Quote History Quoted:
How is a game like this played?
View Quote
Not sure I understand the question, are you asking how an open world RPG is played?
Ever played Grand Theft Auto?
Just a big open world and you can go anywhere you want, when you want. There are random NPC's you run into that will give you side missions, sell you goods, buy crap from you etc.
Then there are the core story missions. Some are very linear with little ability to affect the outcome. Some games offer extremely dynamic main storylines that allow you to completely change how the story progresses/ends.
They're trying to make you feel like you're an active part of a living, breathing world, not just a character tied to a rigid story.
Edit: unless you're asking how one suffers through a bug ridden, SJW filled Ubisoft pile of dogshit. That I do not have an answer for.