Elden Ring Month continues! FromSoftware certainly didn't invent the open world, and they didn't really invent any of the open world design decisions that helped make Elden Ring a success. So what makes a good open world? In this Break from the Backlog, Dave is joined by Andrew and Dylan from Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers to discuss open-world games as a whole, as well as how FromSoftware learned from the best to make Elden Ring. TIMESTAMPS: Intro, Personal Histories, Good Open Worlds 0:33 Checkboxes and Map Markers- Eeevillll(?) 44:17 Demerits 56:20 Elden Ring 1:14:25 Going Forward 1:51:28 Check out Your Friendly Neighborhood Gamers on Youtube, your favorite podcast app, and Twitch! Easily found through a simple search, and all links can be found on their website. Highly recommended! [Support Tales from the Backlog on Patreon!](patreon.com/realdavejackson) or buy me a coffee on Ko-fi! Join the Tales from the Backlog Discord server! Social Media: Instagram Twitter Facebook Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://www.instagram.com/jackallencaricatures/ and his other pages Listen to A Top 3 Podcast on Apple, Spotify and [other podcast platforms](atop3podcast.fireside.fm)! Support Tales from the Backlog