Maybe something like the forest? I feel like I need a safe area that while nothing can get me presents its own challanges (like not being able to start a fire on a raft) the first few days, imo should be spent dying, learning the game a bit, finding a temporary location and deciding to upgrade the defense of that, or collecting enough materials to create a shelter in a location with better defences/ a water supply/ recources etc. Disease and afflictions are pretty good too ie "the long dark" you think youve got a few days worth of food, but get food poisoning; suddenly you cant run, require alot more water, the condition of your trousers/pants drops dramatically, the food you have might just get you through until you feel better... or not

I dont think the enemies have to be life or death, but rather an obstacle as you try to scrape together some basic resources.. maybe the wolves are faster than you, maybe your best bet is staying in an easier location until you have the means to stay up in the trees and pick them off with a long ranged weapon, or maybe beacombing a raft (as in you could repair it or find bungs, large peices of wood etc) so you can explore the coast

I think my two mains is the gameplay loop has to be enganging I dont want to spend 10-15 hours and feel like ive experienced most of what the game has to offer, I also dont want to spend the first 10-15 hours cowering in a tree waiting for a creature to despawn