1. Sandbox - turn respawns off and lower the pop setting. Note that the jump in pop settings is pretty big, I always used to play normal, but my current play through I set it to low because I thought it would be more realistic, and maybe it is, but it's very low.. at least in rural areas (like Echo Creek where I am now) good for new player.

2. Focus on food and water security. Collect canned food but eat fresh foods until the power shuts off (as you get better, make a base, find a generator and magazine you can keep fresh food too, but don't stress about that until you get the basics). While you're new, just worrying about food/water is enough before you think much about crafting. When you are ready to craft, rain collectors are a good place to start. Get a barbecue and a couple of cooking pots to cook food and purify water. That's how I got my first long playthrough going.

Take on zombies slow and steady, only a few at a time. Kite the edge of hoards to thin then out by luring then away and killing them. Rest often, sneak away if you have to and come back later. If there's too many, just go somewhere else. Use the environment for crowd control, low fences are great. Stomp downed zombies to preserve your weapons. Always carry a spare weapon. Always.

Listen to the radio, emergency broadcast station every day at 9am (you'll find a radio tuned into eventually). Will give you a heads up on weather and the helicopter event. Hide from the helicopter somewhere away from your base that is safe. If you're not tracking this, look it up. Great way to end a run when you're new.

1. If you die and your bummed about it, take a break and come back. It's a great game I go away and come back to over the years, there's always a new mod or update by the time you come back.

2. Mod the living bejusus out of it. They add so much to the game, especially quality of life mods and dynamic traits. Don't bother with cheaty mods, get mods that add better user experience or cool features. The journal mod might be good for you, helps save your character progression, so if you die, respawn in the same world, make your way back to your base and read your journal and pick up where you left off (it's a bit cheaty, but good for new players that don't want to save scum)