I mean even compare something like Gothic 1 or 2 to newer open worlds. The former have much smaller worlds, but packed to the brim with interesting content, and every nook feels unique. You get a kind of fast travel but even without it, travel doesn't feel like a chore, because there is very little empty space in the game, and even if you need to go from one side of the map to the other, it won't take you that much time.
I mean even compare something like Gothic 1 or 2 to newer open worlds. The former have much smaller worlds, but packed to the brim with interesting content, and every nook feels unique. You get a kind of fast travel but even without it, travel doesn't feel like a chore, because there is very little empty space in the game, and even if you need to go from one side of the map to the other, it won't take you that much time.