Here are five concrete, gameplay-focused lessons The Elder Scrolls VI can learn from Elden Ring— with practical pushback where Bethesda traditionally stumbles.
1. Exploration Should Be Dangerous, Not Just Scenic
Elden Ring treats exploration as a risk-reward loop. You’re not just sightseeing—you’re constantly deciding whether to push deeper or retreat. TES VI should ditch the theme-park safety net and bring back real danger: enemies that outlevel you, regions you’re not meant to survive yet, and rewards that feel earned. Exploration should test judgment, not just patience.
---
2. Environmental Storytelling Beats Lore Dumps
Elden Ring tells most of its story through level design, enemy placement, and ruins—not dialogue overload. Bethesda loves books, journals, and NPC monologues. TES VI should scale that back and let environments do the talking. A burned village, a half-buried temple, or a corrupted forest can convey more narrative weight than ten voiced exposition dumps ever will.
---
3. Combat Needs Commitment and Consequences
Elden Ring’s combat works because actions matter. Attacks have weight, stamina matters, and poor decisions get punished immediately. TES combat has historically been floaty and forgiving. TES VI doesn’t need to be a Soulslike, but it does need meaningful commitment: clearer enemy tells, stamina that actually limits you, and consequences for button-mashing.
---
4. Open Worlds Should Be Designed, Not Just Large
Elden Ring’s map isn’t just big—it’s intentional. Every region has identity, landmarks, and mechanical purpose. Bethesda often relies on procedural-feeling sprawl filled with similar dungeons. TES VI should focus on fewer, more distinct locations with handcrafted layouts and unique encounters, making discovery memorable instead of repetitive.
---
5. Player Freedom Should Mean Mechanical Choice, Not Just Roleplay Flavor
Elden Ring offers freedom through builds, gear, and playstyle—not just dialogue options. TES VI needs deeper mechanical differentiation between playstyles. A mage, rogue, and warrior should play fundamentally differently, not just swing different animations. Real freedom comes from systems that support choice, not just narrative labels.
---
Final Thought
Elden Ring succeeded because it trusted players to fail, learn, and adapt. If The Elder Scrolls VI wants to feel truly next-gen, it needs to stop over-explaining, stop over-protecting, and start respecting player intelligence. Bigger isn’t better. Sharper is.
Comments
Post a Comment