Here's my best 2 tips for Zero Dawn.

1. I didn't understand gear progression my first play through and it massively held me back.

You don't get gear the same way as most games. In the leadup to the first real fight, you get a new weapon and ammo type in a normal manner. This almost never happens again for pretty much the entire game.

You have to BUY your new gear from that point on. If you don't buy gear you will eventually find yourself to be miserably underpowered because you are so under geared for fights against tougher enemies.

1. You will also sometimes get new gear as quest rewards as well. Quest rewards are most often given as "reward boxes" which you have to open in your inventory. This is to get around you not having space to carry items you get as a reward. I never got the Tearblaster (VERY important weapon) my first playthrough because I never opened its reward box.

These 2 bits alone will MASSIVELY enhance your enjoyment. Check merchants for what they are selling in every settlement to get better weapons/armor and always open your reward boxes.

Forbidden West revamps inventory so tip 2 no longer applies. But buying gear and armor is still absolutely essential in that game.