@SakazOuki because of the open world, from switched up the design philosophy for Elden Ring form the other games.
If you explore the open world regions before the legacy dungeons, use spirit summons you find, or some of the OP weapons you can find, it’s the easiest Fromsoft game.
If you don’t overlevel by exploring or using any op gear, it’s the hardest by a fair margin.
When you see people complain about the PVE balancing in Elden Ring that’s what they’re talking taking about.