I think I mostly agree with your points but I’ve gotta say, you’re totally fucking wrong here
about Elden Ring at least, fuck the others
I absoLUTELY went around in Elden Ring, exploring to see what kind of horrifying unexpected creature was gonna kick my ass next. It was thorough, intentional, integral to the exploration. the game knows that — you can hear things singing to themselves, see them breach the surface of the lava, see a glint of something desperately trying to pretend to be a person, etc etc etc.
it was 100% a huge draw for me.
plus, in Elden Ring moreso than other souls games, you don’t know what kind of useful things you’ll get from enemies — weapons, things that can help you fundamentally change your weapons, or materials to craft single-use things that will get you out of a pinch — and you can often use those things right then, right there to get the advantage you need to get further into the world.
frankly that’s a big part of why Elden Ring works for me — it’s kinda similar to Pokémon!! in a roundabout way, at least!
they do so many varied and interesting things with the enemies — and they’re so ingrained with the slow picture coming together about the lore — that I seek them out like new Pokémon