find a lever hidden within the dungeon to open the door to the boss. These areas are rich in Grave Gloveworts, an upgrade material for your Spirit Ashes (helpful allies you can summon during Boss fights)
Caves/Tunnels have their entrances marked as glowing pits on the map. Usually they present as mines, many of the enemies here are just working away and not hostile unless you go right up to them and start fighting them. These also usually have a mini-boss at the end. These are the best places to find Smithing Stones, the upgrade materials for your Weapons.
Wandering Mausoleums are bizarre huge tombs that walk around on four stone pillar-like legs. They are not marked on the map but you know when they are near when you hear their dolorous bell ringing. You can also hear them stomping around if you’re close enough. You can knock these over to duplicate Remembrances, providing some good utility in giving you a second chance with a powerful single-use item. They also serve the important role of reminding you that the world of Elden Ring is weird AF.
Evergaols are marked on the map by concentric circles. They are stone-floored circles which can be activated to transport your Character to a sort of pocket dimension where you fight a Boss who is imprisoned there. You’ll be rewarded with runes to help you level up, and a potentially useful item.
Ruins hint at a forgotten past and are usually populated by enemies. They often conceal a basement with a helpful item.
Churches enforce the presence of Marika, the missing ruler of The Lands Between. They are a good place to look for NPCs and grant the rare Sacred Tears, which help your character regain health.
Rises are wizard’s towers, though more often than not the owner is absent. They will usually present a puzzle such as “find 3 sacred beasts” (which in Elden Ring are, of course, turtles) to grant access. Your reward is a memory stone, which allows spellcasters to memorise more spells.
Forts are usually intact, well guarded strongholds. A direct approach will normally be met with a hail of fire or arrows from unseen assailants. So caution and knowledge of the layout is advised. You’ll normally face one or more difficult 'commander' type enemies, such as Knights, with a weapon or other useful item as your reward.
Villages tend to be places where something awful has happened. You are invariably much too late to save anyone but you can learn something about what happened (and when a place is named “Frenzied Flame Village” that can be a big motivator), meet NPCs and find items here.
Shacks are humble dwellings dotted around the world. Sometimes they are shelters for NPCs, they are also likely to contain spells or upgrade materials. These are fairly minor, sometimes almost incidental, locations but I think go a long way towards making the world like real people lived here.
That’s not even an exhaustive list of all the types, but hopefully more than enough to convey the strength of Elden Ring’s open world and why I love to explore it. Everywhere has a purpose, everywhere has a story. Exploration in Elden Ring is never a waste of time.
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