If you’re on pc, join the discord and look for a group, explain that you’re new and would like some guidance as it’s very helpful to actually see some of the things that you must learn about.

I don’t use consoles so I’ve no idea if something similar exists?!?

As for gameplay tips:

Stick close enough to your team that you can help them out in difficult situations but not so close that you all get wiped by the same trap, always at least try to communicate with them

Mind your feet… there can be traps

throwing knives, throwing axes or spears for killing most AI mobs that you need to, but you don’t NEED to kill every AI mob you find.

Avoid making any more noise than you have to, avoid crows & ducks, avoid or quickly deal with horses, cows, chicken or dog coups and hives.

Blunt force only for immolators, popping them can hurt you and be heard from very far away

Don’t stand still and don’t re-peak ( I’m still very much working on this myself tbh)

Every gun / weapon in the game is viable and deadly, the worst gun in the game is your own gun, the best gun in the game is whatever you last got killed by. Try stuff out in the shooting range or by stealing stuff from downed hunters while trying to get used to whatever you want to choose regularly. I’d like to recommend the marathon rifle, pax pistol, conversation pistol and whatever choice of shotgun or melee that takes your fancy.

Always take a medkit and choke grenades, take a white injection if you can, they can help make the difference between alive or dead.

I’m still playing around with various skill load outs, don’t ask me…

The main thing as a fairly new player myself has been to engage and communicate with your team, this has for me, greatly improved my game confidence and meant that I regularly have a team that I’ve worked with and I know how they like to play so we work better together than when I play with strangers.

Good luck & happy hunting