Why Do Some Games Make Exploration Feel More Rewarding Than Combat?

[DevD]

Open-world games often give players huge areas to explore, but simply making a map bigger does not make exploration meaningful. What actually makes players curious enough to leave the main path? Environmental clues, hidden stories, useful rewards, or the possibility of finding something unexpected?

[Flower]

Exploration is quite rewarding when you discover hidden stories and secrets. And Combat is fun too but exploration is way better for me.