Is it just me that finds exploration open world games frustrating? It makes me feel awful having to walk around endlessly to gather resources etc. I prefer linear experiences that don't feel like I'm back to work.

Open World games were an interesting experiment, but the result is clear: the good ones are good despite the open world, not because of it. Not a single one managed to not feel like the developers copy-pasted content in a desperate attempt to fill the empty game world. At that point maybe don’t make such a huge world? And replayability suffers too, because replaying the game means working through a list of things to collect before the actual game can start.

That said exploring the world in Elden Ring was probably the best time I ever had in a video game. The repetitive dungeons not so much.

Yeah, I like gathering/crafting mechanics but it has to be a focused experience, either I'm out on an adventure and happen to pick up some useful things on the way, or the whole point of the adventure is to pick up one or more things I need. Either way, the movement still has to be slick enough to not be boring, and the world has to be engaging enough to warrant caring about moving through it.

I like the open-world aspect, but you’re right it’s often paired with what is commonly called “grind”, which I despise.

So in practice, the open world I enjoy are those focussed purely on discovery like The Witness, and metroidvania games like Hollow Knight.