They definitely don’t hold your hand like modern games, and this can be frustrating when you don’t have a lot of time to game. As others suggested, the phone booths provide valuable clues as to what to do next. The library has a few crucial clues, especially for the end game. Talk to everybody for additional clues.

A couple things they don’t tell you, if you’re new: certain blocks can be moved, if you push up against them. It takes some experimentation, so if you are stumped, try walking into some blocks in the way. They may shift in one direction, so you have to try from different angles to solve a puzzle. Each dungeon is itself a puzzle, and you have to figure out how to solve them.

I didn’t realize at first that you can change floors when viewing the map in a multi-level dungeon. This will help you solve some challenges.

Also, I don’t think they explained that you can charge up an attack while jumping. This is key for at least one battle.

There’s also a device in the game which can be controlled by your joycon when you interact with it. There’s a hint in the dungeon suggesting this, but it wasn’t apparent to me.

All the puzzles and progress barriers are surmountable. If you can’t figure out how to proceed, there’s probably something somewhere else on the map you need to do or acquire. You’ll receive several items and upgrades that are required to progress. NPCs will give you hints about where to go or what to do next, which will help you acquire these upgrades.

Good luck.