So I recently started a brand new Witcher 3 game since I hadn't played the expansions and its been years since I'd played the base game.
And coming from Elden Ring - what an experience that is
Maybe I'm just getting old and value my time more, but I was so so grateful for the clear quest markers, the overt story and the heaps and heaps of dialogue. I appreciate they're not entirely similar games by means, but its definitely a far more relaxing experience. I'm not suggesting the souls games should be anything like the hand holding experiences we see in games like TW3, but it does take a certain mindset to be able to enjoy them. I've pretty much been breezing through the witcher on autopilot, while talking to my missus, watching football, and just pissing about, which makes it so much easier to jump in and out. I can't say the same for Elden Ring as good as it is.
One thing I will say though is the combat just doesn't compare and TW3 feels clunky af in comparison. It's also too easy for me even in the hardest difficulty, I suppose that's what hundreds of hours of souls game does to you